Case Study Practical Drill: Designing a Sustainable Phone Stand | 案例分析实战演练：设计可持续手机支架

📚 Case Study Practical Drill: Designing a Sustainable Phone Stand | 案例分析实战演练：设计可持续手机支架

In KS3 WJEC Engineering, practical case studies help you apply design thinking, problem-solving, and making skills. This article walks you through a hands-on project: designing a sustainable phone stand. You will learn how engineers work through each stage, from identifying a need to evaluating a finished product. A phone stand may seem simple, but it involves forces, materials, ergonomics, and sustainability—all key concepts in engineering.

在 KS3 WJEC 工程课程中，通过实际案例分析可以帮助你运用设计思维、问题解决和动手制作技能。本文将带你完成一个动手项目：设计一个可持续的手机支架。你将了解工程师如何经历每个阶段，从识别需求到评估成品。手机支架看似简单，却涉及力、材料、人体工程学和可持续性——这些都是工程中的关键概念。

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1. Identifying the Problem and User Needs | 识别问题与用户需求

The first step in any engineering project is to clearly define the problem. In this case, we want to design a phone stand that can hold a smartphone securely while charging or watching videos. It must be stable, easy to use, and made from sustainable materials. User needs include: keeps phone at a good viewing angle, prevents slipping, is portable, and looks attractive.

任何工程项目的第一步都是明确界定问题。在这个案例中，我们希望设计一个手机支架，能够在充电或观看视频时稳固地支撑智能手机。它必须稳定、易于使用，并由可持续材料制成。用户需求包括：保持手机合适的观看角度、防止滑动、便于携带，并且外观美观。

We conducted a quick user survey among classmates and found that most prefer a stand that allows hands-free video calls and requires minimal assembly. They also highlighted that it should not scratch the desk surface.

我们在同学中快速进行了用户调查，发现大多数人喜欢能解放双手进行视频通话且组装简单的支架。他们还强调支架不应划伤桌面。

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2. Research and Analysis | 调查与分析

Engineers research existing products, materials, and user feedback. We examined commercial phone stands made of plastic, metal, and wood. We discovered that many are not eco-friendly and are often designed for specific phone models. Some are too bulky or expensive. Key technical facts: typical phone width ranges 70–80 mm, mass 150–200 g. A comfortable viewing angle is usually 15–30° from vertical to reduce neck strain.

工程师会调研现有产品、材料和用户反馈。我们考察了市面上由塑料、金属和木材制成的手机支架。发现许多产品并不环保，且往往针对特定手机型号设计。有些则过于笨重或昂贵。关键技术数据：常见手机宽度为 70–80 毫米，质量为 150–200 克。舒适的观看角度通常与垂直方向成 15–30°，以减轻颈部压力。

Research into materials revealed that plywood from renewable forests, recycled cardboard, and bioplastics are possible sustainable choices. We also noted the importance of non-slip feet—often made of silicone or cork—to increase friction.

对材料的调研显示，来自再生林的胶合板、回收纸板和生物塑料都是可行的可持续选择。我们还注意到防滑支脚的重要性——通常由硅胶或软木制成——以增加摩擦力。

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3. Design Specification | 设计规格

After research, we compile a design specification that lists measurable criteria. The specification guides the design and acts as a checklist during testing. Our specification for the sustainable phone stand:

调研之后，我们编制了一份设计规格，列出可测量的标准。该规格指导设计并作为测试时的检查表。我们对这款可持续手机支架的规格如下：

• Must hold a phone of up to 80 mm width and 250 g mass.

  必须能支撑宽度达 80 毫米、质量达 250 克的手机。

• Stability: no tipping when placed on a flat surface with phone; withstand a light horizontal push (about 2 N force).

  稳定性：在平整表面上放置手机时不倾倒；能承受轻微的水平推力（约 2 牛顿力）。

• Tilt angle adjustable between 15° and 25°, or fixed at a comfortable 20° if adjustable feature compromises strength.

  倾斜角度可在 15° 至 25° 之间调节，或者如果可调节特性影响强度，则固定为舒适的 20°。

• Material: at least 70% recycled or renewable content by mass.

  材料：按质量计至少 70% 为回收或可再生材料。

• Manufacturing time under 2 hours using school workshop tools (hand tools, laser cutter).

  使用学校工作间工具（手动工具、激光切割机）的制作时间少于 2 小时。

• Aesthetically pleasing with smooth edges and no sharp corners.

  边缘光滑，无尖角，美观大方。

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4. Initial Design Ideas | 初步设计思路

We generated three initial ideas through rough sketching. Each idea was evaluated against the specification using a simple decision matrix with scores 1–5 for criteria like stability, sustainability, ease of making, and cost.

