Introduction: Bellows-inspired Stress Relief

This project is part of my my university course, I have created a stress relieving toy.

This was designed for my father as he works in an office, he often plays with stress relieving toys, so I think that this product would be perfect for him. The concept behind this toy is the instant relief if you get from applying pressure to the top half of the bellows, this jettisons a Feather into a 2l bottle, after which it falls down at a relaxing rate, perfect for use on a desk. The idea for this project is to make something out items that you would find in any house. I hope that you enjoy making this!

Step 1: Materiels

The materials required for this project are: 90mmx290mmx16mm wooden beams x2 (these can be found in Old bed frames), a 2 l plastic (including cap), a durable " bag for life", and a Feather (I just pulled mine from a pillow).

Step 2: Tools

The tools you will need are are: A jigsaw, a pair of scissors, a staple gun, a vice, super glue, and an electric drill (with 28 mm and and 16 mm spade bits)/chisel and hammer.

Step 3: Wood Cutting

For the wood cutting I advise that you you measure out and draw each of the the provided designs on to the you're two pieces of wood, bear in mind that all measurements given on the blueprints are in millimetres.

Hold each piece of wooden plank in place with a vice and cut to the correct length, then when cutting out the corners I advise that you cut downward, remove your jigsaw and then cut across for the most reliable method. Now that both designs have been cut you should either sand or file down any edges, wherever you think necessary to avoid splinters.

Step 4: Tooling the Cap Indent and Airflow

Now it is time to cut the 12mm indents in your wood, this can be seen on The Blueprint provided in the purple sections, remember you only have to do this to one of the pieces to that you have cut. Firstly you want to attach your 28mm spade bit into your electric drill and cut roughly three-quarters of the way into your wood, depending on which bit you use this can leave a hole however if it does then this will not make a difference. Now you need to tool your air flow, attach the 16mm Spade bit, put in a vice and drill down the length of your plank at a 30 degree angle.You should be left with what you can see in the second picture.

Step 5: Prepairing Your Bag

Cut along the edge of your bag and then do the same to the other side, now cut along the bottom and you should be left with a rectangle of plastic and and the rest of your bag.

Step 6: Cutting Your Bag

Draw the provided designs on your your bag pieces, the rectangle on the rectangle and the the trapezium on the bag, when when passing the trapezium cut through both layers as you will be needing two trapeziums. After cutting out your rectangle, cut a 30 mm line down the centre of both thin ends with your scissors.

Step 7: Attaching the Plastic to the Wood (part 1)

Hold the wood in a vice and press the trapezium shaped plastic firmly against the ridge of the wood with your fingers (as can be seen in the first picture), now to apply a stable using a staple gun, in between your fingers. Add another staple at the opposite end and add as many Staples in between as you feel necessary to contain the airflow as much as possible. Now take your other piece of wood, facing the same direction as you're already stapled piece and repeat the process, this part can be awkward as as you need to keep the already stapled piece still whilst you copy the process onto the new piece. Now this is done turn it over and repeat on the other side with your other trapezium-shaped piece of plastic,You should end up with something like the last picture.

Step 8: Attaching the Plastic to the Wood (part 2)

Now to take your rectangular piece of plastic and and push the handles of each piece of wood through the cuts that you have already made in the rectangle, tack in place with Staples. Do this either side of each handle on both pieces of wood and you should be left with what you can see in the first picture.

Step 9: Folding the Plastic

Push the sides and back inwards and then close the bellows on top of the folded plastic, this will create a memory within the material ensuring that it always closes in on itself, forcing air outwards.

Step 10: Tooling the Bottletop

Now get your 2L bottle and take off the lid, place it in a vice and cut a 15 mm x 10 mm rectangle out of the side, as can be seen in the pictures above, I achieve this by cutting a 15 mm length bending upwards and cutting across. Next you want to do the same but with the the screw top for the 2l bottle. After this screw the top back onto the bottle so the holes align (this can be seen in the first picture)

Step 11: Add the Feather and Glue the Bottle In

Now you want to to take off the Bottle Top and put the feather inside the bottle, apply superglue to the bottle top and place it in the 30mm hole, leave it 30 minutes to dry why and you can screw the bottle back on.

Step 12: Enjoy Your Product!

You've finished making the bellows relief toy now, pump the handles and and see how long you can keep it airborne!