Here are a few personal or school related projects that I have done over the years.
My master's project in mechanical engineering at Cornell University. The Analysis and Design of a Resonant Robotic Rolling Polyhedron. This is a progression of the design process. First MATLAB analysis was completed (click this image for an animation), then simulation using a physics engine in C++, then SolidWorks modeling and finally fabrication. For more information, see the full Report.
My undergraduate senior project in mechanical engineering at Union College. The Design and Fabrication of a Micromechanical Dragonfly. For more information, see the full Report. About the video: This is a mounted test using a strobe light as a light source. The strobe was set just slightly at a different frequency than the wings, so that the motion through the flapping cycle is visible. The flashing image is due to a third frequency at which the camera captured movie images (I recorded this using a cheap point and shoot camera).
Improvement on a design for the machine shop at Union College. A student presented the design in blue, but in order to make it out of sheetmetal (grey) a 2D drawing was needed.
An analysis using Abaqus FEA software of the stress concentrations around a circular hole. For this analysis I designed the mesh and solution parameters.
A computational fluid dynamics (using Cosmos FEA software) study of a Baja Beetle normally and with a “dog” on top. At left is a velocity plot, at right is a pressure plot.
A mold to create a three piece slide lock out of polypropylene. For a mechanical design class in Mexico. My partner and I built the mold using the machine shop on campus and then molded our lock. An assembly of successfully molded parts is at the right.
A self controlled car that was designed to switch directions when it came in contact with a wall. It completed three laps of an 8 ft. track in a competition, coming in third out of 29. This project was completed in teams of three with very simple materials including paper clips, dowels, wheels and a motor.
An AM radio transmitter that can broadcast music over a 100 foot radius. I designed this transmitter as a senior project in high school using only ordinary components.
A motor/generator designed to alternate functions at the flip of a switch. Powered by 9 Volts / Provided power for an LED
A magnetically self-orienting sundial corrected for magnetic North. This sundial floated in a pan of water in which it was free to rotate.
A working homemade speaker made from low-cost materials including printer paper and a refrigerator magnet
