Engineering Portfolio
Spider Vehicle
COMINg soon!
The semester-long project is to design a vehicle that will go through a pre-made course. Most groups create a car of some sort, but mine decided we would like to think outside of the box and challenge ourselves. In the last couple of years, there has been one other group that has tried a wheeled vehicle, but unfortunately, it was unsuccessful. Our group is the second to do this. Our vehicle will be the first to use six legs for movement. We are moving from the define to the prototyping phase of the design process.
We have two Mechanical Engineers (me and one other), we are in charge of the physical design and working with the Computer Engineer to create a design that integrates with his circuits to fit his needs. The Computer Engineer is working on creating a functional circuit as well as program all 18 servos to walk over the terrain. The Civil Engineer has the task to create a bridge deck that is up to code and will work well with our vehicle. The Civil Engineering Technology student will make sure that the pilings will connect to the bridge deck given our requirements as well as be up to code.
UPDATE 3/14/2020: Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, MSU will be going online after springbreak for the foreseeable future. The requrements for this class have changed. Previous semesters had been able to use the second half of the semester to work on prototypes working toward the final vehicle that will go through the course. This semester will be more reports for the second half of the semester. Once our professor told the class the news, she came over and asked if we would like to continue on our project since she could see our excightment about our unique solution for this course. Most of our work will be remote to help to reduce the spread as well as make sure we stay healthy.
UPDATE 4/14/2020: We have been able to finish designing our second prototype. Unfortunately, we lost access to the lab on campus. We will print our second prototype this summer when we gain access to a 3D printer. Even though this is now a personal project, we will keep our professor updated on our progress since even she was excited about our project.
Intership Projects
I’m not sure how much I am able to share from my internship at SeaCast. I did many things from day to day. I designed and implement tooling to increase production and improve repeatability, updated part drawings by taking CMM measurements from customer-supplied part, put together part portfolio as well as take photos for a possible website update, created an instructional video on how to more effectively machine out of tolerance parts, assisted with various experiments to improve shell molds, created new system for organizing stock and had miscellaneous jobs including, worked in the Florescent Penetrant Inspection line, visual inspection, coated parts in anticorrosive, etc.
Matchbox Car
Throughout the semester, in my Manufacturing class, we built this car using many different processes. At the end of the semester, the class raced them down a ramp. Mine, unfortunately, didn't do very well, but I learned a ton from this build. We were the first semester to build this car from scratch, so it was a learning curve on both ends.
Shell was vacuum formed
Wheels were injection molded
Frame was a bent sheet metal with threaded holes
Engine block was sand cast then milled
Bearings were formed from powdered metal
Seats were laser cut
Axels spun on a lathe
Hacky sack Launcher
This project was unsuccessful on launch day. The goal was to hit a one foot in diameter target about 15 to 20 feet away. We got three tries, but our launcher in the PVC pipe broke on the first launch. The peg in the front was movable and helped to be able to set the launching tube, that had a hinge on the backside, to multiple angles. Once the rubber band cannon was at the desired angle, the wooden piece in the center was pulled back to the desired distance for a specific firing power.
Golf ball Heist
This was my first project as an undergraduate in Mechanical Engineering for EMEC 100. This project was by far the most creative “problem” to solve. The goal was to take a ball out of a safe without reaching in or having anything touched by the “thief”. The safe had a 30 by 30cm space to put down your contraption to steal the golf ball that is just sitting on a stand in the center of the safe that only consisted of walls.
Materials that were permitted had to be common household objects. The ramp that my group built was constructed out of popsicle sticks, string, and cardboard and held together by hot glue. The square base would help the thief line up the ramp while it was standing up. There was a hinge at the bottom to keep it lined up. The ramp would fall, and the string at the end would knock the ball into the ramp, and the ball would come out
Headlights
In high school, I had a 2002 Ford Explorer, the old headlights didn’t have a good spread of light and were dim. I wanted to upgrade the headlights and, therefore, safety. I looked all over the internet for replacements, and I couldn’t find any that looked good. I did a bunch of research and found a way to use the reflector housing that I had but put a projector lens inside. I also got new wiring and xenon lightbulbs. I got the headlights running, and they are still working today.
Wireless Charger
We had a project in my engineering class in high school. The goal was to create a “case for an electronic device”. At the time I had a phone with wireless charging capabilities. I was able to find the electronics on Amazon and reverse engineered the circuit board and the coils to create a cavity for the electronics. I also wanted a phone stand so I make the 3D printed part prop my phone up. Unfortunately, I dont’t have any photos of this project.