BLK-4
A completely functional 3-Axis CNC machined 6061 aluminum skateboard deck, designed to be exceptionally stiff, have a deep turning radius, and optimize its strength to weight ratio.
Brice Klein
I strive to create products which make people's lives better. These products are rooted at the intersection of mechanical engineering and design, applying principles ranging from strength and mechanics to thermodynamics in order to build things which work beautifully.
blklein@stanford.edu
BLK-4 - Ribs
The board has nine modular ribs which can be repositoined for a custom deck profile. Each rib has a parabolic profile, tapering away from the board to minimize excess weight.
BLK-4 - Spine
The board has a trapezoidal spine along its base to increase its stiffness.The spine is fastened with hidden countersunk screws under the ribs which themselves are fastened with socket cap screws.
Trickle
Trickle is a shower add on which allows a user to change the flow of water simply with a wave of his or her hand. The device can be easily retrofitted onto any shower and is a convenient way to save water, created by focusing on human centered design. Trickle saves 50% of water consumed when compared to the national average and won the Henry Fuchs Design Award from Stanford University in 2015.
Trickle - Internals
Trickle houses: an infrared sensor to detect a wave, two buttons to manually change flow rate, a servo which controls a ball-valve to regulate flow, an on-off switch, an Arduino microprocessor, and two 9V batteries.
Swing Along
A fully machined folding swing meant to be easily transported for simple, often use. It is made entirely of 6061 aluminum and cherry wood.
Swing Along - Top
The top of the swing - overlayed with laser engraved and stained cherry wood.
Swing Along - Base
The base of the swing showing the custom milled hinge, baseplate, and caribiner stays.
Swing Along - Hinge Assembly
The hinge of the swing, TIG welded to the baseplate.
Swing Along - Caribiner Stays
The caribiner stays of the swing, TIG welded to the baseplate.
Radio Flyer - Footsteer Cyclone
An independently designed and created ride-on which allows children to power the toy with their hands and steer with their feet.
Footsteer Cyclone
The Footsteer Cylone has ratcheting wheels as cranks and is largely made from Telespar for easy adjustability when child testing.
Sports Bot
A fully autonomous robot capable of reliably detecting 5kHz and 1kHz signals and line following in order to navigate across a game board. After locating itself and moving to the approproate position, the bot used its three servo actuated arms to accurately throw poker chips into buckets.
I-Beam
A composite beam, manufactured from a Pre-Preg material, with a strength to weight ratio of 3000 in 3-point-bending.
I-Beam - Loading
The .2 pound composite beam held 600 pounds in 3-point-bending.
Poker Chip
The poker chip is an injection molded piece with a custom designed center. The center graphic was created by inserting the CNC'd aluminum plug (in the photo) into a similarly tapered cavity in one of the mold halves.
Rocket Engine - Fuel
The custom design and milled fuel grain for a rocket engine which had an impulse of 690 N-s.
Rocket Engine - Nozzle
The convering-diverging nozzle of the rocket engine, custom designed and turned.
Radio Flyer - Packaging Studies
Two toys formed from modulan to ensure appropriate volume for play and packaging.
Bottle Opener
A CNC machined 303 stainless steel bottle opener inspired by a combination of the Chicago: Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks logos. At over 3 inches across its center and weighing over half a pound, the opener is supremely satisfying to use.