LAUREN CHANEN

Representative Work
I am an enthusiastic mechanical engineer with a passion for product development. I
have always been curious about the way things work, and I enjoy graphic design and
fashion side projects that allow me to explore my interest in the aesthetically beautiful. A
career in product design allows me to combine these two passions by creating designs that
are both technically innovative and visually appealing.
In 2016, I graduated magna cum laude from Brown University with a Bachelor of
Science in Mechanical Engineering. I graduated with honors after writing and defending
an honors thesis entitled Design and Construction of a Drop Weight Impact Testing
System to Characterize Soft Materials. Through this project and other hands-on design
projects, including an at-home dry cleaning system, I enhanced my CAD and shop skills
while further increasing my enthusiasm for product design. In March, I completed a
post-grad Mechanical Engineering internship at a product design consulting firm, Synapse
Product Development, where I worked on interdisciplinary engineering teams with inspir-
ing, creative engineers to help design and test cutting-edge products. I am now looking for
a new opportunity as a Mechanical Engineer in a product development role.
SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE DESIGN 1-2
Wireless Webcam

FIXTURE DESIGN 3-4

PCB Test Fixture

SENIOR CAPSTONE 5-6

At-Home Clothes Refreshening System

HONORS THESIS 7-8

Drop Weight Impact Testing System

CAD PROJECT 9
Ice Cream Scoop

FLUID MECHANICS PROJECT 10

Mars Package Delivery Vehicle

GRAPHIC DESIGN 11-14

Yearbook and Fashion Magazine
 SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE DESIGN:
Wireless Webcam
During my time at Synapse, I worked alongside a fellow mechanical engineer and an electrical engineer to
design a wireless webcam that could be prototyped quickly by using off-the-shelf (OTS) products when
possible. My contributions to the team included:

Requirements:
- $100 retail
- 480p video quality
- No audio
- IP rating 45
- Plastic injection molded housing
- Survive 1 meter drop on carpet tiles
- Touch temperature not to exceed 50 C
- Wireless connectivity Form Factor Side Profiles
- Minimum 1 hour battery life
- Rechargeable batttery, not replaceable Brainstorming
- Two angle orientations (5-10 and 40-50) After receiving the requirements list, we brainstormed
- On/off button form factors that enabled the dual viewing angle
- Two LEDs (for recording and charging status) functionality. The client selected the top left option.

0 Tip Prototypes and System

Safety
5 Tip Architecuture
Safety
Initially, we planned to place a
10 Tip
Safety battery on the bottom of the
housing and the camera, PCB, and
OTS Wi-Fi enabled board stacked
along the front. According to
CG Tip Angle Zones SolidWorks, this architecture OTS Boards Battery
placed the center of gravity (CG)
in the green range on the diagram
to the left. We verified this result
by creating mass-accurate proto-
types to get a physical feel for the
CG. (The ranges in the image Housing Front Housing
represent stability in both orienta-
Initial System Architecture tions when the unit is tipped
backwards from the front.)

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Working with Fellow ME
For efficiency, we
employed a master mod-
eling strategy, which
allowed us to work on
separate parts simultane-
ously, align interfaces
properly, and quickly
propogate changes
throughout the model.
Presenting Trade-Offs to the Client
For critical design decisions, we presented the
options and tradeoffs to the client to help them drive
to a well-informed decision. For example:
with current system architecture.
for a new connection strategy / new architecture
clients top priority was schedule rather than ID)

Daughterboard
OTS Boards Challenges
After the EE team discovered that we
OTS Camera
needed two boards to get the required
Main PCB
capabilities, we foundthat the board
assembly pushed the CG backwards,
Front Housing
outside the acceptable range. We
Cables and
solved this issue by changing the
Connectors battery to a vertical orienation against
Rear the front wall. Housing Top Views
Battery
Housing

Final System Architecture, Side View DFM and DFA Considerations

Client Adds Requirement
After nearly completing the
system architecture, the client
added an audio requirement.
Because the clients top priority
was schedule and cost was
secondary, we added a daughter-
board to provide the desired
audio capability rather than
changing the custom PCB we
had already designed.
Although we designed a prototype, we
kept in mind injection molding consid-
erations so that the part could poten-
tially be mass produced in the future.
Housing Components rear housing requires one slider
components to be slid into position
during assembly as shown
Switch
Light Pipe
USB Port 2 mm to avoid sink from relatively
tall screw bosses (result of design
PCB in Housing review)

Aligning Interfaces with Electrical Engineering Team

To ensure that the PCBs and cables produced by the EE team would interact properly with the system, we created
mechanical control outlines (MCOs) for each board and cable drawings for each custom cable.

