Personal Design and Engineering Projects

This section gives a summary of some of the personal design, fabrication and engineering projects I have undertaken. These projects have fuelled my passion and enthusiasm for engineering and innovative design.

I have been creating and making different ideas since an early teenager working with a mixture of machinery and hand tools. Throughout this, I have learnt key skills such as welding and metal work as well as project management and design skills. 

Snow Scooter

• In late 2018 I designed a snow scooter which was inspired by a ski bike I had previously made.

• I designed it to be lightweight and portable so it could be easily transported on a rucksack up a hill in the snow. The result was that it only weighed 6.5kg and was the same size as a medium-sized rucksack when folded.

• To ensure low costs and ease of manufacture I made the snow scooter from an old scooter and plastic snowboard.

• This project grew my passion for innovative design and prototyping.

• Each year since I made the initial prototype, I have been testing it more each winter, then modifying it further, to improve the geometry and strength.

• My next goal is to make the whole frame from aluminium to reduce its mass, now that I have perfected the geometry.

Ski Bike 

• In late 2017 I designed a ski bike as I wanted to create something that combined two of my favourite sports, mountain biking and skiing as well as allowing me an opportunity for innovative design.

• Throughout the design process I researched online for some initial dimensions of existing ski bikes and ensured that the fabricated parts would be easy to manufacture and fit with standard components.

• The manufacturing process involved a mixture of metal fabrication and assembly. The process took three days and the result was a full success of which is shown in the pictures section below.

• This was a fun project which grew my enthusiasm for engineering and design.

Motorhome Storage Box

• In late 2016 my Father asked me to design and manufacture steel framework for a motorhome chassis mounted storage box. This was to house a generator and other equipment, so the design needed to be strong and ridged.

• The manufacture process involved a large amount of critical structural welds and metal fabrication.

• The steel framework was then clad in plywood and mounted to the chassis. The result was a success as shown in the pictures below.

• This project sparked my interest in structural desing and engineering.

Snow Plough 

• When I was 16, I decided to build a snowplough for the lawn tractor I had recently restored as I had a passion to learn welding and metal fabrication.

• I designed the snowplough to be strong and easy to build making it from scrap steel and an oil drum to keep costs to a minimum.

• I learnt about basic metal fabrication and welding which sparked my passion for engineering design.