Design AI Casing with Integrated Heat Sink
Project Purpose
Lead the design of a new AI circuit board casing that will function as a passive heat sink and reflect Optra's innovative technology through its C.F.M. details and graphics.
Timeline
Approximately three weeks for a rough model; estimated launch in one year.
Reviewed Requirements
with Engineers
Met with an engineer to learn about the required manufacturing processes as well as their advantages and constraints.
Researched Competitor Products for Inspiration
Researched similar products that utilized heat sinks to understand the market and get inspired.
Inspiration
Sheet Metal Design
Extruded Aluminum
Industrial Aesthetic
Anodized Aluminum
Form with Function
Product Features Reflect Brand Attributes
Analyzed existing products to assess how brand attributes translate into physical design features and gather inspiration for modernizing these elements in the new Optra device.
Sketched Ideas During Research
Sketched ideas and notes while gathering research & inspiration before quickly transitioning to CAD iterations in Siemens NX.
Initial CAD
Concepts
Created CAD concepts using my inspiration, research, and sketches, before presenting to the team to narrow in on a design concept.
Adding Accent
Panels & Color
Exploration
Added a green accent panel to the CAD model before exploring different applications of the Optra brand colors and logo.
Created new renders for team review.
Engineering Modifications
The sheet metal sides and heatsink were combined to create a single extruded aluminum part.
This reduced manufacturing costs and number of parts.
New Consolidated Heatsink Design
Original Heatsink Design
Coordinating Port Labels & Icons
Collaborated with the electrical engineer on the label names of various ports.
Created layout specifications of the port labels and icons in Adobe Illustrator.
Front Panel
Back Panel
Physical Modeling & Refinement
Early Aluminum Model
A full-scale model was crafted for testing and to see how the design translated from CAD to reality.
Sample Anodized Parts
Manufacturer sent sample anodized parts for review.
Collaborated with engineers & manufacturers to refine the finish on the heat sink.
Pre-Production
Model
Pre-production devices underwent testing and included an updated finish on the heat sink and PAD printed versions of the graphics.
Product Launch
The devices premiered on the market in March 2024 at the NVIDIA GTC Conference.
Project Take Aways
Utilized close collaboration with engineering to create a product that elevated brand aesthetics while still meeting required business needs.
Gained an understanding of how to successfully manage a fast-paced project with efficiency and precision.
Quickly pivoted to meet engineering and manufacturing requirements.
Final Render of Product Casings
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