Nickolas Saavedra

Mechanical Engineering at the University of Florida

www.linkedin.com/in/nickolas-saavedra-5ba8ab62

Nickolassaavedra@outlook.com

Projects

Relevant Coursework

Technical Skills

Honors

Projects

RaveBio
This following section delves into RaveBio, recounting our journey through conceptualization and fabrication of two prototypes, final design refinement, participation in the UF Big Idea competition, and overcoming hurdles throughout each product development and launch phase.

Shaker Table Prototype 1

The initial prototype of our shaker table represented our minimum viable product (MVP), demonstrating its potential functionality. Despite a few hiccups and areas for improvement identified, we strategized enhancements to refine its performance, which we will outline in the upcoming section.

What:

Our objective was to engineer and construct a shaker table capable of providing three unique motions: linear, orbital, and double orbital. This versatile device aimed to enhance cell culture and bacterial growth, presenting a groundbreaking solution in the scientific research field.

How:

To achieve our goal, we first identified customer needs and preferences, setting the stage for our design approach. We meticulously assessed current market offerings and led a dedicated team of six engineers to strategize the optimal initial prototype. Our approach included designing the motion subsystem, generating machine drawings, and using 3D printing to prototype and validate part compatibility. This iterative process allowed us to refine our designs based on the prototypes. In addition, we conducted torque calculations to identify the minimum motor requirements and to specify the top plate's minimum thickness.

Results:

The initial prototype, RaveShaker Table 1, effectively demonstrated all three programmed movements. This interactive system allows users to control the system through five different interfaces, offering a broad range of usability. Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) techniques are applied in our design to minimize rattling, enhance efficiency, and ensure manufacturability. The design reflects our commitment to effective and easy-to-manufacture solutions.

Shaker Table Prototype 2
The initial prototype of our shaker table represented our minimum viable product (MVP), demonstrating its potential functionality. Despite a few hiccups and areas for improvement identified, we strategized enhancements to refine its performance, which we will outline in the upcoming section.

What:

Post completion of the first prototype, the spotlight was shifted to RaveShaker Table 2.0. This phase involved assembling a new team, carefully handpicking seven mechanical engineers to be part of the mechanical design team, electrical design team, and business proposal team. The core focus was to create additional prototypes addressing the limitations of the first model, ensuring user-friendliness, modern aesthetics, component reliability, and a safety factor of 2.

How:

The first step was to reflect on the first prototype and identify the areas requiring enhancement. We took these insights and guided the new team towards addressing them in the redesign. This process entailed reengineering the internal components, and validating these changes through cyclical loading calculations and beam deflection tests. Due to unforeseen supply chain issues, our team had to adapt and manually manufacture some parts, further deepening our involvement and understanding of the design process.

Results:

The RaveShaker Table 2.0 was a clear evolution from its predecessor. Our team's proactive response to supply chain issues and the hands-on approach to part manufacturing led to a more robust design. This second prototype effectively addressed the challenges faced in the initial design, showcasing improvements in user interaction, aesthetic appeal, component reliability, and safety.

Business Plan Competiton + Pitch
Participating in the UF Big Idea Business Plan competition, RaveBio presented a comprehensive business strategy and prototype.

Why:

Entering the UF Big Idea business plan competition provided an opportunity to showcase RaveBio's innovative product, test our business acumen, and network with esteemed professionals including CEOs, Fortune 500 executives, entrepreneurs, and professors. This platform allowed us to obtain valuable feedback, and garner potential investment opportunities.

How:

Our team was coordinated to complete the first prototype before the pitch date.
We developed our business skills using resources from the UF Heavener College of Business and the UF Innovation Institute.
We compiled a thorough business plan, including financial projections, company story, and details about the product and business strategy.
Presented at the UF College of Engineering stakeholder dinner as a distinguished student among the Graduate program.

Results:

Our efforts led to a commendable 2nd place finish among 150 entries,
earning a $10,000 prize and a year of free office space.
The competition necessitated the creation of a comprehensive 53-page business document outlining our 3-year plan with financials and a schedule A process.
It also led to multiple follow-up investor meetings,
2 patents pending on 2 proprietary designs. This competition experience proved invaluable in shaping our business strategy and expanding our network.

Magnet Integrated NameTags
I created unique, 3D-printed, magnet-integrated name tags for my teams UF Big Idea competition, customizing each for individual appeal.

What?

As a participant in the UF Big Idea competition, our team of three recognized the need for unique, customized name tags that would leave a lasting impression on our esteemed audience. Our audience included a range of influential figures such as former executives at Xerox and Fuji Photo Film, banking executives from Wells Fargo, multi-million dollar financial consulting professionals, technical aerospace industry directors, and a host of multi-million dollar CEOs.

