Josh MatzMechanical Design Engineer

Mobile Application UX Case StudyBRIEFThe Problem: Making and Deciding on Plans with a Group

Opportunity: Social networks and messaging apps aren’t structured enough,

and calendar apps are just too formal.

The Solution: Plan Focused Messaging

The new “PlanIt” is a messaging app focused solely on helping you make plans. It

combines the casual nature of social networks, the organizational power of your favorite

calendar app, Group Voting Interface, and a Time-Limit functionality. Specifically it is:

More plan focused than social apps like Facebook / Twitter.

More casual than email and calendar apps.

More efficient than text messaging.

Prototype

http://invis.io/PH2VLUYQ6

Finalist Award Winner Silver Award Winner

BRIEFFreshRealm is a vessel delivery service that connects food makers, food packers,

merchants and shoppers using cloud technology to make fresh food accessible

everywhere and to reduce distribution time. FreshRealm Service delivers food

directly to the user’s home or place of work within two days after it is harvested. The

cloud technology and food delivery system work together to reduce food waste and

lower food costs. This product replaces current disposable packaging methods by

utilizing drawers that maximize thermal conduction and drinkable ice packs, keeping

food at optimal temperatures for 40 hours. As RKS’s mechanical engineering intern, I

worked on FreshRealm’s reusable refrigerated shipping vessel design. Within the

vessel I designed the food drawers(with FEA analysis), as well as conducted a cooler

experiment with thermocouples to analyze maximum thermal properties of

convection and conduction. I also worked on the outside corrugate box design,

including various concept generations for the front locking latches and recessed

handles—including ergonomic evaluation testing.

www.freshrealm.co

PlaneSWING

SwinGlove

Greg Norman’s

Secret

Flat Wrist ProSwinGYDESwing Jacket

SwingTip

Lag-Lock

Pro

Opportunity Zone

This Psycho-Aesthetics map

assesses the Golf Training

Device’s competitive products

through relative positioning

based on:

•Auxiliary research findings

•Qualitative assessment of the

user experience

•Benchmarking

Golf Training DeviceBRIEFAs a member of RKS’s engineering team, my role was initial design concept generation and prototyping, in addition to acting

as a communication medium between the client and our design team. This was to ensuring that the client’s needs/wants

were met, in conjunction with their initiatives:

• Disrupt the golf training-device market with a device that is as desirable and high quality as the premium equipment

golfers are accustomed to.

• Existing golf-training aids -while sometimes efficacious- fail to deliver the sophisticated design that golfers expect in their

equipment.

• Draw inspiration from analogous products for a better training experience.

Ideation

Prototype

Configuration

DefinitionMechanism Design Component Sourcing

& Details

Functional Prototype

Golf Training Device cont’d

BRIEFMy University of Delaware senior design group’s task for W. L Gore’s industrial

filter division was to design, fabricate, and develop a test stand and procedure to

characterize the lateral-direction permeability and performance of liquid filtration

media backers with respect to flow and compression.

Filter Test Rig

Concept Generation

Flow

Compression

Final Concept

SolidWorks

ImagePrototype

Image

Pressure

Gauge Load Cell

Pressure

Release Valve

Compression

Lid

Disc Backers

Base

Water

Fz

Air

Core

Bushing

Rank Want/Need Percentage

Importance

1 No loss of flow/Watertight 19

2 Apply/Measure flow rate 15

3 Apply/Measure Compressive Force 14

4 Work Effectively & Efficiently 12

5 Measure differential pressure 10

6 No temperature change of liquid 9

7 Durability 6

8 Ease of Use 6

9 Relative small size 4

10 Relative small cost 4

W.L. Gore – Lateral Permeability Test DeviceAlec Ploshnick, Josh Matz, Rich Stanton, Wen Li

Advisor: Dr. Michael Keefe

Sponsors: Kevin Cresswell, Mike Hawley, Tyler Hinkle

Project Scope:To design, fabricate, and develop a test stand and procedure to characterize the

lateral-direction permeability and performance of liquid filtration media backers

with respect to flow and compression.

Design Requirements

Project Background Testing and ValidationConcept Generation

Acknowledgments

Flow Compression

Final Concept

Needs:

Path Forward

Metrics:

We would like to thank the Engineering Faculty at the University of Delaware

for providing us with this opportunity. Also a special thanks to Dr. Keefe and

our sponsors at W. L. Gore for all the insight and help they provided us during

every step of this design project.

Following the conclusion of this project, W. L. Gore will use this device to

further characterize other backer material samples, which will determine the

best material for future filter applications.

