EV360: Intra-Frame Truss
Our team experienced an extensive failure of the drive train on September 11th due to mis-alignment of the drive wheel. After this design set-back, we have decided to give higher priority to frame alignment. Part of this new press for alignment includes a truss to connect the frame at locations where there does not yet… Continue reading EV360: Intra-Frame Truss
Mechanical Metamaterial Twist Structure
February 2018 The initial design was published in an article by Frenzel, Kadic, and Wegener called, “Three-dimensional mechanical metamaterials with a twist” (2017). Unlike most materials, this structure naturally produces a torque when a downward force is applied. We will attempt to replace the joint-arms with artificial muscles in order to initiate a twisting motion… Continue reading Mechanical Metamaterial Twist Structure
Climbing Rope Bag
March 13, 2018 Rather than buying a rope-bag, I decided to design and create two of my own – one as a gift and one for myself. The design was informed primarily by the shape of my coiled rope, which is generally a long and narrow bundle. The bag itself reflects this, and has room… Continue reading Climbing Rope Bag
EV360: Monowheel – Seat
The EV360 project has many components, not least of which is the seat. Due to the aggressive position that our team driver will adopt, it is imperative that the seat feels as though it provides sufficient stabilization for the driver while maintaining an aerodynamic form factor; the solution space lies somewhere in between a road-bike… Continue reading EV360: Monowheel – Seat
Windshield Wiper FMEA
As part of a mechanical analysis for design course in fall 2019, we were tasked with evaluating the failure modes for a Dorman 42547 windshield wiper arm, testing these, and presenting our results in a white paper. I took responsibility for both initiating the failure mode brainstorming, as well as developing precise CAD models for… Continue reading Windshield Wiper FMEA
EV360: Brake Caliper Mount
This is a continuation of a series of posts about the EV360 Electric Monowheel Vehicle, a student-led project through Duke University’s Innovation CoLab. Due to the unique shape of the mount, machining the mount on the mill out of steel would have been far less time efficient than metal 3D printing the part from SAE… Continue reading EV360: Brake Caliper Mount
Mars Rover Happy Meal Toy
For an Engineering Innovation class (Fall 2016), I was part of a project team tasked with designing, creating, and proposing a formal marketing pitch for a Happy Meal Toy. I designed the axle-group and wheels, and collaborated with my group mates to negotiate critical-to-fit dimensions. Our initial ideation process revolved around what type of toy… Continue reading Mars Rover Happy Meal Toy
Senior Design Capstone
In a team of four, we have been tasked with developing a 3D-printable structure capable of isolating vibrations originating from within a Bruker 70/20 7 Tesla MRI Machine. A testing setup for scanning mice requires this vibration isolation in order to improve the cranial imaging quality. I was hand-selected for this project as a result… Continue reading Senior Design Capstone
EV360: Handlebar Mount
One of my responsibilities during late August and early September 2019 was to find or design a secure mount for the standard mountain bike handlebars that were found at the local bike Coop. After having chosen the handlebars and stem, I set to work designing a mount for the bars which would allow the driver… Continue reading EV360: Handlebar Mount
Submersible Robot
10/12/2018 In a team of 6, we were tasked to design, prototype, and test an underwater robot capable of distinguishing and retrieving three objects from the bottom of a pool. I spearheaded the tread-and-wheel-base design and prototyping. I am also responsible for the for documentation for this project: from sketches, through SolidWorks files, to testing… Continue reading Submersible Robot
3D Printed Bike Strap
10/25/2020 As part of a fall 2020 Rapid Prototyping course’s focus on compliant systems, I was tasked with designing and printing a device to save the pant-leg which inevitably becomes trapped in the chainring while riding casually. Though I personally would lean towards a fabric strap which allows the pant-leg to be rolled up away… Continue reading 3D Printed Bike Strap
Gyroscope
Assignment: Build a Gyroscope to the specifications provided in the given SolidWorks part files, limited modifications allowed. The Gyroscope was held upright and mechanically driven to a starting rotation speed of 1680 rpm and released to a hard smooth base surface. The elapsed time was recorded until Gyro frame touches base surface. I was extremely careful while machining… Continue reading Gyroscope
Thoughts on Flash(drive)
11/21/17 Below are some thoughts on a flash-drive design which is not very intuitive to operate. I have created some sketches of the problem and potential solutions:
Variable 1x MTB Gear Concept
11/24/17 How great would it be to have a mountain bike with a 1x cog in the front and have perfect chain line no matter what gear you’re in? Here’s a variable 1x gear concept I drew out that could allow just that:
Soft-Robotics Muscle
The goal of this design was to create an artificial muscle capable of gripping and contracting in several directions. This is part of ongoing research for Jiefeng Sun’s doctoral thesis through Colorado State University’s Robotics Lab. I contributed to Jiefeng’s research through January and February of 2018. In order to initiate artificial muscle movement in… Continue reading Soft-Robotics Muscle
Shaft Design and Manufacturing
As part of my senior design course, we were challenged in groups of six to design and manufacture a shaft to include two press-fit bearings and a tensioning belt. As I am finding more often in my senior courses, I naturally took a leadership role in the design discussion. I assumed responsibility for validating moment… Continue reading Shaft Design and Manufacturing
Jolán von Plutzner 