About me
![Photo of Dan Collins](./images/ProfilePicture.jpg)
Hello! My name is Dan Collins, and I am a freshman at Wheaton College. I am passionate about learning a variety of subjects, especially those relating to engineering and design. I live in Massachusetts, United States.
Here are a few projects I have worked on before Fab Academy
![Sci-fi Deck Box](./images/About/DeckBoxWhiteroom.jpg)
This is a 3d-printed deck box inspired by Sci-fi and stained glass frames. Printed with no infill or supports.
![Mustelid shirt](./images/About/Mustelid.jpg)
This is a shirt design made using a vinyl cutter and 2 colors of heat-press vinyl. It shows a design I made in illustrator of a black footed ferret.
![Wires](./images/About/BallRobot.jpg)
This is a robot I made in colaboration With Zach Campbell and Abdulaziz Abdulaziz. It rolls around inside a 3d printed sphere. It can be controled with a remote control or set to amble around randomly. I did most of the design work.
![Mess](./images/About/BallArt.jpg)
This is the art that the ball robot was created to create. It rolls around inside an enclosure and paints itself while painting it's surroundings.
![Box](./images/About/Box.jpg)
This is annother deck box I made with fusion 360. It has a mechanical locking mechanism that keeps the lid in place until you press down on the knobs on the sides.
![real box](./images/About/NeoBox.jpg)
This is the first physical production of it, though I may make more now that I've tweaked some of the tolerances.
![open box](./images/About/OpenBox.jpg)
Here is it open. The mechanism for unlocking it also ejects the lid
What led me to take Fab Academy
My first experience with digital fabrication was making a computer cart/desk for a high school class. I designed it in Tinkercad, used a laser cutter to cut out the walls, and a router to carve the shape of the counter. Since then I have learned a lot about design software and fabrication technologies. Most of my hobbies and interests involve making something one way or another, so when I first heard of Fab Academy I knew it was something I wanted to do.
Experience
My programming experience includes Python, JavaScript, and C++. Digital art programs I've used include Blender, Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Tinkercad, and Fusion 360. I have used 3d printers, laser cutters, cnc mills, and a vinyl cutter. I have done arduino programming and soldering. I have some experience drawing, painting, woodworking, and carving. The majority of my experience with design comes from playing with Lego and creative video games.
Student Agreement