Cable Drawing

MCO, Component Locations MCO, Component Keep Out and Keep in Areas

Wi-Fi Enabled Wireless Webcam 42

 FIXTURE DESIGN:
PCB Test Fixture
During a project at Synapse, I designed a fixture that held custom PCBs in the proper location so that they could
quickly be flashed with a software image. Through the use of my fixture, the team was able to save hours during this
very quick build. At Synapse, I designed various other assembly and test fixtures.

Initial Design and Improvement

The initial design had pogo pins
attached to the fixture with discrete
wires soldered onto each pin. We then
decided that the testing process would
be made more reliable and efficient if
Initial Concept Sketch
the pogo pins were soldered onto a
custom PCB attached to the underside
of the fixture, so I adjusted my
design.

Improved Design

Custom PCB
To create the custom
PCB, I created a set of
mechanical control
outline (MCO) drawings
that allowed the electri-
cal layout team to design
a board that would
interact properly with
the system.

Component Keep-Out Areas Component Keep In Areas

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 Designing for Machining
The fixture was designed in approximate-
ly two days to be machined in one day, so
I kept in mind design considerations for
machining so that the parts could be
made rapidly and cost effectively. For
example, the majority of the corners have
radii of a standard 1/8 tool, and I avoid-
ed excessively deep pockets and small
features as much as possible. I also
tapped the holes in our lab rather than
having the threads machined.

Machining Drawing

CAD, Isometric View CAD, Bottom View

Fixture, Top View Fixture with Pogo Pin PCB

PCB Test Fixture 4

 SENIOR CAPSTONE:
At-Home Clothes Refreshening System
On a team with three other mechanical engineering students, I created an at-home clothes refreshening
system for my engineering capstone project. Using convection heating and UV lights, it executes the
following functions:
1. Removes wrinkles using heat
2. Returns clothes back to their original shape after becoming baggy from use
3. Sanitizes clothes and kills odors using germicidal UV lights
4. Gives clothes light scent of essential oil of choice (optional)
I was instrumental in all steps of the process including coming up with the product idea, prototyping, deter-
mining the system architecture, modeling the entire system in CAD, selecting and purchasing supplies,
constructing the unit, and testing the finished product.
Prototyping
To help us determine the system architec-
ture, we began by prototyping several
design elements in order to get a physical
feel for the user interaction. Although the
prototypes were quite simple, this step was
effective in helping us drive to a system
architecture that would allow for a positive
Clothes Clip Mechanisms Small Scale Model Full Scale Model
user experience.

Initial Testing
We began with the idea that the product would feature a nozzle
system to spray the clothes for sanitization and deodorization
purposes. However, after testing to determine the appropriate
amount of liquid to spray, we determined that we needed a very
fine mist. The appropriate nozzle system was sophisticated and
expensive, so in order to save time and money, we switched from
the nozzle system to the germicidal UV light and heating system System, Side View System, Top View
architecture shown to the right.

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Interior, Empty Interior, With Garment
User Interaction
First, the user hangs the garment
on one of the two pegs (higher peg
for longer items). Next, she clips
the clamps to the clothes and
tightens the elastics using the
plastic slides until they are all taut.
Then, she simply closes the door,
presses the button, and waits.
Electronics and Duct
At-Home Clothes Refreshening System
How It Works
The heater and duct fan hidden in a
false back allow hot air to circulate,
dewrinkling the clothes and allowing
them to shrink back to their original
shape. The germicidal UV lights
sanitize the clothes. If the user desires
scented clothes, she can place a cup of
fragrant oil on the shelf at the outlet of
the duct. Using time-delay relays, the
system has been programmed so that
after the button is pressed, the heater
and fan run for 20 minutes while the
Hanging Pegs UV lights run for 1 minute. The
contact switch causes the system to
shut off if opened mid-cycle.
UV Lights Contact Switch
Automatic Light
Side Cross Section, CAD Lid for Oil Shelf
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 HONORS THESIS:
Drop Weight Impact Testing System
For my engineering honors thesis, I designed, built, and validated a drop weight impact testing (DWIT) system
used for the characterization of energy dissipation in elastomeric foams.

Motivation
Current material testing methods leave a gap in observable strain rates of
elastomeric foams; my impact testing system filled that gap. The reason we
wanted to study these materials further is because they are extremely useful in
impact protection applications (i.e. helmets, phone cases), but to use them to
their full potential, we need a better understanding of their capabilities.

Overall Concept of DWIT System

A gravity driven striker bar drops through a tube to impact the sample below with a
compressive force, which is recorded by a load cell. A high-speed camera takes
photos to analyze the strain (change in length) of the sample during the impact.

