Overview
Timeframe: 2025
Category: Manufacturing / Rapid Engineering
Built a production-ready assembly station in eight days using only salvaged equipment and $600 of consumables.
The Problem
No spare station, no budget, and less than two weeks to meet audit and customer-readiness standards.
Constraints
- Sub-two-week lead time
- No new equipment purchases
- Must meet production and audit criteria
Approach
I designed and built the station from reclaimed assets:
- Reconfigured salvaged pneumatics, sensors, and frames
- Integrated fixtures and controls for reliable cycles
- Ran fast test/iterate loops under the deadline
- Documented setup and checks for audit sign-off
Tools & Technologies
Mechanical Assembly
Pneumatics
Production Validation
Rapid Prototyping
Impact
- Hit readiness deadlines without capital spend
- Extended life of decommissioned assets
- Documented a repeatable rapid-build playbook
Key Learnings
- Constraint-driven design beats waiting for ideal parts.
- Prioritize what unblocks validation; perfect can wait.
- Clear instructions are essential when handoff happens immediately.