Project: Razor Drop Test Device

Duration: 3.12.07 – 5.3.07

Sponsor: Gillette and Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Synopsis: Gillette has a standing relationship with WPI through Professor Robert Norton, a former Gillette engineer of 30 years. Participating in the Advanced Engineering Design course, a group of 22 mechanical engineering students are contracted as a team to design a product for Gillette. The team has a budget and 7 week deadline in which the project must completed. The scope of the work spans conceptual design through prototype testing and product presentation.

Gillette runs drop tests on all razors prior to commercialization to ensure the durability of the product. The razors are dropped by human hand from a hieght of 60″ and visual damage is recorded. The QA engineers requested a more reliable and repeatable test method. Gillette stressed the importance of maintaining specific razor orientation upon impact and requested the tester have ultimate control of the razor’s orientation in 3 dimensions. Orienting the razor must be repeatable, reliable and simple to execute. Gillette also requested the impact forces to which the razor is subject must be measured and recorded. The system control and data aquisition system (SCADA) must be familiar and user friendly. A single drop test must not take an experienced user longer than 80 seconds to execute.

Goal Statement

Design a reliable razor drop-test device that will enable control of the geometric orientation of the product and measure the energy of the impact.

Project Specs

1. Maintain Razor Orientation
2. Measure:
   • Impact Force
   • Razor Velocity
   • Duration of Impact
   • Free-Free State Razor Impact
3. Adjustable Razor Orientation
4. Simulate Impact Velocity of 17.9 ft/s and 12.69 ft/s
5. Isolated Data Collection
6. Accommodate Different Razor Products
7. Click here for full specs….

Video

This is the video montage of the final product that was presented to the engineers at Gillette. Click here for full size…

Explore the Design

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