About Aaron Macri

Hello, my name is Aaron Macri. I am a third year mechanical engineering student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. I have been interested in engineering since the first set of Legos I ever received. I love the intellectual nature of engineering, and discovering how the world around us truly functions.

What truly inspired me to pursue mechanical engineering is the advancement of automotive technology for sustainability. This passion is derived from the moment I bought my first car at the age of 16. It was a 1999 Mustang Cobra, everyone has a love for their first car but this feeling was something I'd never experienced before. It was from this moment I knew that this was what I wanted to do during my life-time. I really became interested in sustainability during highschool, as I began to take more advanced environmental classes. These classes truly outlined the intensity in which we are destroying our planet by driving the vehicles that we love so dearly. My idea is that if we can come to a sustainable middle ground then we will not have to forfeit the luxury of vehicles taht we have today.

What I am most excited to learn about from 2156 is 3D printing. There are so many real-world applications where 3D printing is extremely useful. The advancements in this technology have come a very long way in a short time, and I think that having a good base of knowledge in printing will be a very valuable asset in the future.

An engineering design that greatly influenced mankind's quality of life would be the automobile! The automobile was quite the change from horses and boats that had previously been used. The introduction of cars brought about a transportational revolution. Allowing for vast distances to be covered in times that were previously impossible. Another vastly important invention would be the Internet. The Internet has allowed for communication times to skyrocket, we have the whole world at our fingertips at any given time. Before such speedy connections were made one might have had to deliver any messages by hand, or have been completely unprepared for the dmv and waited all-day in line :). Whereas with the invention of the internet messages can be sent instantaneously and we have information available to us that allows us to better prepare for activities to save us time and money. The aircraft was another revolutionary invention. With mainstream air travel we are able to disperse ideas and information globally. Previously this spread of ideas was hindered by month long journeys across the ocean. However, with the ability to travel the globe within a short period of time allows for an endless amount of previously impossible interaction.

A substantially under-appreciated invention is the binder-clip. The typical binder clip is a versatile clamp that is helpful in bookmarking, sealing and organization. Geometrically a binder clip is triangular in it's cross-section. This triangular shape allows for the metallic arms hinged at its grip edges to be opened when force is applied. By providing a pivot point closer to the grip edges, the clip requires much less force and subsequently induces less discomfort to your finger tips.

The Improved Binder Clip

Binder Clip Patent IMG tag:

The Clip is made of resiliant sheet metal. This allows for increased elasticic strength as the clip will have pressure applied (repeatedly), and should not deform or it will lose it's ability to be used. If the clip were to be made from a more maleable or less durable material it would likely break quickly due to the nature of it's use. Similar inventions have been proposed but few meet the capabilities of a standard metal binder clip. Clothes pins are a similar solution but do not offer the degree of clamping force that the binder clip uses, because of it's inferior geometry and material composition. Additionally, paperclips are similar in the manner that they could be used for similar tasks, but paperclips are far more maleable and have difficulty securing larger loads. whereas the binder clip provides consistent security of items until the size of the clip is no longer sufficient.

Overall, the Binder Clip is a strip of springed steel bent into an isoceles triangle. Loops are then formed from this wire at the ends. Tension along the base of the triangle forces it closed, round edges at the mouth of the clip prevent it from damaging the papers. To make these clips you start with large sheet metal manipulated and cut to form the body that provides tension. From this the galvanized steel wire is cut and shaped, and is then inserted into the body to create the full clip. it is most frequently manufactured overseas, specifically India.

MEGR 2156 Project Proposal

One Problem I have been looking for a solution to for months is to fill running light holes on my front bumper. My front bumper has been replaced without me purchasing matching DRLs this has led to a plethora of aerodynamic problems to arise. It would be awesome to develop inserts that prevent airflow from entering into the bumper chamber, and interfering with the wheel wells and splashguards. As a result of these holes those components have failed. unfortunately, I do not yet have the knowledge to complete this fix, but I hope to be atleast one step closer after this class.

I spent approximately 6 hours completing this assignment

For further questions: amacri1@uncc.edu