Solemates
Physical product design
Project type
Fall 2023
date
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
location
Initial Scenario/Context
SoleMates' initial proposal came from a previous project on swappable shoe treads and the ongoing needs of the athletes in the group. The group split into 3 subgroups, one for each part of the shoe: the outsole, the insole, and the connecting piece. The outsole group, my group, made 3 different outsole treads: hiking (for rougher, slippery terrain), everyday (for everyday use), and sneaker (for running on a flat surface).
initial problems + solutions
Runners' shoes wear out quickly and cannot easily gauge shoe sole wear extent
Color strips that when worn down change color to see depth of wear
Buying new shoes can be out of one's budget
Removable + swappable outer treads to not need to buy a whole new shoe
Low dexterity affecting ability to tie shoelaces
A dial that tightens or loosens laces
Weather changes requiring different treads
Swappable tread types for changing weather
Biodegradability
Cork insoles and canvas cover
Sneaker tread prototype with color strips
Everyday tread prototype with connecting piece
lessons learned
research and teamwork
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Working in a subteam and reconveining for weekly updates
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How to conduct field research on treads without publicly avalible articles or academic articles
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The importance of tread types, tread wear, and knowing one's pronation
cad/3d printing
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How to 3D print the hiking tread with TPU on a PRUSA 3D printer
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Transferring files from NX parasolids into .obj for OnShape
Materials
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How different materials affect flexibility (PLA vs. TPU) and biodegradability (cork vs. mycelium vs. rubber vs. TPU)