BrothBros

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  Step 0: Acquire Noodles

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  Step 1: Load your Broth Bro with noodles

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  Step 2: Pour in your water

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  Step 3: Take on the go!

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  Step 4: Turn over to cook / heat the noodle when you are ready

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  Yum!

Inspiration

We set out to transport the quintessential college student experience to anywhere you like, in a portable package. We were frustrated that ramen noodles are not convenient to pack as a to go meal. We set out to make instant noodle into any time noodle, and make a product useful for a useless and improbable scenario.

What it does

Our product allows the user to convert a standard cup noodle package into a take-on-the-go container and travel with this popular comfort food. Users can pre-pour in hot water, take the cup noodle on the go without fear of soup leaking, and keep their noodles and soup separate until eating. Whenever they are ready ready, users can have a delicious, perfectly cooked cup noodle anywhere. Finally, the product collapses compactly and can be easily stored in any bag.

How we built it

The final prototype mostly consists of materials that are as accessible as ramen noodles should be: paper, tape, and some string. The bottom plate is a 3D printed plate.

Challenges we ran into

Right off the bat, we knew we would not be able prototype the ideal collapsing silicone strainer and sealing gaskets that we envisioned for our product (view a similar strainer here). Without enough time to source, mold, and cure some sort of rubber product, we opted to make a expandable representation out of paper and string.

We had originally planned on making a minimum viable product using 3D printed base, lid, and strainer. However, our 3D printer failed overnight. However, we overcame this challenge by scrapping together materials around our workspace and prototyping by hand.

The last and most frustrating challenging was not a technical challenge but a logistical one. We were working on campus and got locked out of our workspace in the middle of the night. Reluctantly, we left all of our work and belongings and trudge, jacketless, home in the -15°C weather.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

This is our first makeathon! Our main goal for this makeathon was to make something for fun, and we definitely succeeded.

In addition, we are proud that we were able to overcome the challenges during the process. It was demoralizing to lose the chance to show off our work in its full capacity, but we believed that this good idea would speak for itself even with the most bare bones prototype.

Finally, we are proud of our purely mechanical invention! We believe in simplicity and elegance, so we made a no-fuss product that does its job, no electronics needed.

What we learned

Time management. We definitely felt the time crunch, especially when our 3D printer failed overnight. We learned some important lessons in rapid prototyping and how to make things more efficient to maximize success.

What's next for BrothBros

First, we want a plastic prototype of our parts. This will allow us to refine the interfaces in the product and discover any problems with the design. Next, we'd want to add in straps, plastic strap adjusters, sealing gaskets, and clasp-on closure to make our product fully functional. Then, we stress test the product to identify failure modes and improve it. Finally, we will make this a mass-producible and widely available product if Nissin sponsors us.

Built With

• autodesk-fusion-360
• good-ol-arts-and-crafts
• inventor
• prusa-i3mk3