Nathan Jones' design portfolio includes summaries of three projects: 1. A test fixture for micro-scale measurements that uses a double-cantilever beam design and Hooke's law to determine how hard materials are being pushed. 2. A dry erase marker vending machine accessed with a Pitt ID that uses RFID, stepper motors, and an Arduino to select and dispense markers. 3. A video game called CaveTrekker that allows visually impaired users to play games using tactile and audio feedback without visuals by orienting the user and communicating messages through a control lever and sounds.

1. DESIGN PORTFOLIO
for Nathan Jones

2. TEST FIXTURE
for micro-scale measurements

3. Summary
■ Task
– Determine how hard we are pushing on a material (in nN and mN)
■ Purpose
– Understand adhesion characteristics of various materials
■ UtilizedTheory
– F = kx (Hooke’s Law)
■ F = How hard we’re pushing (Unknown)
■ K = Inherent spring constant of a cantilevered beam
■ X = Measured displacement

4. Summary (Contd.)
■ Method
– Double-Double Cantilevered Beam Design
■ OpposingCantilevers: Prevents lateral movement as
beam is deflected
■ Two-Layers: Prevents angular deflection at beam tip
3D Model of the Beam Assembly
showing carbon fiber spacing blocks

5. Design Overview

6. Design Overview (Contd.)

7. Roles & Exposure
3D Modeling
Manufacturing
-Manual mill
-3D printing
Project Manager
ANSYS analysis
Design revision & prototyping
Engineering theory calculation

8. DRY ERASE MARKER
Vending Machine

9. Demonstration

10. Project Summary
■ Task
– Create a mechatronic device that would benefit the University of Pittsburgh in some
manner
■ Purpose
– Provide engineering students access to dry erase markers
■ Method
– Accessed by Pitt ID, allows user to select marker color and quantity
– 3D printed tumbler selects marker from hopper and accurately dispenses it

11. MarkerVending Machine
UI Inputs:
- RFID
- Keypad Arduino 1:
Handles User I/O
UI Outputs
- LCD
- Stepper Motors
Arduino 2:
Drives hopper
stepper motors

12. Roles & Exposure
Project Manager
Design Lead
Software Lead
3D Modeling + FDM Printing
Design revision & prototyping
Systematic hardware + software
troubleshooting

13. CAVETREKKER
AVideo Game SansVideo

14. Demonstration

15. Project Summary
■ Task
– Utilize market research, consumer feedback based UI/UX, preto- and proto-types to
find and solve a problem
■ Problem
– Visually disabled persons cannot participate in conventional video games
■ Solution
– Create a video game that allows a user to play without visual feedback

16. Project Summary (Contd.)
■ Method
– Tactile direction feedback to orient user
– Audio feedback to communicate game messages
– Control lever advances the user forward by one space

17. System Diagram
UI Inputs:
- Orientation
- Movement
Computer:
Game Logic
Arduino:
Translates User
Interface I/O
UI Outputs
- Key
- Wall Presence

18. Roles & Exposure
Member + Advisor to
manufacturing group
Prototype Deployment
Market Research
Feedback based design
Design revision & prototyping

19. THANKYOU
for viewing my portfolio!