On the underside of the dispenser body, out of sight, lies a 1:1 tape segment length slider.  Here, the user can adjust how long each segment will be cut.  

The last revision of my design sketches for the final external form.  I chose a streamlined aesthetic, and dimensioned the body accordingly.  

Size and weight dimensions were chosen, along with material, to give a sensible form factor that also conveyed quality, and also was heavy enough to not move when tape was pulled.  

TacTape was an exercise in executing a successful aesthetic design with mechanical elements, in a fully-functional and fully-realizable design.  TactTape is an automatic desktop tape dispenser, which dispenses consistent segments of tape using a mechanically-powered system and very simple user experience. Outwardly intuitive, TacTape dispenses tape segments of user-selected length and conveys simplicity and elegance in form, without compromising the necessary complexity and functionality of the internal mechanism.

For the full design report, click here.

After making compromises for the internal structure of the mechanism, you can see how, after much work, the final design came very close to matching the initial concept.

The exterior of TacTape was designed to fit with other high-end office products, such as ACCO Brands' Swingline 747 Stapler.  My father had this stapler as I grew up, and I always admired its blend of aesthetic and usability.  TacTape was designed to sit comfortably next to that particular stapler.  

When at rest, tape is fed through the stainless steel cutting blade, like so. It is supported from underneath by a textured polymer which prevents sticking.  

After the tape is pulled forward, the blade is drawn downward and cuts the tape to the desired length.

As the tape is pulled forward, its contact with this assembly causes a ratchet to wind.  When that ratchet reaches a point predefined by the length-selector on the underside of the dispenser, the cutting arm is lowered and the cut is made.  

Additionally, and the most difficult of our engineering tasks, was ensuring that a tab of tape protruded from the front of the device as the dispenser was reset after each pull.  This sprung ratchet accomplishes that, so that the dispenser can be used again and again without outside interference.  

A complete view of the mechanism with tape roll for reference.  

On the interior of the die-cast aluminum shell is this housing for the mechanism.  Holding each gear in place, it scissors open to allow easy replacement of the tape reel, and also holds it in place with a bearing and insert.  

Ease-of-use and a pleasant interaction experience with reloading and pulling the tape was critical to the success of a fully-considered end product.  To accomplish this, we made the pulling force required for the mechanism minimal, and the reloading sequence as easy as loading any other dispenser.  

The final rendering of TacTape's exterior.