Modular Cosmetic Brush CAD Using Compatible Applicator Segments
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Solution Overview
Problem
The design process for cosmetic product applicator brushes is lengthy and expensive due to the need for multiple prototypes and mold manufacturing, while additive manufacturing is not suitable for producing brushes in suitable materials and production kits are complex to use and prone to unsuitable designs.
Innovation Solution
A computer-aided design method using a database of applicator sectors with compatibility rules, allowing users to easily select and assemble compatible sectors for quick prototyping and manufacturing, ensuring feasibility and material compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional mold manufacturing is used for brush design, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The brush is divided into multiple applicator sectors that can be independently selected and combined from a database. Each sector represents an angular section of the brush, allowing modular design without requiring complete mold redesign. This segmentation enables rapid prototyping by assembling pre-defined compatible sectors.
Solution Approach 2:
A database of pre-designed applicator sectors is created beforehand, with each sector stored as a digital model with defined compatibility rules. These sectors are prepared in advance with standardized interfaces and geometric constraints, allowing rapid assembly during the design phase without time-consuming mold manufacturing for each variation.
2Loss of time
If additive manufacturing is used for brush prototyping, then loss of time is reduced, but manufacturing precision and material suitability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The brush design is segmented into applicator sectors that can be virtually assembled from a database. This digital segmentation allows rapid prototyping through software assembly rather than physical additive manufacturing of entire brushes, reducing time while maintaining precision by using pre-defined geometric models that can be manufactured with appropriate materials.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of directly manufacturing prototypes through additive manufacturing, the invention creates digital copies and models of applicator sectors in a database. These digital models can be rapidly assembled and simulated, allowing design iteration without physical manufacturing, and only final designs require manufacturing in appropriate materials.
3Adaptability or versatility
If production kits with multiple applicator sectors are used, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The database contains universal applicator sectors that can be combined in multiple configurations to create different brush designs. Each sector is designed with standardized compatibility rules that allow it to work with multiple other sectors, providing design flexibility without requiring complex specialized components for each brush type.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates compatibility rules that automatically check and validate sector combinations during the design process. This feedback mechanism guides the designer in selecting compatible sectors, reducing the complexity of manipulation by preventing incompatible assemblies and automatically identifying valid brush configurations.
4Reliability
If multiple prototypes are manufactured for brush design, then reliability of design is improved, but loss of time and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The brush design is segmented into reusable applicator sectors that can be independently modified and recombined. This allows rapid creation of multiple design variations by simply reconfiguring existing sectors in the database rather than manufacturing entirely new prototypes, maintaining design reliability through systematic exploration of variations.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding entire brush prototypes when design changes are needed, the invention allows recovery and reuse of individual applicator sectors. Compatible sectors from previous designs can be retained and combined with modified or new sectors, reducing the need to manufacture complete new prototypes and accelerating the design iteration process.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for computer-aided design of an applicator brush, the brush comprising a plurality of applicator segments. The method comprises the following steps: providing a database comprising a plurality of applicator segments; providing compatibility rules; selecting a first applicator segment; defining, from the database and on the basis of the compatibility rules, a first set of applicator segments compatible with the first applicator segment and selecting at least one applicator segment from the first set.