Matthew C MacKinnon

Mechanical Engineer

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Work

Project 01 / 03

3 LB COMBAT ROBOT

Hardened wedgelet robot built for speed, traction, and arena reliability.

Designed and built a 3 lb combat robot around a hardened wedgelet architecture after prototype testing ruled out the original net concept.
Iterated with 3D-printed prototypes, then fabricated Markforged CF-nylon/Kevlar chassis parts, a 6061 top plate, and bent 4130 wedgelets.
Produced a fast, high-traction robot with potted electronics, ELRS control, magnetic downforce, and a local first-place finish.

3 lb beetleweight
CF nylon + Kevlar
6061 + 4130
ELRS
Local 1st place

Transparent CAD-style combat robot render showing wedgelets, wheels, and internal packaging

Completed combat robot and chassis parts staged beside a Markforged 3D printer

Project 02 / 03

OPJAW

Automated fixture-plate generation that turns CAD input into validated machining deliverables.

Designed OPJAW’s STEP-driven fixture-plate engine: stock selection, datum seating, support pockets, clamp strategy, and modular hole planning.
Built it in Python/build123d with OCCT round-trip gates for BRep validity, volume drift, cutter radius, and wall-thickness proof.
Produced validated STEP outputs and machinist-readable setup sheets, earning over $8k profit with no ad spend while keeping failures explicit and fail-closed.

STEP / STL
OCCT
Datum + clamp
STEP + sheets
Over $8k profit

Project 03 / 03

FTC ROBOT

Solo-built FTC robot for yellow-brick pickup and stacking with odometry-based autonomy.

Designed and built a solo FTC robot at home during COVID for yellow-brick pickup and stacking.
3D-printed parts in-house, coordinated outsourced machining, and programmed odometry-based localization for field-position tracking.
Produced a functional robot platform demonstrating mechanism design, fabrication coordination, and autonomy despite a cancelled competition season.

Solo home build
Mecanum drive
Brick stacking
Printed + machined
Odometry localization

MATTHEW C MACKINNON