Lamp

A dimmable LED desk lamp with three degrees of adjustability.

The finished product is the culmination of numerous prototypes where I perfected the form and function of the lamp. The tight space requirements demanded creative solutions for integrating the various electronic components. The switch assembly packs a potentiometer, flanged bearing, shaft coupler, and metal knob in a tube only 10mm in diameter.

Individual lamp components spread out on the table

I applied rapid prototyping skills to the pivot joint design in order to meet my design requirements. In addition to a 180-degree travel, the joints needed to be strong enough to support the weight of the lamp, accommodate wire pass-through for powering the LEDs, and be cheap and easy to manufacture. The design uses a part with interlocking ridges to provide tactile adjustment in 8-degree increments and a knob to lock in the desired position.

Mare Desk Lamp shown with wallet and other desk items



I used the manual mill, lathe, and SLA resin printers to fabricate all the custom parts. This project also gave me an opportunity to experiment with various finishing techniques, including sand-blasting, powder-coating, and polishing.

Mare Desk Lamp on a rock next to the ocean at night
Mare Desk Lamp in front of a big tree trunk

The final result exceeded my expectations and is one of my favorite projects to date. In the next prototype, I am considering various DFM optimizations that could make the design more viable as a consumer product.

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