Andrew Birkel

Building things. Learning new skills. Having fun doing it!

About Me

Project list

Friends

About Me

(Photo Credit – Deanne Fitzmaurice)

My Name is Andrew Birkel,

I am currently a Research Specialist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in the Plasma Science Fusion Center.

I graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a B.S. in Applied Physics with a concentration in Electronics and Optoelectronics.

I enjoy hiking, electronics, machining, tinkering, sailing, camping, and taking things apart to understand how they work.

Andrew Birkel

Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Research Specialist – (PSFC-HEDP)

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – B.S. Applied Physics

[email protected]

Favorite Projects

[02.2020]Cruzin’ in style: An Electric Trike

[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...

[05.2019]Look like a Pro, Be like a Pro: Custom Caliper Case

[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...

[01.05.19]Louis of the Creek: Custom Short-staff for Christmas present

[Description]: This projects objective is to create a short-staff based off of the staff of the main character from the popular cartoon Craig of the Creek....

Complete Projects

[1.21.17] Book Side Table & Book Shelf

[Description]: Making decent modular shelves and side tables using cheap home depot boards, threaded rod, washers, and nuts. [Processes Applied]: Wood Working Horizontal Bandsaw Or hacksaw 3D printing Tap and Die Re-threading using a die Tapping 3D printed components [Summary]: The goal of this project was to create shelving that …

Collaboration, Complete Projects

[10.31.16] Laser Cutting Pumpkins [Collaboration]

[Description]: Carving Pumpkins at Peter‘s Halloween Party using a high powered laser. [Processes Applied]: Laser Carving [Summary]: This project was a simple use of a high powered laser, 50Watts @ 1064nm from Universal Laser Systems, to cut pumpkins for Halloween. To hold the pumpkin in place we used a an optical …

Complete Projects

[11.30.16] Chinese Induction Heater

[Description]: Creating a experimental setup designed around a Chinese induction heater which allows for the insertion of alumina crucibles. [Processes Applied]: Solidworks (CAD) Laser Cutting Soldering [Summary]: For an experiment I needed a setup that allowed me to slowly slide an aluminum crucible through the center of the coil of …

Complete Projects

[11.1.16] Go-Pro Cube & Other Bike Trip related projects

[Description]: Creating components for a group electric bike trip up the white mountains. 3D Go-Pro Cube that allows you to take 360 video with multiple go-pros. Bike Phone Holders for data logging. [Processes Applied]: Solidworks Welding Waterjet-ing 3D Printing [Summary]: The Go-Pro cube was a simple design which takes a …

Complete Projects

[10.13.16] California Day – Light Cake Cooking

[Description]: One of our friends and MITERS members was heading off to the great big California Tech Region, so Dane and I decided to bake him a cake… with science. [Processes Applied]: Baking Lights Insulation Eye Protection [Summary]: Initially we started out with (2x) 500 watt halogen work lamps and a …

Complete Projects

[10.10.16] Wax Heater

[Description]: To create a better way to melt enough wax to create a wax seal with my custom bronze seal. [Processes Applied]: Machining Electronics Re-purposing Wood Working [Summary]: The aim of this project is to create a method to melt enough wax to create a wax seal quickly and with …

Complete Projects

[8.3.16] Sintillator Fabrication (CNC)[Work Related]

[Description]: Manufacturing scintillation material into specific shapes for a diagnostic package run at The Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) Omega Facility. [Processes Applied]: Machining CNC [Summary]: This project was difficult due to the fragile nature of the plastic scintillation material I was working with. The issues for this material; (1) …

Complete Projects

[9.15.16] Reeve Doorbell

[Description]: A friend is moving into a new space where he setup a few machines, and every shop space needs a door bell. So I decided to refurbish a working xylophone door bell, with a bit of customization. [Processes Applied]: Waterjet Laser Cutter [Summary]: This project took more patience than …

In-Progress

[7.30.16] MITERS Related 3D Printing Projects

[Description]: General 3D printing projects, Mainly utility projects regarding 3d printing in 3d [Processes Applied]: 3D Printing [Summary]: In General, This project is aimed various small projects where I used 3D printing to modify some organization in MITERS and general useful. [I will probably occasionally add to this in the …

Collaboration, Complete Projects

[Summer ’16] Atomic Cocktail

[Description]: Design and fabrication of a cocktail glass that takes its inspiration from the Atomic Cocktail (drink, song, and Fallout in-game item). [Processes Applied]: 3D Printing Solidworks [Summary]: After completing my Milkshake refurbishment project I wanted to create a cool looking drinking glass. One of the things I always thought …