Document Type

Undergraduate Project

Date of Degree Completion

Spring 2024

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Department

Mechanical Engineering Technology

Committee Chair

Charles Pringle, PE

Second Committee Member

Dr. John Choi

Third Committee Member

Mr. Chris Berkshire

Abstract

Most commercially available smartphones posed a challenge to consumers due to the use of adhesives, which not only served to seal out dust and water but also hindered repairability and hardware replacement. Drawing inspiration from successful smartwatch designs employing gaskets for water resistance, this project aimed to adapt such design principles to the smartphone form factor.

Utilizing SolidWorks for design and subsequent 3D printing and CNC machining for prototyping, 3D models of a smartphone housing were crafted. The objective was to attain a level of water and dust resistance equivalent to that of model smartphones, utilizing sealing methods equivalent to smartwatches. The target Ingress Protection (IP) Rating stood at 67, claiming the device housing is dust proof and heavily water resistant.

Through submersion tests conducted for 30 minutes at a depth of one meter, the prototype smartphone housing successfully achieved the desired IP rating, demonstrating its viability for real-world application. This innovative approach, characterized by a modular design facilitating repairability, not only aligns with the ethos of the right-to-repair movement but also promises cost savings for consumers and repair shop owners. Moreover, by prolonging the lifespan of smartphones and mitigating the need for frequent replacements, this solution presents a sustainable alternative to the prevailing market trend of planned obsolescence further reducing e-waste generation.

Keywords: smartphone, repairability, water resistance, gasket, Ingress Protection Rating, right-to-repair, modular design, sustainability.

Comments

This project would not have been possible without the help of the Ecophone team consisting of Kevin Lomax, and Jaap Donker. With faculty mentors Susan Rivera and Professor Charles Pringle, PE.

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