Experimental Systems | Electromechanical Design | Process Development
THE CHALLENGE
Create a repeatable, safer system for producing nanoparticles by electrically exploding a continuously supplied wire inside a controlled chamber.
Create a repeatable, safer system for producing nanoparticles by electrically exploding a continuously supplied wire inside a controlled chamber.
MY CONTRIBUTION
I designed the automated wire-feed mechanism and the mechanical system surrounding a commercial high-voltage discharge unit. My work included the explosion chamber, custom high-current contacts and carbon slip rings, indexing and clamping mechanisms, powder-collection hardware, controls integration, and safety provisions. I iterated the system through CAD, fabricated hardware, benchtop testing, and operating trials.
I designed the automated wire-feed mechanism and the mechanical system surrounding a commercial high-voltage discharge unit. My work included the explosion chamber, custom high-current contacts and carbon slip rings, indexing and clamping mechanisms, powder-collection hardware, controls integration, and safety provisions. I iterated the system through CAD, fabricated hardware, benchtop testing, and operating trials.
OUTCOME
The resulting apparatus converted a manually intensive experiment into an automated, repeatable process and supported patentable system architecture for continuous nanoparticle production.
The resulting apparatus converted a manually intensive experiment into an automated, repeatable process and supported patentable system architecture for continuous nanoparticle production.
SELECTED EVIDENCE
Photographs of the chamber, controls, contacts, and operating system; high-speed discharge image; public patent schematics showing the feed and cam mechanisms.
Photographs of the chamber, controls, contacts, and operating system; high-speed discharge image; public patent schematics showing the feed and cam mechanisms.
SKILLS
Mechanical design · Mechanisms · SolidWorks · Automation · High-voltage test hardware · Controls integration · Safety systems · Prototyping · Process development
Mechanical design · Mechanisms · SolidWorks · Automation · High-voltage test hardware · Controls integration · Safety systems · Prototyping · Process development
