Handling Collection

HC2: Design for Disassembly

Circular Economy ObjectiveIt is recommended that this lesson should build on the first. The lesson will enable students to identify key requirements for designing for disassembly.

Product requirements: one or more old mobile phones to disassemble

Lesson Objectives•Explain the purpose and benefits of designing for disassembly in a circular economy model•List design for disassembly techniques that allows the materials recovery phase to be enhanced•Design a product that encapsulates design for disassembly techniques

Consumer or designer?

Which statement do you most agree with?

Statement One

Waste is a problem created by consumers. We need to make sure everyone knows what do to with products that no-one needs any more. We need more recycling facilities so materials can be collected and sorted effectively.

Statement Two

Waste is a problem created by manufacturers. More waste is created in the production of goods than when products reach the end of their life. Most products cannot be recycled because of how they have been designed. If we changed the design, we’d change the problem.

Keeping it in the loop

What happens to our mobile phones?

This graphic shows what happens to most mobile phones in the European Union.

Where do most of them end up?

Why do most end up there?

What would have to change to ensure mobile phones are kept in the loop?

Disassemble, part 1 (10 minutes)

ActivityWe are going to disassemble some old mobile phones.

Before we begin: do you think we can completely separate the phone into all of its various parts?

When taking phones apart, please be careful! Screwdrivers have a sharp edge, as do parts of the phone!

Disassemble, part 2

After the activityDid you manage to take the phone apart completely? If not, why not?

What would have to be changed to make it possible to completely take it apart?

What would it cost a company to take hundreds of thousands of phones apart in the method you have just applied? Is there another way of disassembling mobile phones?

Active Disassembly

Watch this short film by Active Disassembly

Video: A ‘circular’ mobile phone

Design techniques

Place the following joining methods into either of the pools below

Good Techniques when Designing for Disassembly

Poor Techniques when Designing for Disassembly

The Circular Economy

Autodesk (10 minutes)

Watch the video produced by Autodesk:

Re-Think Checklist

Designing for disassembly: for the whole product, think about… •Is it designed for easy disassembly?•Minimum number of parts?•Simple structure and form?•Requires only a few standard tools to disassemble?•Minimum number and types of fasteners?•One fastener holds multiple parts?•Access fasteners on the same axis?•Snap, slide fasteners or clips rather than screws or glues?•Hand-strength only needed to assemble and disassemble?•Coarse threaded screws for speed; nuts and bolts for strength?•Fasteners fit for purpose (repeated use, strength)•Good visual documentation on assembly and disassembly embedded in product?

Designing for easy repair and upgrades: for the whole product, think about…•Is the design based on modular assemblies to make whole components easy to replace?•Is it easy to identify and reach those components likely to need maintenance or upgrade?•Does the design lend itself to easily installed upgrades?•Are there diagnostic tools built-in for identifying worn or obsolete parts?

Designing for closing the materials loops - for each component think about:•Does each individual component have a defined use period?•Can the individual materials be recovered easily?•Is the number of materials kept to a minimum?•Are parts labelled for easy materials identification?•Can the materials used be fed back easily into the biological and technical material cycles? •Are the materials used sourced from ‘closed loop’ sources?

Designing for optimum business model •Does the warranty encourage repair, service and replacement of components?•Is the overall business model based on product-as-service?•Is the overall business model based on closed-loop principles?

It’s not just the little things…

Should we demolish buildings or deconstruct them?

Most unwanted buildings are taken down quickly with the help of heavy machinery. Should that be the approach we take to unwanted buildings, or should we carefully deconstruct them?

In a small group, debate the pros and cons of each approach.

Designing for Disassembly (15 minutes)

Designing for Disassembly Challenge

Your brief:“Create a Child's Toy that is designed for disassembly”

You are required too:1.Name your product2.Provide sketches highlight techniques used3.Present your idea

Plenary (5 minutes)

Top Tips for a Design for Disassembly Create a graphical illustration that highlights the “top tips” for designing for disassembly. This should include headings / titles and also a simple graphic that brings the tip to life.