In a Dartmouth project sponsored by the plasma cutting company Victor Technologies, I worked on a four person team to create a mechanism that precisely controlled the cutting height of a plasma torch connected to a six-axis robotic arm. Our team utilized a thorough design process that included SolidWorks modelling to design and build our first prototype ahead of our prescribed schedule. We attained feedback from the plasma torch operators and tested the prototype’s physical specifications in order to motivate modifications for the second prototype. Ultimately, we designed a second prototype that was deemed to be ready for production by Victor Technologies within the next several months.The project won the Dartmouth Society of Engineers Prize for outstanding work on and undergraduate project.
