Miscellaneous projects from over the years
Made a simple wheel truing stand for bikes. So simple but effective. Future design(s) will incorporate two-sided truing abilities and maybe a built-in dishing tool.
Here’s one example of a calibration stand that I designed and built. This fixture helps make operations, testing, and manufacturing more efficient. The fixture is made of aluminum, so its lightweight but sturdy. The threaded mounting holes are helicoiled for longer lasting threads and the dowel pins help locate the components to be calibrated. I designed and 3d printed the tool-holding blocks to make using this calibration stand a breeze. The next step for this project is to write some Python scripts to aid in the calibration/validation measurements. After its deployment to the production line, this fixture will be an important tool to ensure quick and easy calibration, saving valuable time and engineering resources.
I’m always working on my bikes and this was a peculiar case where I designed and made a key component that was necessary to ride. I purchased a used RockShox dropper post that did not come with mounting hardware. With no desire to buy just the hardware from the manufacturer and a thirst for riding my bike that day, I took to CAD software to engineer a new mounting clamp.
After making measurements, printing a prototype, tweaking things, and finally printing a final version of the clamp, I had something in hand in just a few hours. I 3d printed it out of onyx (plastic with chopped carbon fiber in it) so it was strong enough to withstand excessive mountain bike riding. I was able to ride that day thanks to my rapid prototyping skills.
That was two years ago and the clamp is still mounted to the bike. It has never loosened or broken, even after countless crashes and bike abuse. I’d go as far to say that this clamp is better than the original, for it is just as durable, lighter, and less brittle than cast aluminum.
14” Meade telescope at the University of Montana campus observatory.
At University I created a means to control our telescope observatory remotely. This meant we could gather data and take pictures of the night sky year round, even if it was freezing cold outside. I setup the instrument chain and developed procedures for running the 14” Meade telescope and it’s data collection instruments. These methods are still used for remote observations today.
A wooden tray I made for someone’s Christmas gift. Nothing too special; I used recycled everything, applied a nice stain, and used my original design.
I made a fun little wind chime/mobile art piece for my Mother using recycled wood, cut wine bottles, and an old cymbal. This piece was super fun to design and make. Cutting wine bottles uniformly can be tough! This mobile catches the wind and you can hear peaceful gong-like sounds from the cymbal, topped with the clinking of the wine glass.