The local food pantry needed carts that could be loaded into vans and rolled over rough pavement. We designed a compact frame with locking casters and folding handles.
Prototyping
Students mocked up a plywood version to test handle height and wheel spacing before welding steel.
Fabrication notes
We switched to a thicker tube wall mid-project after the first prototype flexed under 300 pounds. That change added weight but improved durability.
What we learned
Testing with real volunteers early in the process saved us from a full rework later on.
