Steady Fork & Spoon

This project aims to design and fabricate a prototype holding handle to help the elderly and people who are weak in their fingers, they can use it to hold the normal fork and spoon easily for their menu, and in the healthcare or aftercare center, care personal would have better looking after them.

The Handle is made of 3D-printed plastic to hold the common fork and spoon. The top of the Handle with the slot allows the fork or spoon to slot in. with the tapered design of the slot, the fork or spoon can be locked in position when slides to the small end of the slot, this can prevent the fork and spoon drop out when used.

For use in Healthcare Central, the porotype includes BBC Micro:bit in the handle and a Receiver to help Care Personnel have better monitor the user in use when the user accidentally drops the handle.

2 BBC micro:bit with batter hold

1 Dual AAA battery holder (as Show in step 3)

4 AAA Batteries

2 M4 Wood screw

This prototype “Steady Folk and Spoon” is designed and fabricated by using 3D printing, those who want to make this for a try can download the attached file.

There are the following 6 separate parts to print:

Right Handle R.STL

Right Handle R.STL

Left Handle R.STL

Left Handle L.STL

Container,STL

Cover.STL

For 3D printing parts and how can it creates, can learn from Autodesk Fusion 360 https://www.autodesk.com/campaigns/generative-design/education

All items were printed with PLA using 200 Deg C nozzle and 60 Deg C Bed temperature, layer height 0.2mm and nozzle 0.4 mm. infill percentage of 50%.

For 3D printing can reference to use Ultimaker Cura slicer, can learn from https://support.ultimaker.com/hc/en-us/articles/360011837399-Getting-started-with-Ultimaker-Cura

Before mounting the BBC micro:bit on the Handle and Receiver, there is some programming to be done, you can follow the block code provided in the diagram below directly to the BBC micro:bit board code in the editor and compile it.

For the programming used in BBC micro:bit reference to https://microbit.org/

Connect the battery to the Board, and put it in the Right Handle R, cover it with Right Handle R, and secure it together by a screw.

Note. The two Handle R and Handle L are designed with a small guide and recess along with the pocket, this is unsure when covering it in the correct position, and the draft angle surface at the bottom side of the pocket does help in locking two parts together. 

Connect the battery to the Board, and put it in the container, cover it with the Cover.

Note. The Container and Cover design with the small guide and recess along with the pocket, this is to ensure when covering it incorrectly in position, and draft angle surface at the bottom side of the pocket do help in locking two parts together.