Power Tool - Battery Powered Domino Joiner

Goals : The power tool project was created to push students CAD and rendering skills past their limits. It focuses on redesigning an existing tool, keeping the functional components in mind. It pushed students to design around a brand, rather than for their own image.

15 Week Project - Summer 2026

User Concerns

Safety

Workplace safety is always a number one concern. The tool should keep hands away from moving or potentially hot parts.

Ergonomics

The tool should be comfortable, highlighting comfortable touch points with buttons or selectors in convenient spots.

Workplace Maneuverability

Enable the user to move around the workplace freely, Whether this is weight reduction, handles, or other methods.

Pain Points

Reference

Align piece with wood and reference lines. Not easily repeatable and time consuming.

Set up

Adjust height, depth, and mortise size with various adjustments

Plunge

Power on and slowly make cut. can be shaky, especially when on a thin or uneven surface.

Plug In

Insert power cable and vacuum line. requiring a power cable tethers the user to a specific range

Festool Brand Analysis

Sketch Ideation

This sketch phase explores a variety of directions, narrowing in on specific problem areas I found through research.

INTERNAL UNDERLAY

After tearing down a biscuit joiner and taking basic measurements from the current domino joiner, I created this internals underlay to sketch over for further designs.