How?

I undertook the task of creating these name tags. Drawing inspiration from our team's logo, I designed individualized name tags that maintained visual aesthetics despite varying name lengths. I then 3D modeled the name tags, using precise measurements to ensure accuracy. The name tags were brought to life through a carefully orchestrated 24-hour 3D print, programmed to pause at crucial moments for the insertion of magnets and for a filament color switch.

Results?

The end result was an array of visually stunning, high-quality name tags. Each 0.5mm layer height product boasted an embedded magnet and personalized name, with a professional finish that mimicked injection molding. The only post-processing required was light sanding, a testament to the success and precision of the design and manufacturing process. These name tags successfully served as effective conversation starters and memory aids, enhancing our team's professionalism and branding during the competition.

Reverse Engineering Report
In this project, Nickolas Saavedra, a Mechanical Engineering student, meticulously reverse-engineered an automatic center punch. Through a series of comprehensive tests and analyses, including material composition, density calculations, energy and fluid mechanics analysis, and white light interferometry, he gained a profound understanding of the tool's design, functionality, and manufacturing process. This knowledge was then utilized to recreate a precise SolidWorks model of the center punch.

What:

The project involved a detailed analysis of an automatic center punch. This included a comprehensive study of its material composition, functional aspects, and a recreation of its SolidWorks model. The components examined included the red ball handle, main spring, piston, piston pin, center chamber, inner spring, nozzle, and nail.

How:

Material Analysis: Mohr's hardness test, spark test, and burn test were used to determine the material composition of the various components. The red ball handle was determined to be made of polystyrene, while the other components were found to be made of 400-series steel.
-Density Calculations: Water displacement and mass measurements were used to calculate the densities of various parts of the center punch, including the top spring, piston, center barrel, inner spring, piston pin, and nozzle.
Energy Analysis: The centerpunch was considered as a closed system for the analysis. The energy equation was used to calculate the energy transfer within the centerpunch and the workpiece. Energy dissipation due to viscosity was calculated by finding the amount of energy created by the deformation of air. An energy balance was performed to determine where the remaining energy from the centerpunch resulted.
Fluid Mechanics Analysis: The analysis determined the velocity profile, shear on the piston, air volume flow rate through the clearance, and energy dissipation due to viscosity. The velocity profile was analyzed between the piston and the center chamber. The length of the piston travel, which was 7.87 mm, was used in the energy analysis.
White Light Interferometry: This technique was used as part of the analysis to provide valuable data for the project.
Solidworks Model: A SolidWorks model of the center punch tool was created through reverse engineering, the use of calipers, and the physical object.

Results:

The project resulted in a comprehensive understanding of the center punch's design, functionality, and manufacturing process. The density calculations provided specific densities for various parts of the center punch. The energy analysis revealed that the centerpunch releases a small amount of energy in the form of heat. The fluid mechanics analysis provided insights into the velocity profile, shear on the piston, and air volume flow rate through the clearance. The SolidWorks model was successfully created, providing a digital representation of the center punch tool. These findings provide valuable insights for future design iterations and improvements.

Small-scale Heliostat
"Gator Rays" engineered a small-scale, cost-effective heliostat, optimizing sun-tracking and focusing, for the UF Renewable Energy Conversion Laboratory.

What?

In our Mechanical Engineering Design 2 course, our team, Gator Rays, was assigned to design a Small-Scale Heliostat for Industrial Solar Processing for our client, UF Renewable Energy Conversion Laboratory. The heliostat was required to have the capability to move a highly reflective surface in two axes to track the sun throughout the day, concentrate sunlight onto a central thermal target, eliminate shading effects while having a small footprint, maintain high optical efficiency with concentration ratios over 1000, and keep the overall cost below $100/m2. Additionally, our team also developed marketing material for the project in the form of a 90-second pitch and a full 1-hour session overview, including a panel of industry engineers and professors.

How?

We produced a professional quality written document, keeping in mind the formatting guidelines of AIAA for publications in technical conferences. The document included a title page, an executive summary expressing our Hedgehog Concept, design revisions, team self-assessment, a report Gantt Chart, IP Protection, a Customer Needs Map with Kano Model Feature Evaluation, a Bill Of Materials, a Purchase Order, and detailed calculations for Manufacturing & Assembly Costs. It also included a thorough Final System Design Analysis, complete part drawings with toleranced dimensions, a manual assembly plan, and a detailed CAD model.

Results?

