In the week spanning May 5 to May 16, 2025, students made significant strides in their respective engineering projects. Their endeavors encompassed a range of skills, including CAD design, PCB fabrication, and robotics programming. Each student’s work reflects a commitment to hands-on learning and problem-solving within the field of engineering.
Nathan Matarazzo focused on constructing a metal safe, beginning with designing and lasercutting stencils to mark bend lines. After an initial setback with imprecise bending by the metal fabrication team, he took to sanding the metal pieces himself to ensure proper fit. He also worked on sanding a 3D-printed hinge to align it flush with the safe door and redesigned the header mount. While awaiting welding on the safe, Nathan initiated a side project: designing a miniature Wall-E model in Fusion 360, which he plans to 3D print for personal use. See more of Nate’s work here.
Adam Lewis advanced his camera car project by designing, milling, and soldering a custom PCB to streamline the wiring previously used. He utilized a smaller drill bit to accommodate the Raspberry Pi’s 2×20 connector, resulting in a longer milling process but a precise outcome. After assembling the circuit, he encountered a battery issue due to one being fully discharged and unrecoverable, necessitating the soldering of a new battery. Looking ahead, Adam plans to 3D print a case to secure the Raspberry Pi and PCB onto the car, which will involve precise measurements and CAD design. See more of Adam’s work here.
Benjamin Smith concentrated on enhancing the code for his SumoBot project by simplifying pin definitions and creating functions for motor control, facilitating easier software adjustments during testing. With the return of his teammate Tim from the Sunk Robotics competition, they resumed work on the CAD design and PCB footprint. After printing the bot’s body and soldering the PCB, they identified the need to elongate the motor jumper wires to reach the PCB, leading to modifications for improved connectivity. See more of Ben’s work here.
Our Freshmen students worked on CAD this week. They are learning how to translate technical drawings into 3D modeled components.
Collectively, these projects underscore the students’ dedication to applying engineering principles in practical settings. Their experiences highlight the importance of adaptability, collaboration, and continuous learning in overcoming challenges and advancing their technical skills.
MVTHS Engineering 
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