Assignment 5: Product Architecture of a Fingernail Clipper

Assignment 5: Product Architecture of a Fingernail Clipper

Problem 8.2:

The standard fingernail clipper is an excellent illustration of the integral style of product 

architecture. The clipper system consists of four individual components: lever (A), pin (B),

upper clipper arm (C) and lower clipper arm (D). Sketch a fingernail clipper, label its four 

components and describe the functionality provided by each component

The standard nail clipper is a portable tool used for trimming fingernails and toenails. It can also

be used for filing your nails and removing the dirt from behind your nails. 

There are three main parts of the nail clipper:

                      

            Base

It has two pieces consists of upper clipper arm and lower clipper arm connected to each other by 

a bolt at an angle of 5 degrees to each other. At the ends of these two pieces is the sharp part

of the nail clipper that is used to cut the nail. 

These ends are shaped to fit around your fingernail or toenail.

                        Lever

It is connected to the base by the same bolt that connects the two main pieces of the base. 

The bolt is constructed to allow the leverage part to rotate 360 degrees about the bolt. 

When the piece is lifted forward and in, it parallels itself to the base (Figure 1). 

It can also be moved to a position 43 degrees at an angle to the base which allows the piece

 to compress the two sharp end pieces of the base.

File

The file is connected to the base of the nail clipper by a circular shaft at the opposite end 

of the clipper. It can rotate about this shaft 360 degrees, which allows for easy access of

the file. At the end of the file there is a sharp point which allows the user to remove dirt 

from behind the nails.

The three main parts of a nail clipper all work together to provide the necessary leverage

 to compress the sharp ends of the base. The nail clipper works to trim your nails when the 

second piece is at an angle to the main part of the clipper. 

When the second part is compressed with your nail underneath the sharp end of the two pieces,

 that portion of your nail is removed.