Beak Swarm: A CNC Machined Bottle Opener
"Create a bottle opener starting from the mind of a squirrel."
This was the project prompt for ME 128: Computer-Aided Product Realization, a course at Stanford University.
Taking this prompt, I designed then fabricated this abstract bottle opener inspired by a squirrel's primary neighbors -- birds. Between hiding from birds of prey and contesting for food and housing with smaller birds, squirrels are constantly quarreling with their feathered counterparts.
I visualized this conflict as a large, cawing bird beak, complemented by razor-sharp smaller beaks that aggressively jut out. When opening a bottle, the beak bites down and rips off the bottle cap (note: this was intentionally designed as an extremely unergonomic bottle opener that can easily cut the user).
This project is made out of Aluminum 6061 and machined on the Haas VF-2 3-axis CNC, with an array of 1/16" to 1/2" ball and flat endmills. It was completed in 2 setups using a clampring method.
Associated concept sketches inspired by the fear and quarrel that squirrels have with birds who share their habitat.
Discussing CAD, Workholding, and Setups:
