Cookstove

CookStove was my first product for BioLite. An entry level wood burning stove in the CampStove Family.

Role: team lead

Project Manager, Mechanical Engineer

Led the CookStove project from start to finish.

Project Manager: was responsible for scoping the program, developing and maintaining the schedule and budget, preparing and presenting progress to management and managing daily tasks for other team members (Industrial Designer, Electrical Engineer, Combustion Engineer).
Mechanical Engineer: was responsible for the conception, prototyping, iteration, DFM/DFA and post-tooling refinement of the product.

Successes:

Hit target landed Cost-of-Goods-Sold.
Product was produced and shipped on time, and the program was under budget by ~10% for both capital expenditure and personnel resource.

Proof of Concept Fans

Quick-and-dirty fan proof of concept being tested on a CampStove 1 stove body.

Proof of Concept Fans

Alternate fan arrangement. Fan designs strove to reduce radiation and convection heat transfer from the hot stove body while minimizing aerodynamic losses from fan to fire in order to make the on-board battery last as long as possible.

Proof of Concept Fans

Alternate fan arrangement.

Proof of Concept Fans

Burn testing fan arrangement.

Proof of Concept Fans

Alternate fan design.

Proof of Concept Fans

Testing a centrifugal blower style fan. This style has many benefits including reduced view angle to radiation for sensitive components and significant cost saving potential as it lends itself to in-house design and fabrication instead of purchasing a COTS component.

Proof of Concept Fans

Flat arrangement of centrifugal blower to save space in power pack.

Proof of Concept Fans

Another flat blower design.

Complete Prototype Testing

All fan learnings incorporated into a complete prototype with a custom designed centrifugal blower and integral battery. Parts are sintered from Nylon, which offers relatively high temperature performance for a rapid prototype material.