Reverse Engineering an Existing Product: Selection / Tools of the trade

I was initially drawn to materials around my desk to consider for this project. I found pencils,  pens, a sharpener and a stapler scattered about the area. This first photo contains two of my favourite stationary tools. A stapler which was my mothers when she was a teacher. She gave this stapler to me in 1982 when I was in grade 6. The second is a brass pencil sharpener that I purchased last year. I find it to be the perfect tool no matter the type of pencil I use it on. I appreciated the weight of the solid brass body, as its weight emanates quality.

        The Stapler has many moving parts that would make an intricate and challenging design, but most of the parts are riveted or press fit together and do not lend this item to being dismantled. The Sharpener seems too easy but presents complex internal geometry, and many surface textures. As I thought further about this project and considered what else would possibly make prime objects to dismantled and recreate in Rhino, I was drawn to some of my hand tools. 

      Shown above is a combination square, a pocket hand plane, and a Pic Quic multi bit screw driver. Each of these tools are all easily disassembled, and each would provide challenges of their own. Also the idea of recreating the small handsaw shown in the opening photo has also piqued my interest.

 

        Considering all the possibilities I find I am most drawn towards reproducing the sharpener, the pocket plane or the handsaw, with the hand plane currently being the leading choice for reverse engineering because of its moving parts  intricate design and ease of disassembly.