I designed a process for optimized validation of parts on the production line.

Gas systems typically contain relief valves that will release pressure to prevent over-pressurization of the system. The pressure set-point of these valves is critical to ensuring the safety of the user(s) of mechanical devices. I created a methodology for testing and adjusting the set-point of relief valves to go into new Markforged products.

Many times I would be asked to validate relief valves for our products. I had no test equipment and had to install valves into existing machines - which was an invasive and time consuming process. I finally designed some hardware to mount a relief valve on another testing setup I made - the gas control panel test fixture. I then wrote a Python script to control the gas flow and monitor the pressure of the system. Based on the fixture setup upstream of the valve, the user could specify a pressure offset - which I calculated from test data that I collected. Once the relief valve opened to release pressure, the set-point was recorded and compared to our machine specifications. The script would then tell the user how many turns of the adjustment screw to make using an adjustment fixture that I designed and built. The procedure was implemented on our production line to make relief valve validation a breeze. This particular fixture was so satisfying to make because it made the validation process so easy that anyone could do it while completely freeing up my time that would’ve otherwise been used checking relief valves.