Monday

I kicked off the week by designing both extruder systems. This involved meticulous planning and CAD work, in this case using Tinkercad to ensure the components would fit together seamlessly. Afterward, I headed to OEDK (Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen) to prep the hardware for assembling the syringe systems. This preparation was crucial to ensure that the assembly process would go smoothly later in the week.

Tuesday

My day started with an abstract-writing workshop, which was incredibly informative. I learned valuable techniques to improve my writing skills, especially for scientific abstracts. After the workshop, I attended my weekly REU meeting, where some of my REU mates presented their projects. It was inspiring to see their progress and learn from their experiences.

Wednesday

Continuing with my work from Monday, I focused on further designing the extruder systems. The intricate details and adjustments took up most of my day. Later, I went back to OEDK to prep more hardware for assembling the syringe systems. The hands-on work was both challenging and satisfying, as each step brought me closer to completing the prototypes.

Thursday

I just spent the day finalizing the designs for the extruder systems and ensuring everything was ready for assembly. After finishing the designs, I made another trip to OEDK to prepare the hardware. This stage involved double-checking measurements and making sure all components were accounted for. The anticipation of seeing the final product kept me motivated throughout the day.

Friday

The day began with a trip to BRC (BioScience Research Collaborative) building for my presentation. I felt like I did a decent job with my presentation skills, clearly conveying my project’s progress and goals. Afterward, I headed to OEDK to print the prototypes for both extruder systems. However, when I returned later to retrieve the parts, I discovered that someone had stolen them weirdly enough. This really turned my day upside down from the mood that I was in, and threw off my schedule as well. As a result, I arrived an hour late to my weekly lab meeting, being still upset about the missing parts while my lab mates were presenting their findings.

Despite the setback on Friday, the week was filled with significant progress in designing and preparing the extruder systems. The combination of workshops, presentations, and hands-on work provided a balanced and productive week. Each challenge taught me valuable lessons, and each success fueled my passion for 3D printing and innovation.

Thank you for reading,
Brandon Espinoza.