[Description]: A simple project of creating a CAD model of a Swedish fish. This is more of a silly than practical project, but was generated because of the excitement I got when someone in MITERS mentioned McMaster had Swedish fish drawings. [Processes Applied]: Solidworks [Summary]: So this project started out …
[Description]: If you have ever had to deal with moving large and heavy objects, you may have come to appreciate the value of a good lever. When it comes moving heavy equipment, nothing quite beats the stout johnson bar. In this project I set out to refurbish two johnson bars …
[Description]: In MITERS we have a tradition of building electric vehicles and riding them around campus/cambridge for fun. This projects goal was to create a comfortable, peppy, and robust electric trike while also limiting its top speed for safety. [Processes Applied]: Soldering Battery Welding Electronics Metal Working Welding Painting [Summary]: …
[Description]: In the earlier part of the pandemic I was able to find a pneumatic surface grinder and bandsaw at an industrial auction (Online) in waltham, MA. What I didn’t realize at the time of purchase was just how good a bandsaw could be… let alone a $40 one. [Processes …
[Description]: In my opinion a key component in setting the feel for a hacker space is the sign. I finally made a decision to build a sign for MITERS that lives up to the space and the projects that are made there. [Processes Applied]: Laser Cutting Basic Electrical Work (Soldering, …
[Description]: I wanted to create a personal gift for a friend, roughly from scratch, and I decided to create a picture frame. [Processes Applied]: Laser Cutting Wood Working [Summary]: For this project I decided to create a custom wooden picture frame with a topo-map of upstate New York for a …
[Description]: Recently I came across some decent and rusty cast iron at a junk-yard and was able to pick it all up for $5. So I decided to re-season it from scratch because I had no idea what the history of the cast iron was (and what it had come …
[Description]: When working on another project I came across an issue with the tooling at MITERS. Our only MITERS saw was battery powered… but in the last year we threw away all our old tool batteries and standardized. So none of the batteries fit the MITERS Saw. That’s when I …
[Description]: This project was centered around a junk-yard find, a battery powered Quick-fill device for inflating inflatables. The goal was to improve its ability to quickly fill an inflatable raft using high discharge lithium instead of C-cell batteries. [Processes Applied]: Soldering & Wiring Battery safety [Summary]: The device originally ran …
[Description]: Every professional has a high quality item related to their field of study or work. This item both holds significance to themselves but also to their jobs. Along these lines, as an experimental physicist and tinkerer, I have decided to create a personalized custom case for a set of …
![[5.2021]A Rainy Day with Swedish Fish: When McMaster-Carr is Missing a CAD model](https://andrewbirkel.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Swedish-closeup-1440x1222.jpg)
![[10.2020] Give me a lever long enough…: Refurbishing two Johnson Bars](https://andrewbirkel.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/nggallery_import/IMG_20201031_215117-1440x1440.jpg)
![[02.2020]Cruzin’ in style: An Electric Trike](https://andrewbirkel.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/nggallery_import/IMG_20191227_144433-1440x1440.jpg)
![[06.2020]$40 for Precision: A Bandsaw of class](https://andrewbirkel.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/nggallery_import/IMG_20200508_185306-1440x1440.jpg)
![[07.31.19]A Simple Hacker Space Sign](https://andrewbirkel.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/2019-07-31-20.53.27-1440x1440.jpg)
![[07.13.19] A Frame from Scratch – Custom Picture Frame Gift](https://andrewbirkel.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/2019-07-18-20.56.51-1440x1440.jpg)
![[07.25.19] Blasting Away the Rust: Re-Seasoning Cast iron from Scratch](https://andrewbirkel.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2019-07-24-21.52.20-1440x1440.jpg)
![[7.06.19]We Don’t Need no Stinking Batteries: Wiring up a battery powered MITERS Saw](https://andrewbirkel.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2019-07-04-14.25.33-1440x1440.jpg)
![[07.20.19]Inflate with MORE POWER: Upgrading hand-held tube inflate-or](https://andrewbirkel.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2019-07-20-21.12.45-1440x1440.jpg)
![[05.2019]Look like a Pro, Be like a Pro: Custom Caliper Case](https://andrewbirkel.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/2019-06-02-01.58.27-1440x1440.jpg)