Mechanical Design

In Spring 2026, I was a part of the E177: Mechanical Design, a project-based upper-division engineering course at Harvey Mudd College focused on the design, analysis, and fabrication of mechanical systems. The course emphasizes iterative design, precision manufacturing, and working within real-world constraints.

The Iris Box

For the six-week culminating project, my team designed and built a five-petal mechanical Iris Box that opens to reveal a hidden bowl when the tabletop is rotated. The goal was to create a manually actuated mechanism that was both mechanically intricate and visually satisfying as a piece of functional decor. While inspired by a concept seen online, all components were independently designed and fabricated by our team.

To increase the complexity of the project, we implemented a five-sided enclosure to match the iris geometry. This introduced unique fabrication and assembly challenges, as traditional clamping methods relying on parallel faces were not possible. Internally, arranging components in a five-fold symmetric layout required careful planning to maintain balance while avoiding interference between parts. Material choices and overall system dimensions were also carefully selected to stay within a $350 budget without sacrificing performance or aesthetics.

To learn more about the project, click the links below to access the full project website and demo video!