Mechanical engineering · University of Victoria

Ben Claydon

I am a mechanical engineering student at the University of Victoria. My passion is solving problems through creative design and the pursuit of excellence in my work.

I have 15 months of real-world work experience across three co-op terms in remediation equipment manufacturing, building science, and environmental field work, designing and 3D printing equipment, producing SolidWorks models and drawings, and assessing building enclosures in the field. I am looking for a mechanical, manufacturing, or mechatronics position.

01 — Mechatronics

Part sorting automated system

Final project for MECH 458 (Mechatronics) at UVic, built with Benjamin Kappers. A conveyor carries parts past optical and reflective sensors that classify each one as aluminum, steel, white plastic, or black plastic, then a stepper-driven carousel rotates the matching bin into place before the part drops.

• Sorted 48 parts in 39 seconds at 98% accuracy in the final demonstration.
• Interrupt-driven state machine in C on an ATmega2560, with a FIFO queue tracking part order between sensing and sorting.
• Materials classified by the lowest ADC reflectance reading against bounds calibrated from repeated test runs.
• Precomputed quintic S-curve stepper profile (Python) to cut mechanical shock and prevent missed steps.
• Tuned belt duty cycle and stepper timing to trade top speed for reliable classification and bin alignment.

02 — CAD & additive

Chemical injection skid model

Built during my co-op at Sequoia Environmental Remediation: a detailed CAD model of a chemical injection skid, 3D printed as a scale display piece for marketing conferences.

• Modelled to communicate how the system works to a non-technical audience.
• Geometry adapted for FDM: wall thickness, part splits, and print orientation set by the process.
• Printed in multiple colours so process lines and vessels read at a glance.

03 — CAD & rendering

Air purifier

A custom air purification system designed during my co-op at Sequoia Environmental Remediation. I was provided with client needs, design requirments, and a first stage design concept.

• Conducted online research and consultation with senior engineers, material suppliers, and in-house fabricators to specify all design components and materials.
• Modelled the full assembly, from housing and filter stages to fasteners and service access.
• Produced the drawing package used for fabrication.
• Rendered the design for client-facing and marketing material.
• Continued to carry design updates through after the co-op term ended.

04 — Design for manufacture

Ergonomic shift knob — CAD and 3-axis CNC milling

An ergonomic replacement shift knob designed for machining rather than printing: a two-piece 303 stainless assembly with push-on retention that can be removed for service.

• Split into two pieces so each half can be machined in a single setup, avoiding fourth-axis work.
• Push-on retention using a machined groove and spring clip rather than set screws or adhesive.
• Fit governed by the clip groove tolerance rather than the bore.
• Toolpaths programmed in Mastercam and proven out in Vericut before cutting metal.

05 — Autonomous vehicles

1/10 scale self-driving race car

As club Vice President and team lead, I managed the team that converted 1/10 scale RC cars into autonomous vehicles for the IEEE F1Tenth challenge and developed its control and mapping software.

• A reactive algorithm that continuously computed and published steering angle and speed from lidar input.
• A SLAM pipeline that mapped the course from lidar data and computed an optimal racing line.
• Led a club restructure to improve technical throughput and member engagement.

06 — Design & fabrication

Architectural coffee table

A coffee table designed in CAD and built in the shop. Joinery and fit were resolved in the model before any material was cut.

• Fully defined SolidWorks assembly, including the glass top and the hardware fixing it to the frame.
• Angled cross members cut and finished by hand, then stained before assembly.