Mechanical Superiority

Work

Bicycle brake adapters

Remote CAD and rapid prototyping for a customer in Virginia: models rebuilt so they were easy to change, proven in printed plastic, then made in 6061-T6 aluminum.

Remote CAD and rapid prototyping

Bicycle brake adapters

  • The projectWhen a customer in Virginia came up with a design for a product he wanted to market, he ended up buying some CAD software and teaching himself how to use it. After a long learning curve, he was able to produce sufficient models, but they were finicky and every change he tried to make resulted in problems that were time-consuming to correct. When the customer contacted me initially, he was looking for someone to machine the parts he already had. But once we started talking, it became clear that what he really wanted was design help.
  • The resultsBy taking his models and re-creating them in a way that design changes could be made rapidly by a professional, the iteration process was cut down from days to minutes. This enabled us to work together remotely to rapidly 3D-print plastic models on his end based on the design changes to check fit and finish of the parts. That way we could both be certain that the end product was going to fit and perform flawlessly before cutting metal. With my manufacturing experience I also helped the customer to pair up with a CNC shop to get multiple runs of parts machined and delivered to the satisfied customer. The parts bolted up and fit the first time, and they looked great in 6061-T6!
  • Year2024
Model CAD model of the drive-side brake adapter
What was drawn
Built Two machined aluminum brake adapters
What was built
1 CAD model of the drive-side brake adapter
2 CAD model of the brake-side adapter
3 White printed prototype adapter fitted to the bike frame
4 Printed prototype holding a brake caliper on the bike
5 A batch of machined adapter parts laid out on paper
6 Two machined aluminum brake adapters

More work

CAD assembly of a riveted aluminum travel pod Mark standing beside pod number 001, his first completed travel pod, in the shop

Air Force travel pods

Reverse engineering and production, with EhPro.

CAD layout of six cloud signs, numbered one to six Mark in the shop holding two finished aluminum clouds

Aluminum cloud signs

Aluminum fabrication with an artistic element.

Annotated CAD model of the tractor's aluminum roof frame The finished Ford 641 with its aluminum frame and white canvas top

Ford 641 tractor frame

Aluminum tube frame with a canvas top.

CAD model of the topsoil screener: a tilted screen deck on springs over a steel base The screener's steel frame standing in the shop

Topsoil screener

Industrial machinery, designed and built.

CAD model of a rear control arm with spherical bearings at each end Two machined control arms on a blue moving blanket

Racecar rear control arms

Small custom parts for performance.

Tell me what you're trying to build

A drawing, a model, or even just a napkin sketch: I can help you to refine your idea and make it a reality. If you're not sure about the finer particulars (like tolerances or materials selection), that's totally fine. With my experience, we can help nail the details so that the design turns out right the first time.

mechanicalsuperiority@gmail.com 970-587-3271 What to send for a quote