Daniel's Maker Blog

Braille Board Mechanical Display

Sat, 10 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Why Build?

I had been researching mechanical displays facinated by the sounds of their rapidly firing mechanisms. I stumbled upon mechanical braille displays which supplied digital texts to the visually impaired. These are typically powered by piezo electric acutuators which deform in response to a current. While small and reliable these acctuators are expensive driving the price of a mechanical braille displays to upwards of a few thousand dollars. I decided to try to build my own for a more affordable price.

Extruder Flow Compensation

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Problem

Extrusion patterns can be caused by a a variety of possible problems like those outined below from Mihai Designs

Other patterns can be caused by motion systems with core XY printers being the most ubiquitous. Many of the direct causes of the issues are not 100% known and these patterns have only been improved using slicer settings or switching to single gear extruders (can sacrifice extrusion capabilities)

A Home Climbing Wall

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Why Build a Climbing Wall?

Recently I had been introduced to climbing by a friend and began to become more invested, while reading up on climbing during the excitement, I stumbled upon the term “woodie”. A woodie was simply a custom built climbing wall made for use right at your house. How cool! More climbing and a perfect excuse to build something massive and start another never ending project? I’m in!

The 100 Printer Build

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Following Matt The Printing Nerd’s open source plans. The 100 is a largely 3D printed highspeed core XY style 3D printer.

All parts were printed on my Ender 3 with direct drive sherpa mini extruder.

Baseline Antenna Calibration

Sat, 01 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Completed as an intern at Turner Engineering Summer 2024

Purpose

The testing teams in the field use various antennas to measure radiated emmitions for various jobs. For this project the team needed to test a wide range of frequencies so monopole, bi-logic, and horn antennas were used. Each has their own frequency operating range and needed to be calibrated with amplitude correction files (calibrated to resolve any discrepenices in that specific antenna and coax cable) and tested in the lab for a baseline.

Bus Communication Box Renders

Sat, 01 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Task

Working as an intern at Turner Engineering Corp. I was tasked with creating wiring schematics and box renders for a bus communication proposal. Performed in addtion to my projects as “test asset manager” I had demonstrated my skills for CAD on a previous project report, and they proved a valuable asset for this project.

Streets of Rodeo LED Lap Timer

Sat, 01 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Inspiration

Made in collabortaion with my brother. During the pandemic we enjoyed riding our electic scooter and bikes as fast as possible around the circuit we established on our driveway. Soon enough we wanted to know our lap times, and if we were breaking previous records. The soultion we came up with was an LED sign similar to that which you would find at a track meet. It would sense when the scooter passed the start and end the timmer when you finished in the same spot, displaying your time for a complete loop. When shopping for a large LED sign, we could not satisfy our size requirements, (which were unnecesaryly large) so, we decided to build our own sign.

Physics Class Catapult

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Project Requirements

The catapult project is a project assigned every year at my school for AP Physics I students. The objective is to design and build a catapult which can consistently launch a small square bean bag into a minertaure cornhole as distance of two science desks, or about three meters. There is a $50 dollar budget for the catapult and every item used must be factored into the total cost including those which the builder already owned. At the end of the project all catapults compete in a bracket style tournament to determine the winner. Spolier… we won.

Storage Box Modifications

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This post is based on a report prepared for Turner Engineering Corporation.

Previous Set-up / Issue

Before the boxes were modified, tape handles were added to some boxes to make them easier to pull out from the shelf. However, this solution proved inadequate. Some boxes are also hefty, making them more difficult to manipulate prior to these alterations. The corrugated bottoms of the boxes caught on the rim of the bakers rack, making them more difficult to slide off the shelf.

Copper Roses

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Process

Copper roses appear incredibly complex, however the process is simple when broken down into parts. First the stem is made. For this rose, I formed the stem from a copper pipe, which was first annealed with a blowtorch to soften. Then it could be flattened out into a sheet of copper, and the different peices of the stem cut out with tin snips. This was then rolled up with needle nose plyers and a vice carfully until the desired shape was achived.

Eyeshadow Pallet

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Description

Made as a gift to house some high-end indie eyeshadows. These eyeshadows have crazy iredecent properties so they needed an equally elegant box.

