The inspiration for my project came from working in the same lab the summer earlier. I discovered there was a lot of freedom and creative thinking involved with building the different devices. I really enjoyed the work and decided if I could get it okayed by the University I would return the following summer and do it for my EDGE project.

 

Some challenges I faced with my project were with building the actual devices. On some occasions I had the milling machine cut too deep on the first cut, making it too warm, which would melt the plastic I was cutting. It took trial and error to determine a good, first depth to cut. Some other problems I faced were sometimes I did not have the drill bit I needed so I would have to figure out how to make the cut needed with a different bit.   

 

My project benefited the Flux lab at St. Francis Xavier University. I was able to build devices or holding chambers while the researchers in the lab were able to focus on their studies. The milling machine and ArtCam Express software was purchased just before my arrival. It was part of my job to learn how to use the milling machine. I also wrote out instructions on how to use the milling machine so lab members were able to use it after I left.

 

This project has benefitted me because it is the first time I have had any real freedom in a job. I was able to come up with the design for many different devices, which was very exciting. It taught me problem-solving skills. Since I was the only person in the lab who knew how to use the milling machine, if anything went wrong, I was on my own on trying to fix it.