Precision Engineering
A series of machining projects focused on manufacturing precision mechanical components from engineering drawings. The capstone piece was a working miniature steam engine assembled from multiple machined parts.
Technical Insights
Worked with aluminum and brass stock to achieve tight tolerances and repeatable fits.
Used milling, turning, boring, and drilling processes to fabricate custom components.
Verified parts with precision measurement tools to ensure dimensional accuracy and assembly compatibility.
Design Highlights
Machined and assembled a functioning steam engine with pistons, linkages, and mounting plates.
Fabricated a threaded nut and bolt set demonstrating accurate internal/external threading.
Manufactured a candlestick using lathe operations to achieve smooth, symmetric geometry.
Followed full engineering drawings from raw stock to finished assembly.
challenges and impact
Challenge: Maintaining tolerance stack-ups across multi-part assemblies (especially in the steam engine).
Impact: Strengthened practical manufacturing intuition, blueprint interpretation, and quality-control discipline.
Built a foundation for communicating effectively with machinists and designing parts for manufacturability.
Skills and Tools
Lathe · CNC Mill · Drill Press · Bandsaw · Belt Sander · Manual Milling · Metalwork · Measurement Tools · GD&T Interpretation · Assembly
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