GRIPA: Material-Efficient Acrylic Cup Holder
Designed and fabricated GRIPA, a reusable acrylic cup holder engineered to provide stable, heat-safe handling while minimizing material usage.
Developed a two-piece interlocking structure through iterative prototyping, laser cutting, and heat forming to balance strength, simplicity, and manufacturability.
Design Overview
GRIPA was designed as a reusable alternative to disposable coffee sleeves, with a focus on structural efficiency and material reduction. The primary challenge was developing a two-piece system that securely stabilizes the cup while preventing rotational slip during handling.
Using CAD, I refined the cup ring diameter, connection interfaces, and handle offset to improve load distribution and ergonomic comfort. Multiple paper and acrylic prototypes were produced to evaluate fit, stiffness, and assembly behavior before final fabrication.
The final design was laser cut from acrylic and heat formed to achieve controlled bends while maintaining structural integrity. The interlocking connection points allow the components to assemble quickly while creating a rigid grip structure capable of supporting a filled cup.
Skills Used
CAD Modelling
Laser Cutting
Heat Forming
Rapid Prototyping
Connection Design
Ergonomic Design
Material-Aware Design