Hello, my name is Max Rathburn, and I am a mechanical engineering student at The University of Memphis. I grew up wanting to be an engineer due to my love of LEGO. My high school woodworking class then gave me the opportunity to work with different design software and machinery that further cemented my willingness to study engineering.
Projects
In high school, I designed parts for Michigan shaped Adirondack chairs and Adirondack chairs that could fold to the width of a foot, using a 4x8 foot CNC to mill the parts. I then went through the process of rounding the edges of the parts with a router, finally drilling holes and screwing the chairs together.
Owning a Jeep, I decided to add parts to it due to its capabilities of being easily modified. I added new headlights, trail lights, a bumper bar, and a winch with the help of a friend.
I have also done work on my personal 3D printer. This included printing parts to personalize and modify the printer as well as fixing small issues that interfered with print quality and the effectiveness of the printer.
Hobbies
As mentioned before, I have always had a passion for LEGO as building something from many individual pieces gives a great sense of accomplishment. My favorite set that I have completed is a 2000-piece Land Rover Defender.
I also enjoy running. I am a former member of the University of Memphis cross country/track & field teams. Now I am shifting my focus to half marathons, hopefully transitioning to full marathons soon.
How My Project Relates to Me
Owning a 3D printer can be fun yet very stressful when something seems to break down. I always look for a way to fix problems that arise without needing to spend money on new parts. I hope my project can help someone who owns a similar 3D printer as spending on parts can add up and take the fun out of 3D printing.