We successfully developed a design for a Small-Scale Heliostat for Industrial Solar Processing that meets the needs of our client, the UF Renewable Energy Conversion Laboratory. The final design was thoroughly evaluated and revised to ensure compliance with all requirements and to facilitate future prototype fabrication by Mechanical Engineering Design 3 students. Our project's marketing material was also well-received, providing a clear and concise overview of our design and its benefits. The whole process not only resulted in a solid final design but also equipped us with valuable experience and skills in engineering design, collaboration, project management, and communication.

Oral Presentation Template.pptx

Poster.pptx

Skateboard Power Train Development

This report showcased the design and development of a skateboard power train showcasing gear ratio selection, case design, customer needs research statement, powertrain geometry selection, and board requirements.

EML3005_Fall21_Final ReportLocal.docx

Time of Flight / DC Fan Control System

Utilizing a microcontroller, a time of flight (TOF) sensor, a 5V DC fan, a clear tube, and a ping pong ball, a control system was developed utilizing labVIEW to maintain the ball in a desired location within the tube by controlled the fan input voltage and developing a control system.

What?

Developed a controller for a fan/tube/ping pong ball apparatus where ball position feedback is measured using a Time-of-Flight (TOF) sensor.
Created two types of controllers: one using a static feedforward element to counteract gravity and another using a dynamic feedforward element (gain scheduling) that adjusts its value based on the ball's position in the tube.
Quantified the system performance for both controllers.
Compared the performance of the two controllers.

How:

Applied concepts of gain scheduling, a technique for controlling nonlinear systems where dynamics change from one operating condition to another.
Gained experience with quantifying system performance and comparing the performance of different controllers.
Learned how to develop a controller using methods learned during the semester, including manual tuning, system model identification, and pole placement.
Results:
Completion and credit for three milestones logged assignments, a final report, and a fully optimized system.

Saavedra_N_Final_Controls.docx

Relevant Coursework

NonTraditional Manufacturing Methods Course (graduate)

An in-depth research paper and presentation was made by my class group on nontraditional manufacturing methods, focusing on powder bed fusion, Directed energy deposition, and fused deposition modeling.

Studying under Dr. Hitomi Greenselt, the class was able to learn about the following areas in nontraditional manufacturing processes:

Ultrasonic Machining (USM): This process uses ultrasonic waves to remove material from the workpiece. It's particularly useful for hard and brittle materials like ceramics and glass.
Water Jet Machining (WJM):This technique uses a high-pressure water jet to cut and shape materials. It's often used for materials that can't withstand high temperatures.
Abrasive Jet Machining (AJM): In this process, a high-velocity jet of abrasives is used to remove material from the workpiece. It's commonly used for cutting, drilling, and deburring processes.
Electrochemical Machining (ECM): This is a method that removes metal by an electrochemical process. It's often used for hard materials and complex shapes that are difficult to machine by traditional methods.
Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM): This process uses electrical discharges or sparks to remove material from the workpiece. It's often used for hard materials and complex shapes.

Laser Beam Machining (LBM): This technique uses a laser to cut materials. It's often used for precise cutting and drilling processes.

Plasma Beam Machining (PBM): This process uses a plasma torch to cut materials. It's often used for cutting thick materials and for materials that can withstand high temperatures

Failure of Materials in Mechanical Design Course (graduate)

This course focused on the following areas in failure of mechanical design:

Role of failure prevention analysis in mechanical design.
Definition and principles of engineering design.
Challenges in design due to technological advances.
Design objectives including force transmission, failure prevention, inspectability, non-interference, manufacturability, cost-effectiveness, weight and space considerations, serviceability, and market competitiveness.
Modes of mechanical failure: elastic deformation, plastic deformation, rupture or fracture, and material change.
Failure-inducing agents: force, time, temperature, and reactive environment.
Locations of failure: body type and surface type.
Specific failure modes: force and/or temperature-induced elastic deformation, yielding, brinnelling, ductile rupture, brittle fracture, fatigue, corrosion, impact, fretting, creep, thermal relaxation, stress rupture, thermal shock, galling and seizure, spalling, radiation damage, buckling, creep buckling, stress corrosion, corrosion wear, corrosion fatigue, and combined creep and fatigue.

Finite Element Analysis Course (graduate)

In this course, some of the topics covered are:

Application of global equations in structural analysis.
Calculation of element forces and recognition of tension and compression in structural elements.
Application of thermoelastic stress-strain relations in structural analysis.
Use of the method of superposition for solving thermal stress problems.
Application of thermal stress analysis in two and three-dimensional problems.
Application of force equilibrium in structural analysis.
Analysis of statically indeterminate structures.
Use of interpolation schemes in finite element analysis.
Decomposition of strain energy density.
Use of Galerkin's approach in finite element analysis.
Application of load application methods and displacement boundary conditions in finite element analysis.
Use of CAD tools for creating solid models with appropriate dimensions.