About
My passion is product design; I love taking on challenging design problems and developing robust, cost effective solutions. I have 7 years of experience in mechanical design; in that time, I’ve worked on projects ranging from candle molds and custom guitar picks to exhaust manifolds and lube pumps. I’m proficient in 3D CAD design, and I currently use Fusion 360 for freelance work.
Specialties:
• Design for fluid flow:
Optimized geometry for pulsed (like an exhaust manifold) and steady state (like coolant passages) flow conditions. Do not currently possess CFD analysis capability for freelance work, but have years of experience optimizing flow passages for high performance applications, and can apply that experience to any fluid design project.
• Design for 3D printing:
There is a common misconception that 3D printers can create any shape that can be imagined. While 3D printing can create shapes that are impossible with traditional manufacturing techniques, it has its own, unique limitations. Without a solid understanding of these limitations and how to account for them, 3D printing projects can become very frustrating very fast.
• Design of mechanisms:
Designing a system of parts that work together requires a considerable body of knowledge on top of simple part design. Assemblies must be robust against manufacturing variation, assembly variation, and have appropriate surface finishes in order to ensure that the parts will always go together and function as intended.
• 2D drawings and GT&T:
In most cases, the 2D drawing is still the legal document that defines the part; developing a drawing with a robust datum structure and proper tolerances is a critical part of turning an idea into a producible reality.
Other proficiencies:
• Design for sand casting: material selection, optimizing parting lines, core design.
• Seal design: radial and face seal o-ring interfaces, as well as gasket sealing flanges.
• Bolted joint design: proper bolt size and grade selection, grip length, thread engagement.