Personal Projects

3D-Printed Toilet Fill Valve Clip (2025)

When a small plastic clip on my parents’ 1980s toilet broke, I reverse-engineered the part and designed a replacement using CAD. I 3D printed a friction-fit clip that attached securely to the existing base and locked onto the fill valve, restoring full function to the toilet. The repair was simple, effective, and avoided the need to replace the entire valve assembly.

This was my first personal project using both my new 3D printer and Autodesk Fusion 360. I applied design and prototyping skills I developed on my university engineering project team to quickly model, iterate, and fabricate a custom solution. It was a rewarding way to take what I’ve learned in school and use it to solve a real-world problem in a practical, hands-on way.

*video shows finished fixed toilet working;

Pictures detailing project below

Custom 3D-Printed Music Drum (2025)

After accidentally receiving a wind-up music box, I took it apart out of curiosity and became fascinated by its mechanical simplicity. I realized I could 3D print a custom drum to play my own melody, so I chose a segment of “Oh Honey” by The Delegations

Using a melody editor, I created a custom 32-beat arrangement that captured the feel of the original. I then used Autodesk Fusion 360 to model a custom music drum, transcribing each note placement by hand. Because the pins that trigger the notes are only ~1mm wide, I had to carefully iterate and redesign the drum multiple times to get the spacing, fit, and orientation just right.

To better match the song’s tempo, I also modified the music box’s governor mechanism to allow the system to spin faster, aligning the playback speed with the original song’s BPM. The final result was a functional, hand-cranked music box that plays a recognizable version of “Oh Honey.”

This project combined two of my interests - music and engineering - and taught me a lot about precision design, mechanical timing, and prototyping for micro-scale features.

Vintage Lunchbox Tackle Organizer (2025)

While helping my dad in the garage, I came across his collection of vintage metal lunchboxes. When he gave me a few to use for storage, one of them reminded me of a compact tackle box - and that’s what sparked this project.

I decided to design a custom insert organizer that would fit perfectly inside the vintage lunchbox, turning it into a functional tackle and parts box while preserving its nostalgic look. This project marked my first real experience with rapid prototyping, where I went through several design iterations to refine dimensions, fit, and usability.

Through the process, I learned how valuable iteration is to product design - from adjusting clearances to improving compartment layout and ease of use. It also helped me become more efficient and intentional in CAD, understanding how to translate real-world measurements and constraints into a clean, manufacturable design.

The final product fits snugly inside the lunchbox, with custom compartments that organize tools, hooks, and small parts while maintaining the classic vintage aesthetic.

HerbTop – Hydroponic Tower System (2025–Present)

My friend and I are developing HerbTop, a compact, design-focused hydroponic tower system for growing herbs indoors. The goal is to create an all-in-one unit that’s aesthetically clean, space-efficient, and fully automated, combining function and form in a way that makes hydroponic growing simple for everyday users.

So far, we’ve designed a detailed CAD model that captures our vision for the final product - including the vertical frame, modular plant pods, and integrated electronics housing. We’ve also been test-fitting electrical components such as pumps, LEDs, and sensors to refine placement, wiring, and accessibility within the tower.

This project has been an exciting way to apply both mechanical and electrical design skills, combining CAD modeling with real-world component testing. As development continues, we plan to integrate Arduino-based automation for pump control, lighting, and water-level sensing, and transition to a custom PCB for cleaner, more reliable circuit design.

MY PATH