我们通过草图绘制产生了三个初步想法。每个想法都使用一个简单的决策矩阵对照规格进行评估，对稳定性、可持续性、制作便利性和成本等标准进行 1–5 分评分。

Idea 1: A solid wooden wedge with a carved groove to hold the phone. Simple, stable, but not adjustable and uses a large block of wood. Idea 2: A foldable cardboard stand with flaps that can be repositioned for angle adjustment. Very sustainable and lightweight, but less durable. Idea 3: A laser-cut plywood stand with interlocking parts, including side wings for width adjustment. It uses minimal material and can be flat-packed.

想法 1：一个带雕刻凹槽的实木楔子。简单、稳定，但不可调节且耗费大块木材。想法 2：一个带可重新定位翻盖以调节角度的折叠式纸板支架。非常可持续且轻便，但耐久性较差。想法 3：一个带互锁部件的激光切割胶合板支架，包括用于宽度调节的侧翼。它用料最少，且可平板包装。

Idea 3 scored highest, particularly on material efficiency and ease of assembly. We selected it for further development.

想法 3 得分最高，尤其是在材料利用率和组装便利性方面。我们选择它进行后续开发。

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5. Developing the Chosen Design | 开发选定方案

We developed Idea 3 using 2D CAD software (TechSoft 2D Design V2). The stand consists of three main parts cut from a single sheet of 6 mm plywood: a base plate, a vertical back support, and two L-shaped side wings. The back support slots into the base, and the wings slot into both base and back support, creating a rigid triangular structure. No adhesives are required.

我们使用 2D CAD 软件（TechSoft 2D Design V2）开发想法 3。支架由从一张 6 毫米胶合板上切割的三个主要部件组成：底板、垂直背部支撑板和两个 L 形侧翼。背部支撑板插入底板，侧翼则同时插入底板和背部支撑板，形成稳固的三角形结构。无需粘合剂。

Key dimensions: base 120 mm × 80 mm; back support height 60 mm, width 80 mm; slot width 8.2 mm to accommodate 6 mm material with clearance. The side wings have slots at 20° to the vertical, holding the phone at an optimal angle. We added small semi-circular cut-outs to reduce weight and give a sleek look.

关键尺寸：底板 120 mm × 80 mm；背部支撑板高 60 mm，宽 80 mm；槽宽 8.2 毫米，以适应 6 毫米材料并留有余量。侧翼具有与垂直方向成 20° 的槽口，使手机保持在最佳角度。我们增加了小型半圆形镂空，以减轻重量并赋予流线型外观。

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6. Material Selection and Sustainability | 材料选择与可持续性

We chose 6 mm birch plywood from an FSC-certified source. Birch plywood is strong, has a smooth surface, and produces clean laser cuts. It is biodegradable and can be composted at end-of-life. We calculated that the stand uses approximately 85% renewable material by mass; the remaining small amount includes a trace of urea-formaldehyde resin in the plywood adhesive, but this is minimised in premium grades.

我们选择了来自 FSC 认证来源的 6 毫米桦木胶合板。桦木胶合板强度高、表面光滑，并能产生干净的激光切割效果。它具有生物降解性，在使用寿命结束后可堆肥。我们计算出，该支架按质量计约 85% 为可再生材料；剩余少量包括胶合板粘合剂中的微量脲醛树脂，但在高级板材中含量已最小化。

We considered alternatives such as recycled acrylic (Perspex) or cardboard. Acrylic is durable but derived from fossil fuels and harder to recycle in school settings. Cardboard would be 100% recyclable but may degrade with moisture and lacks the structural strength for repeated use. Plywood provided the best balance of strength, sustainability, and workability.

我们考虑了回收亚克力（Perspex）或纸板等替代品。亚克力耐用但源自化石燃料，且在学校环境中更难以回收。纸板可 100% 回收，但可能受潮降解，且缺乏重复使用所需的结构强度。胶合板在强度、可持续性和可加工性之间提供了最佳平衡。

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7. Manufacturing Process and Tools | 制作过程与工具

We prepared the digital file and exported it to the school’s laser cutter. Safety checks were completed: laser cutter fume extraction switched on, material secured, fire extinguisher accessible. We used the following cutting parameters: power 70%, speed 15 mm/s, for 6 mm plywood. Wearing laser safety goggles, the operator started the cut, which took about 4 minutes for all parts.