Testing Study Topics:•Evaluating backer behavior before and after compression is applied

•Evaluating the repeatability of the testing device to generate similar results

under same conditions

•Evaluating flow rates with respect to number of samples and compression

•Evaluating flow between aluminum plates and backer samples

•Comparing different backer samples under the same conditions

SolidWorks Image Prototype Image

Problem Statement:Liquid filters produced by W.L. Gore’s industrial division combine micro-porous

ePTFE filtration membranes with macro-porous backer materials which physically

support the filtration media in the application. Up to a point, the flow rate of the

device is largely determined by the surface area of the filtration media in the device.

Higher surface areas require a larger amount of media, higher pleat counts, and

result in larger compression forces between the individual pleats. In filters with

very high pleat counts (and high compressive forces between the pleats) the working

fluid is forced to permeate through the “x” and “y” directions of the backer layer

before moving in the “z” direction through the ePTFE membrane. Understanding

the permeability / lateral flow of backer materials under various degrees of

compression is an important factor in the development of future filtration devices.

Rank Metrics Related

Want

Percentage

Importance

Current

State Value

Future Target

Value

1 Flow through B.C. 1, 2, 4, 8, 10 16 Unknown < 1% Flow

2 Range of Flow Rates 1, 2, 5, 10 14 Unknown Small: mL/hr

Large: gal/min

3 # of Backer Sheets 2, 3, 4 12 Unknown 4 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 50

4 Testing Time 2, 4, 8, 10 11 Few hours > 10 Samples

per Day

5 Preparation Time 3, 4, 8, 10 10 1-2 weeks < 30 mins

6 Compressive Force 3, 5, 7, 10 10 Unknown 0 to 200 lbf

7 Life of Test Rig 3, 7, 10 7 Proprietary 7 years

8 Measure Pressure 5, 8 5 0 – 70 psi 0 – 100 psi

9 Measure Temperature 6, 8 4 20C – 40 C 20C – 40 C

10 Corrosion Resist Y/N 7, 10 3 Yes Yes

11 Scheduled Maintenance 7, 10 3 Proprietary Every 6 Months

12 Size 9 2 Proprietary < 4’ x 4’

13 Cost 10 1 Proprietary < $5,000

• The final concept consists of the Flow Rig, the Compression Stand, a Pressure

Dispensing Vessel, an Electronic Scale, and a Computer that gathers all the data

• The pressure dispensing vessel will be attached to pressurized air to create a

constant and accurate water flow rate in

• This water will travel through a tube attached to the water inlet hole on the Base

Plate of the Flow Rig

• The Compression Stand will then compress the Flow Rig (compressing the backer

samples) and water will begin flow

• After the water exits the backer samples into the Water Basin, the water will then

travel through a pipe and into a bucket on an Electronic Scale

• This scale is hooked up to the Computer and records instantaneous weights every

second; to determine flow rate out

• With this data, a graph of Flow vs. Compression can be generated and analyzed to

show the characteristics of each backers permeability

Scissor

Jack

Compression

Stand

How it Works:

Testing Results• Backer behavior is not affected by multiple compressions or flow tests

• Test device can produce same results after repeated tests

• Increasing number of samples increased flow rates

• Increasing compression decreased flow rates

• Flow escapes between aluminum plates and backer samples. Silicone discs

were placed in between backer and aluminum plates, resolving this problem

• Results above show varying backer sample flow rates under specified

conditions

Conclusions

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Backer 4 - 6 SamplesBacker 4 - 3 SamplesBacker 3 - 6 SamplesBacker 3 - 3 SamplesBacker 2 - 6 SamplesBacker 2 - 3 SamplesBacker 1 - 6 SamplesBacker 1 - 3 Samples

Stabilized Force, lbs.

Ave

rag

e F

low

Out,

mL

/se

c.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

10 Samples: Air Pressure = 15 psi10 Samples: Air Pressure = 10 psi10 Samples: Air Pressure = 8 psi5 Samples: Air Pressure = 14 psi5 Samples: Air Pressure = 10 psi5 Samples: Air Pressure = 7 psi

Stabilized Force, lbs.

Avera

ge

Flo

w R

ate

, m

L/s

ec.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Compression Control TestOver Compressed Test 2Over Compressed Test 1Test 3Test 2Test 1

Stabilized Force, lbs.

Avera

ge

Flo

w R

ate

, m

L/s

ec.

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28

Tests Without SiliconTests with Silicon

Stabilized Force with Water Flowing, lbs.

Avera

ge

Flo

w R

ate

, m

L/s

ec.

