Jason Quint, B.S., Mechanical Engineering '12

I am optimizing the design of a circular diaphragm flexure mechanism for use in a linear motion guide.

1. What research are you working on and what are some of the practical applications of this research?

A variety of machines on the order of 1-10 cm in size require guides to maintain precise linear motion along a single axis.  Examples include focus mechanisms in microscopes and machine vision systems, linear motors in compressors, and single axis nanopositioning systems.  Roller bearings are ill-suited to linear guides in precision motion applications because they have friction and wear down over time.  Unlike roller bearings, flexure bearings are friction free.  A flexure is a thin piece of material that is fixed at one end and deflects at the other end when a load is applied.  For my research project, I am optimizing the design of a circular diaphragm flexure mechanism for use in a linear motion guide.  Using finite element analysis, I am studying how to adjust various geometric parameters (e.g. beam width, sheet thickness, diaphragm radius, etc ...) in order to maximize performance.

2. What inspired you to enter this field of research?  Do you plan to continue research in the future?

I have been interested in building and programming robots since I was in high school.  During my junior year at Cornell, I enjoyed working in Professor Garcia’s lab on a project to design, build, program, and test a palm-size self-reliant robot.  Over the past several years, I have also developed an interest in the research area of machine design, which overlaps with robotics in several ways.  During my summers, I have designed, analyzed, and tested flexure clamps and nanopositioning systems in Professor Shorya Awtar’s lab at the University of Michigan.  I plan to pursue a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering, specifically in the field of machine design.

3. Why did you decide to join the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering?

Designing, building, and programming robots were my main interests in high school.  After participating in a few summer research projects (in high school), I determined that mechanical engineering was the field I was most interested in.  Cornell has a great engineering program, and it was the logical choice for me to come here once I was accepted.

4. What do you like to do for fun?

I enjoy various outdoor activities, such as sailing, hiking, visiting national parks, and geocaching (searching for real-world caches whose approximate position coordinates have been logged in an online database).

 

Where is Jason Now?

After graduating from Cornell in 2012 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, I completed a dual-degree program at the University of Michigan and obtained a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Supply Chain Management.


I graduated from the University of Michigan in 2015 and have worked the past two years at Ford Motor Company in the Interaction & Ergonomics department on a variety of projects involving chimes, illumination, switch feel, and user interaction with the infotainment system.


The project management, technical communication, and time management skills I developed as a Cornell student have helped me achieve my post-graduate academic and career goals over the past several years.  May - 2017

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