Here’s some cool projects I’ve worked on, some have been for productivity, some have been for fun, and some to find out if I could.
- Fluke 289 Multimeter Case – This was one I did to gain some experience and show some engineers what I can do. Most multimeter cases involve a lot of opening, unpacking, and packing back up. Not everyone has the discipline to do that. This is my solution — make it easy to get to stuff and easy to pack up.
- Go-Kart RPM Meter – Who doesn’t want a digital dash on their go-kart? When you have an Arduino and a Hall Effect sensor, all this can be yours. I would have put a shift light, but it only has one speed.
- RC Car Control with Logitech Wheel – Why not use video game controls to run your RC car? I made that happen with a Raspberry Pi and some Python code. The RC car radio needs a PPM signal. All it takes is turning the Logitech control inputs into the right output.
- HAM Radio Case for Icom 5100 – I’m a licensed HAM radio operator. I was looking for a better way to haul around my HAM radio that is quick to set up. I designed and 3D printed the parts to fit it in a Harbor Freight case.
- “Odyssey of the Mind” Car – This was an extracurricular school project. Part of it was to build a “car” we could drive around indoors with almost no budget. I picked an old bed frame out of the scrap pile, scrounged a couple of motors out of the junkyard, welded and 3D printed parts until we had something that ran. It was a great opportunity to learn to design, fit weld joints, and work out all the problems of making stuff fit where it doesn’t go.
- Sound/Light Board – I enjoy running sound systems for local performances and musicals. I’ve done this for productions at Shawnee Playhouse, Moravian University, Moore Elementary School, and Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts. Some are 9 to 5, bright spirit, and fidiler on the roof.
- Personal PC Build – It started with an old PC that my friend’s dad threw out because it had been water-damaged. I brought it back to life, earned $0.17 mining Bitcoin, and raised the electric bill by $100. But that got me started. When it was time to build a nice PC, I designed and assembled a high-performance computer that I use for coding and games.
- 3D Printing Projects – I’m constantly modeling parts with Onshape and then 3D printing them. I also print robot parts, brackets/holders, templates, or whatever is needed.
- Machining – We have a 2hp mill and lathe in our shop. Many of the parts like pulleys, axles, and the beater bar were made or modified by me on those machines. I’ve also made parts like throttle brackets, bike parts, and whatever else is needed for a specific project.