Backer Behavior: Compression

& Repeatability Data

Flow Rates vs Compression,

Sample Size, & Air Pressure

Flow Rates between

Aluminum and Backers

Different Backer Samples:

Flow Rates vs Compression

& Sample Size

Water Flow

“Upstream”

Backer Layer

“Downstream”

Backer Layer

Retentive

Membrane Layer

Water Flow

Water In

Water

Out

Low Pleat Density

•Lower Compression

•Water flows easily

through pleats

High Pleat Density

•Higher Compression

•Water forced to flow

‘laterally’ through backers

Filter Media

within it’s CageWater Flow Path

After analyzing the data from the testing device, it was concluded that the

testing device does help with characterizing the lateral permeability of

backer material with respect to flow and compression. It was noted in the

data above that increasing sample size increases flow while increasing

compression decreases flow. On top of this, the testing device provided

accurate and repeatable results. This proves the project scope was satisfied

and the device can assist with comparing varying backer materials.

BRIEFAs RKS’s mechanical engineering intern, I created the Bill of Materials,

Critical-to-Function Drawings with tolerances, and Design for

Manufacturability & Materials analysis and selection for D&A’s 5 Legged

Guitar Stand. with GRIP™

www.heydna.com

Starfish™ Guitar Stand

BRIEF• Digitized and redesigned all mechanical hardware and fabrication data for a

manufacturer of photo booths.

• Navigated design constraints through mechanical adaptations

• Designed common parts, between four current products, to simplify fabrication

and reduce costs

www. faceplacephoto.com/

Photo Booth Design

BRIEFThe project objective was to develop, design, build, and test a new system that

allows people with a wide range of physical disabilities to row on the water in

sweep style motion as a part of a team.

An assistive device supporting both upper and lower body motion would best

afford an aspiring rower an experience most like that of an able-bodied rower. This

device aims to address the problems disabled rowers would have, namely seat

motion (including the disabled rower’s synchronization with able-bodied rowers)

and the motion of the oars.

www.yesucanusa.org

Disabled Rowing Design

Upper body design: created in order to

compensate for a lack of upper body and

arm function; and replaces the normal oar,

such that feathering in no longer a concern .

Lower body design: a simplistic way to utilize

energy from an able-bodied rower to allow

for a waist-down disabled person to row on

the water in a moving seat.

Enhanced Human Swimming Device to

Biomimic the Kinetics of a Dolphin

BRIEFThe objective was to develop a machine driven by human power to improve human

swimming capabilities. The team accomplished this goal by developing a viable

customer from which wants and needs could be extracted. Taking prioritized wants,

needs and metrics, the team then used specific design synthesis process to come up

with a team concept. With the final design selected a mock-up was created. The

mock up was created to display the kinematics of our selected concept as well as

gain a rough understanding of how the design will perform in water. This process was

highly iterative, no one step was ever complete and was always left open ended for

adjustment. Using a specific engineering process the team was able to develop a

design that improved human swimming capability’s.

Quickly Deployable Emergency

Flotation Device Launcher

BRIEFA flotation device launcher requires great accuracy and range. Since it is an

emergency tool, it must also be readily operational and reliable. Simplicity and ease

of use are also required; any able-bodied person must be able to operate it with only

basic training. Low cost is also required. The projectile itself must provide sufficient

buoyant force to keep a victim’s head above the surface of the water.

The motivation for the design is to reduce the amount of time it takes for a drowning

victim to be provided with assistance. The final flotation device launcher addresses

this problem by providing help to a victim within twenty seconds. Finally, it satisfies

the need for a simple, inexpensive design allowing it to be marketable on a large

scale.

Stair Negotiating Stroller

BRIEFThe objective was to design a stroller that can ascend and descend stairs

with the help of an adult. After completing thorough research of strollers

and analyzing possible design concepts for a stair climbing mechanism, we

were able to come up with our final six-wheel stair climbing mechanism.

The rotating stair climbing mechanism is located on the rear axle of the

stroller. We were given multiple requirements that our sponsor wanted us

to meet. Using the design of a current stroller chassis, we were able to

develop a stroller that met the weight limit for an unoccupied stroller. We

chose a chassis that is collapsible, as our sponsor requested.

Taking in to consideration the given dimensions of the stairs we would be

ascending and descending, we were able to develop the best suiting

dimensions for our mechanism. The seat for the stroller is very safe, and

the occupant can be properly secured in it at all times. The seat also

doubles as a car seat; therefore it is detachable from the stroller, making

folding even simpler.

www.v-linc.org