Being an Engineer S6E20 John Martell | Mechanisms, Drones, and Excel Macros
May 16, 2025
Join John Martell, a mechanical engineer with 14 years in aerospace and data management, as he shares his journey through the engineering landscape. He discusses innovative mechanism design and the impact of drones in agriculture, revealing how technology transforms data collection. John also highlights the importance of automation, showcasing practical Excel macros for efficiency. With a unique blend of creativity and engineering, he emphasizes adaptive design and the power of mentorship in fostering professional growth.
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Patience in Iterative Design
- John shared a project at Pipeline involving placing a device needle accurately where he learned to embrace iterative design cycles.
- He emphasized patience and readiness to go back to the drawing board despite initial confidence in a solution.
Mechanism Design Process
- Start mechanism design by clearly defining requirements and sketching initial ideas on paper before CAD.
- Use tools like SolidWorks movable sketches and mechanism theory to visualize and refine motion early.
Leverage Existing Mechanism Resources
- Use online resources like 507movements.com and reference books to find existing mechanisms before reinventing.
- Modify proven mechanisms to fit your application instead of designing entirely new ones.