Misc Rapid Prototypes
I used to work in an aerospace calibration laboratory for the USAF, where we calibrated test equipment of all sorts. These are some designs that I've created which are currently still in use by that lab.
Most of these projects are pretty simple, but I hope this exemplifies my experience with rapid prototyping and holistic problem solving.
No one asked me to make any of these designs and this was not a part of my normal job. I made them because there was a need for solutions, and I enjoy making things and solving problems.
Above is a design I created for lowering thermometers into a temperature bath to a very specific height, and then staying there.
The black geared cylinder can be rotated to raise or lower the thermometers, then locked into place by pushing the cylinder onto an internal locking mechanism.Â
Pictured left is a simple passive breakout box I made for a procedure at my calibration lab that required some diodes and a resistor to be placed in a certain way prior to a test instrument's input. I sketched out a wiring diagram, soldered it together on a prototype board, then designed and printed a case for it. Not very pretty, but it works with only about 3 hours of my time committed.
This is a mount for calibrating the transducers of the temperature calibration chamber. The technicians were having trouble keeping the transducers positioned correctly, so I made a simple solution.
On the right is a reverse engineering of a special hose clamp for our 3D printer, whose hose clamps had broken.
On the right is a simple mount for a stand that holds a platinum resistance thermometer, which is basically a very thing long thermometer. Having this means a technician doesn't have stand there and hold the thermometer.
This a cover for our ambient temp/humidity readout. The readout has no button to simply turn off the screen, and during night vision calibrations the room must be completely dark. So, I made a simple cover that attaches at the back and swivels upwards.
This is a simple reverse engineering of an oscilloscope's power button that broke. I made this, printed and installed it in less than an hour.
A kickstand I made for holding a tablet sized piece of test equipment that is quite heavy. Nothing amazing here, but also very little time or materials expended in finding a solution