Ideas driven by Needs.
In clay modeling, maintaining the sharpness of tools is essential for achieving optimal results. Specifically, the steel tools require a finely honed 90-degree angle on their edges to ensure the clay is smoothed to perfection. At the Instituto Europeo di Design (IED), where I teach clay modeling, we encountered a challenge: a suitable sharpening mount for these tools was unavailable. Various handheld methods were attempted, but the process of sharpening 20 sets of tools proved to be uncomfortable and tedious. To address this issue, I designed and modeled a specialized mount for 3D printing. This jig serves as an adjustable guide, allowing users to position the sharpening stones along different paths. By shifting the guide to one side, we can utilize a small portion of the stone, thereby extending its durability over time. As illustrated in the accompanying photos, we developed two jigs, each accommodating all two grades of sharpening stones within a single unit. This innovation significantly streamlines the sharpening process, enhancing both efficiency and effectiveness for our clay modeling tools.
This jig serves as an adjustable guide, allowing users to position the sharpening stones along different paths.
"Rather than utilizing a single sharpening stone at a time, it is possible to employ four stones of varying grades simultaneously."
As a portable jig, it can be easily used across various clay workshops within the university. Its design is highly intuitive—almost foolproof—ensuring consistent results. When sharpening tools, the guide wall maintains a precise 90º angle for optimal accuracy
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