The box was made from walnut and spruce scrap which was sourced locally and milled by my brother. Black inlays were printed in resin and hold the eyeshadow disks.

Messenger Style Purse

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Description

Desgined for my mom as a Christmas present. One of my proudest projects to date, it features a ocean theme and a unique and stylish boxy silhouette. The purse includes a zipper phone pocket, and a spacious leather linned main zipper pouch.

Physics Lab | Ballistic Pendulum

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The Idea

I was sitting in Physics class one day and we were learning about the basics of conservation of momentum. My teacher then explained how for some problems, such as a ball striking a pendulum, conservation of energy could be used to find unknowns such as the resulting speed of the pendulum. Then I thought, “Hey! I have an airgun and have always wanted to measure it’s muzzel velocity, I wonder if I could rework this problem to find the speed of the projectile?” Sure enough when I talked to my teacher after class about my idea I learned I wasn’t the first person in history to have this idea. This concept was called a balistic pendulum and was used to measure the muzzel velocity of firearms for before modern equipment since it’s invetion in 1742. I decided I would build my own once I got home.

Climbing Wall Pullup Bar

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Made from scrap wood. Bent rebar slots into holes on the climbing wall for easy setup and removal.

Sherpa Mini Extruder Upgrade for Ender 3

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Using a sherpa mini extruder system and custom mount to fit around the custom fan shrouds.

Extruder Setup

Sherpa Mini Extruder with Minimus Fan Shroud and dual 5020 blower fans.

“Ender 3-Up” Open Source Project

In the future I plan to combine the whole system as an open source project for the Ender 3. The goals of this project would be to make a lightweight, high cooling, direct drive extruder for the Ender 3 and similar systems. The plug and go design would allow users to easily upgrade their older printers to compete with the rapidly advancing print speeds and quality of modern FDM printers.

Computer Carrying Bag

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Description

Designed to for my grandma to fasionably store her laptop while traveling.

New Techniques and Features

Expanding sides for extra storage room.
All leather padded handle

Why Leather Working?

I was introduced to leather working years ago when I visited Tandy Leather with my dad. He had previously stumbled upon it and thought it was a cool store. I’ve been designing my own leather goods and crafting them by hand ever since.

Printing Astroneer Game Assets

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

MSLA Resin Printing

MSLA resin printing is a type of resin printing which uses a UV LCD screen to harden a UV curable resin. It is great for making small and detailed parts.

Raised Pink Stiched Belt

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Description

The belt which I used daily finally gave way to large tears, so I decided it was time to learn how to make my own.

The belt is made from full grain veg tan on front and back for extra longevity. The belt buckle is salvaged from a 70s style belt from Goodwill.

Road Cycling Handle Bar Bag

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Description

Custom designed and crafted for my brother to store items while road cycling.

New Techniques and Features

Wet formed sides from 3D printed form

Why Leather Working?

Mini Backpack

Mon, 02 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Description

Designed as gift. A cute and functional mini backpack from genuine leather.

New Techniques and Features

Piping on edges
adjustable leather shoulder straps
fabric lining
wet formed top pannel

Climbing Wall Triangular Volume

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Description

Volumes add another dimension to any climbing wall, and are a great way to add new moves and interest. The shape was modeled in Fusion 360 so that side lengths and angle measures could be easily calculated. Then the peices were cut out from 3/4" plywood The angles cut with a table saw and hex nuts were added before painting and assembly.

Plein Air Painting Setup

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Plein Air is a french term which means “in the open air” and refers to the act of painting outdoors. Although this style was the original style of painting, I was introduced to the concept by the youtube videos of James Gurney creator of the Dinotopia book series.

One Hand Bat

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Description

Turned from mapel and painted with spray paint. A one hand bat is used to improve cordination and barrel precision when hitting.

Rattlesnake Wallet

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Description

Designed as an upgrade to the previous wallet I made for my dad. The original was one of my first ever leather working projects. It included rattlesnake skin from a snake which was killed near our house. This skin was saved and transffered to the new wallet along with some more from another snake. Aesthetics and ruggedness were preferred over slim factor in this design.

Thorsen Yearbook

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Description

Desgined as a college faternity yearbook. Extensive custom carvings replicating the Greene and Greene architectural style of the Thorsen Mansion in San Francisco. finished with antique wallnut stain.

Some references include:

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