我们准备好数字文件并导出至学校的激光切割机。完成了安全检查：开启激光切割机排烟系统，固定材料，确保灭火器就位。我们使用的切割参数为：功率 70%，速度 15 mm/s，适用于 6 mm 胶合板。操作员佩戴激光防护眼镜，启动切割，所有部件切割完成耗时约 4 分钟。

After cutting, we lightly sanded all edges with 120-grit sandpaper to remove any charring and smooth sharp corners. Then we assembled the stand: insert the back support into the base slot, then slide each wing into its corresponding slots. No glue was needed, but we tested fit with a dry run first. The entire assembly took under 3 minutes.

切割完成后，我们使用 120 目砂纸轻轻打磨所有边缘，以去除灼痕并使尖角变得平滑。然后组装支架：将背部支撑板插入底座槽口，再将每个侧翼滑入相应的槽口。无需胶水，但我们先进行了干式预装以测试配合度。整个组装过程不到 3 分钟。

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8. Testing and Evaluation | 测试与评估

We conducted a series of tests to evaluate the prototype against the specification. First, we measured dimensions with a caliper: all within ±0.5 mm of design. We placed phones of different models (iPhone 7, width 67 mm, weight 138 g; Samsung Galaxy A12, width 75.8 mm, weight 205 g) on the stand. Both were held securely without slipping, and the side wings prevented lateral movement.

我们进行了一系列测试，以对照规格评估原型。首先，用卡尺测量尺寸：所有尺寸均在设计值的 ±0.5 mm 以内。我们将不同型号的手机（iPhone 7，宽 67 mm，重 138 g；三星 Galaxy A12，宽 75.8 mm，重 205 g）放置在支架上。两者均被稳固支撑，无滑动，侧翼防止了横向移动。

Stability test: we gently pushed the back of the stand horizontally with a force gauge; tipping occurred at approximately 2.5 N, which exceeds the 2 N minimum. The fixed 20° angle was comfortable but not adjustable, so that criterion was partially met. Surface finish was smooth and visually appealing. We documented results in a table.

稳定性测试：我们使用测力计轻轻水平推动支架后部；在约 2.5 牛顿力时发生倾倒，超过了 2 牛顿的最低要求。固定的 20° 角度舒适但不可调节，因此该标准部分满足。表面光洁度平滑且美观。我们将结果记录在表格中。

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9. Improvement and Iteration | 改进与迭代

Based on the test feedback, we identified a key improvement: introduce an adjustable tilt mechanism. We designed a version 2.0 that uses a pivoting back support with a 5 mm hole and an M5 bolt with wing nut, allowing the angle to be set at 15°, 20°, or 25° by aligning holes in the side wings. This required a minor redesign of the back support to include an arc of holes.

根据测试反馈，我们确定了一项关键改进：引入可调节倾斜机构。我们设计了一个 2.0 版本，使用带 5 mm 孔的可旋转背部支撑板和 M5 螺栓及蝶形螺母，通过侧翼上的孔位对齐，可将角度设置为 15°、20° 或 25°。这需要对背部支撑板进行微调，增加一弧线排列的孔位。

We also considered adding adhesive cork pads to the base to improve grip on smooth desks. This would further increase stability without compromising sustainability. The revised CAD files were prepared for another round of prototyping.

我们还考虑在底板添加自粘软木垫，以改善在光滑桌面上的抓地力。这将在不损害可持续性的前提下进一步提高稳定性。修订后的 CAD 文件已准备好进行新一轮原型制作。

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10. Final Evaluation and Reporting | 最终评估与报告

The project successfully applied the engineering design cycle: define the problem, research, specify, generate ideas, develop a solution, make, test, and improve. The phone stand met most specification points and demonstrated how sustainable thinking can be embedded in a simple product. The use of interlocking plywood joints eliminated adhesives and allowed easy disassembly for recycling.

该项目成功运用了工程设计循环：界定问题、调研、确定规格、产生想法、开发解决方案、制作、测试和改进。手机支架满足了大部分规格要点，并展示了如何将可持续思维融入简单的产品中。互锁胶合板接头的使用取消了粘合剂，并便于拆卸回收。

We prepared a short engineering report that includes annotated sketches, a decision matrix, photos of the prototype, test data, and a reflection on what we would do differently. This report serves as evidence of our engineering capability and can be used for KS3 assessment. The case study reinforces that engineering is about iterative problem-solving, not just making things.

我们准备了一份简短的工程报告，其中包括注释草图、决策矩阵、原型照片、测试数据以及关于我们将如何改进的反思。这份报告可作为我们工程能力的证据，并可用于 KS3 评估。这个案例分析强化了工程是迭代式解决问题，而不仅仅是制造东西。

Published by TutorHao | Engineering Revision Series | aleveler.com

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