Brendan Warren

14 posts

How Its Made: Desktop Radial Engine

April 28, 2016

Final Report Main Project 2016

My journey to building a desktop radial engine was a challenging one, but one I am very happy I completed. I went into this project with very limited machining skills and only classroom knowledge of design for manufacturability and assembly. I knew the aesthetic I wanted to achieve, but doing it through new mediums would…

Desktop Radial Engine: Reflection

April 28, 2016

Brendan Warren

Final Report Main Project 2016

Ultimately I was very happy with the result of my project. While it had its up and downs, as with any project of this magnitude, the end result was something I was truly proud of. I was able to get much more out of this project than I had initially expected and have found a…

Radial Engine Update

April 15, 2016

Brendan Warren

Update Weds April 13 2016

I had some issues posting (my house internet went out) and then senior design pulled me away for two days, so I’m posting a little late. Sorry! My project is done…ish. Everything is machined and assembled, but the motor doesn’t work. The issue lies within the timing system. Basically, I tried to cut corners to…

Desktop Radial Engine Update: 4/6/16

April 6, 2016

Brendan Warren

Update Weds April 6 2016

This past week all of the machining (not including the stand) was finished. I was also able to assemble and spin the engine up to what I think will be full speed for the first time using a drill (~1000rpm). However, all of this was accomplished without the pushrods installed as my project hit its first…

Desktop Radial Engine Inspirations/Progress

March 30, 2016

Brendan Warren

Impact of 20th Century design movements plus update Weds March 30 2016, Student Work, ZZ 2016

I’ve been making fairly steady progress on the desktop radial engine. I currently have 57 machined pieces completed, with 47 left, yet most of these are not unique and thus the machining process is a little faster. All of the complex parts are done. I was also able to get a large chunk of the…

Desktop Radial Engine Updates

March 16, 2016

Brendan Warren

Student Work, Update Weds March 16, 2016

I’ve been steadily plotting away on my little engine. I currently have 28 parts done. Cameron, in the machine shop will be making my master cylinder on the cnc milling center tomorrow. The bronze for the pistons will arrive Friday along with the 100 bolts the assembly will require and the tubing for the air…

Radial Engine Top 5 Constraints

March 9, 2016

Brendan Warren

Student Work, Top 5 Constraints 2016, ZZ 2016

My project has been progressing since the last update. I have made a more developed CAD model (just missing valves) and have already procured the majority of the raw materials. Luckily the aluminum was cheaper than I thought and I was able to get it fully spec’d locally which makes the guys in the machine…

Main Project Design Review: Desktop Radial Engine

March 2, 2016

Brendan Warren

Main Project Design Review 2016, Student Work, ZZ 2016

As I begin to finalize my design for the final project, the excitement is building. On first impression I hope for people to want to understand how such intricate relationships between parts work together to generate a seemingly simple operation, a spinning shaft. I have been designing my engine in a way to show off…

Main Project Inspirations

February 24, 2016

Brendan Warren

Main Project Inspirations 2016

I was really struggling to come up with an idea for this project. I originally wanted to create a product, something novel, as that’s where I want my career to go. Something where I could show you fancy hand sketches and then some sweet 3D printed prototype in a week or so, but I couldn’t…

Brendan’s Aspirations

February 17, 2016

Brendan Warren

Aspirations 2016, Student Work

As I complete each milestone of my final semester of college, I often find ask myself what I’m working towards. What am I aspiring to do? Why have I gone through the rigors of engineering school; pulling all-nighters to turn in a seemingly insignificant homework assignment on time and stressing over minute details within complicated…

Brendan Warren’s Skills

February 10, 2016

Brendan Warren

Skill Sets 2016, Student Work, ZZ 2016

Like most of the other students in this class, I’m a mechanical engineering student. I’ll be graduating in May, so I have gone through most of the standard engineering courses. I also have basic machining skills and significant SolidWorks and laser cutter experience. Additionally, I’m a certified ski instructor with many industry connections worldwide. If…

Contemporary Industrial Coaster

February 3, 2016

Brendan Warren

Student Work, Upcycle Project Report 2016, ZZ 2016

brendan, coaster, contemporary, industrial, LED, lights, modern, project, upcycling, warren

As a personal fan of the contemporary industrial aesthetic I wanted to capture it within my upcycling project. I appreciate the simplicity of this aesthetic, but also how it doesn’t sacrifice strength or quality. I wanted something that would be useful in my life, but also add a subtle intricacy that was not immediately evident. I…

Industrially Influenced Drink Coaster

January 27, 2016

Brendan Warren

Student Work, Upcycle Progress 2016, ZZ 2016

brendan, coaster, industrial, modern, upcylce, warren, wood

As a personal fan of the contemporary industrial aesthetic I wanted to capture it within my upcycling process. I appreciate the simplicity of this aesthetic, but also how it doesn’t sacrifice strength or quality. I wanted something that would be useful in my life, but also add a subtle intricacy that was not immediately evident. I…

Apple Design Aesthetic

January 19, 2016

Brendan Warren

Aesthetic Explorations 2016, Student Work, ZZ 2016

aesthetic, aluminum, apple, modern, sleek

Under the sometimes manic guidance from Steve Jobs, Apple product designers were able to redefine the tech industry with a sleek aesthetic that has now become the norm within the industry. The aesthetic is characterized by clean lines with the absence of clutter and, more recently, with an outer shell of aluminum. The original inspiration…