This document is Andrew Parmar's design portfolio. It summarizes his educational background in mechanical engineering and interests in areas like concept development, mechatronics, and CAD software. It then highlights some of his project experience, including designing a spherical drive system motorcycle that won awards, prototyping techniques for large composite spheres, conducting a button study for improved tactile feedback, providing hardware design for PLX Technology including thermal and tolerance analysis, and helping with PCB layout for Symmetricom.

1. Copyright © 2014 Andrew Parmar
Andrew Parmar
Design Portfolio

2. Copyright © 2014 Andrew Parmar
To my mother.
The unlearned architect.

3. Copyright © 2014 Andrew Parmar
Inspiration & Background
Art
The ability to create beauty for the sole purpose
of human appreciation. Life would be barren
without it. The x factor.
Engineering
Logical thinking and problem solving. The art of
science is the application of scientific principles
to constantly improve the quality of life.
Entrepreneurship
Practicality is at the base of my beliefs. Great
ideas and inventions need to be brought to users.
B.Sc. Mechanical Engineering
San Jose State University 2012
w/ Honors
Academic Concentration: Design
Interests:
Concept Development
Mechatronics/Robotics
Materials
Industrial Design
Prototype Fabrication
CAD
SolidWorks
Pro/Engineer Wildfire
Creo Parametric
Pro/Mechanica
AutoCAD

4. Copyright © 2014 Andrew Parmar
Spherical Drive System, Mechanical Engineering Senior Project
1st Place Winner
Best Technical Presentation
American Society of Mechanical Engineers,
Student Design Presentations. Vallejo, CA
(2012)
Finalist at the Collegiate Inventors Competition,
US Patent Office, Alexandria, Washington D.C.
(2012)
3rd Place at the Silicon Valley Innovation
Challenge, Elevator Pitch, SJSU (2011)
Awards
The spherical drive system (SDS) is an electric
motorcycle that maneuvers on spheres instead of
traditional wheels. It couples MEMS gyroscopic
sensors, accelerometers, and a computer control
system to achieve stability and omnidirectional
maneuverability absent in traditional motorcycles.
www.sphericaldrivesystem.com
Concept Designer & Mechanical Lead
- 55 in. Wheel base.
- 22 in. Spheres
- 450 Lbs
- 6 Stepper Motors – 3/Sphere
- Dual swing arm suspension
- Steer by Wire
- Battery Chemistry - LiFePO4
- Closed loop control system for self
stability.
Specifications

5. Copyright © 2014 Andrew Parmar
Spherical Drive System - Prototyping
My team and I developed techniques for
creating large composite spheres of
layered carbon fiber, fiber glass, and an
industrial polyurethane coating.
Over a two year period, we were able to
develop a rolling chassis prototype as seen
in the lower right photograph.
Dual hoops with ball transfers above and below
centerline, capture the sphere in place.

6. Copyright © 2014 Andrew Parmar
AVID Technologies – Button Study
Avid Technologies
approached Vavni to
provide a revised
solution for button
actuation on 5 modules
of the their new
flagship mixer as shown
in the module below.
Foam Compression Solution Elastomeric Mold Solution
• Use of Poron urethane foam as
the compression agent.
• Greater force control
• Reduced button click noise
• Use of Shore A Silicone injection
molded parts.
• Provides greater tactile
feedback with snap action as
elastomer buckles.
• Increased apparent tactile feel.
Light pipe
Foam Elastomer
Key caps

7. Copyright © 2014 Andrew Parmar
PLX Technology
Project Argo was a turnkey development endeavor in
providing PLX technology hardware for their proprietary
Capella chips. The 1 RU chassis uses QSFP interface with
extended PCIe support.
The unit required extensive analysis during the design
process via tolerance and FEA structural studies
alongside sheet metal design. In addition I also
performed thermal calculations while helping the team
source the right heat sink for the Capella chips.

8. Copyright © 2014 Andrew Parmar
PLX Technology – Fan Module Design Analysis
Blind Mate USB: Tolerance Study

9. Copyright © 2014 Andrew Parmar
Symmetricom Inc.
This project at Symmetricom involved working
with board layout engineers and Symmetricom
marketing to develop the PCB fab layout. Tasks
involved:
• Component sourcing and selection
• Sheet metal design
• Cable routing
• Silkscreen design
• Creating technical drawings.

10. Copyright © 2014 Andrew Parmar
Mechanical Engineer | Designer
p: +1 408 500 6097
e: aparmar@vavni.com
Andrew Parmar