Moving From Initial to Final System Design

Initially, I planned to build my system around a structural support column running through the lab space. Although
I designed a clamping system that allowed me to avoid drilling into the column and causing structural damage, I
moved away from this design because it required the use of ladders during construction and utilization. The final
telescoping system design was 6 feet tall when lowered and 20 feet tall when fully raised. Using a pulley and
winch, each of the three inner box components are raised one by one and then secured into place. A tube segment
is placed into each box component so that one long guide tube runs through the entire assembly.

Isometric Clamping Mechanism Isometric View Stages of Raising the System, CAD

Drop Weight Impact Testing System 78


Labeled System Photo
Partially Raised System
System Operation
After attaching the cable to the eyebolt
of the innermost box, it is raised into
Plastic Sliders place using the winch. The roller
guides and plastic slides reduce
friction and encourage linear vertical
motion. Once raised, the box is
secured using custom steel connection
pieces. Then the cable is moved to the
second box, and the process is repeat-
ed until the third box is raised and the
Roller Guides system reaches 20 feet.

Calculations
In order to determine the necessary striker bar lengths, materials, and
drop heights to obtain a desired strain rate, I derived the following set of
governing equations using a force balance and the assumption that the
materials were homogenous, isotropic, and linearly elastic. Using these
equations and the given constraints, I determined the set of striker bars
needed to study each desired combination of strain and strain rate.
Validation
To validate the system, the theoretical impact velocity
(1)
(determined using Eq. 1, derived using conservation of
energy) was compared to the experimental impact velocity (2)
(calculated by integrating the acceleration data obtained by
the load cell over the impact, as shown in Eq. 2). A set of
sample data is shown to the right. The percent error was low
(7%), which was expected because the theoretical impact
velocity was calculated without the use of any assumptions.

Repeatability of Data
In order to ensure that the data was repeatable, I conducted
multiple tests from a consistent drop height using two different
striker bars and overlayed the data sets for each bar. As shown
above, the data is not replicated precisely in each test but is
relatively consistent and is acceptable.

Results
I oberved a large percent error (20,000%) for the impact time,
which indicated that the assumption used to calculate the
theoretical impact velocity (that the striker bars were homogo-
enous, isotropic, and linearly elastic) does not hold. I conclud-
ed that for future analysis, researchers must use more sophisti-
cated equations to analyze the data (i.e. hyperelastic or visco-
elastic material equations).

Drop Weight Impact Testing System 8

 CAD PROJECT
Ice Cream Scoop

For this assignment, I was asked to disassemble a

household item, measure each component using a
caliper, and model it precisely on SolidWorks. I
chose to model an ice cream scooper because I love
kitchenware and cooking.
Front View

This assignment was just a CAD exercise, but if I

were to design this product for production, I would
make the handle a double-shot molded plastic part
overmolded with TPE of approximately Shore 50A
for ergonomic comfort of the grip.
Side View

Back View

Side View

CAD: Ice Cream Scooper 15

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 FLUID MECHANICS PROJECT
Mars Package Delivery Vehicle
For this project, the set-up was that our team of four
mechanical engineers worked for the Brown Aeronautics
and Space Administration (BASA), and we were asked to

per second or less to ensure the safety of the package.

Because of the need for a stable re-entry into the Martian
atmosphere, we needed to ensure that a restoring force was
present whenever the package deviated from equilibrium,
which was achieved by employing a sweepback conical
inverted parachute design on the package.
Pressure Distribution

Final Prototype

Velocity Distribution

Prototype 2

Using a scale model, we designed rough prototypes for

the system, which we tested in a wind tunnel. Although
the prototypes were tested on Earth, they were intended to
accurately represent the Mars model because the Earth
- Prototype 1
lent Reynold's numbers and drag coefficients.The veloci-

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 GRAPHIC DESIGN
Unhemmed Fashion Magazine
During my time at Brown, I spent a year as Assistant Layout Editor and contributor for Unhemmed: Browns
fashion, beauty, and art magazine. I enjoyed the opportunity to explore my interest in fashion while improving
my graphic design and aesthetic sensibility.

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Unhemmed Fashion Magazine 12
 GRAPHIC DESIGN
Yearbooks
In 2011, I was the Layout Editor for my PreK-12th Grade school yearbook. Because 2011 marked the
50th anniversary of the school, we decided to explore the schools history by featuring black and white
photos from previous yearbooks alongside the colored, current photos.

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In 2012, I was the Layout Editor and Editor-in-Chief for the school yearbook. Many aspects of the school were
changing that year, so we did an Adjust Accordingly theme, which featured bright colors and wild layouts. This
funky design allowed me to explore a very different type of look than the traditional styles used in the 2011 book.

Yearbooks 14