DELIA GRATTADESIGN PORTFOLIO

PROJECTS

DELTADAVID WELD PHYSICS LAB, UC SANTA BARBARA

Tapered Amplifier, increases the intensity of the input laser beam.

2012 FRC ROBOT FOR TEAM 192GUNN HIGH SCHOOL ROBOTICS TEAM

Robot for “Rebound Rumble” First Robotics Competition.

ZAPPERGRATTA LAB AT STANFORD PHYSICS DEPT

Classroom demonstration that uses elecromagnetic forces.

ORGANIC JEWELRYCARINA ROSSNER ORGANICS

Silver and bronze metal jewelry with semi-precious stone accents.

PERSONAL PURSUITS

JEWELRYHand made accessories.

FINE ARTArt projects for studio classes.

GRAPHIC DESIGNJust a few sketches for this and that.

DelTAWELD PHYSICS LAB, UC SANTA BARBARATapered Amplifier, increases the intensity of the input laser beam.

The Tapered Amplifier, or “DelTA” as it is known by members of the Weld Lab, is a custom designed laser amplifier currently used in the Lithium Ion Experiment. The experiment in question required more laser power, and the DelTA provided the ideal conditions to operate the TA chip at maximum efficiency. I saw this project through from ideation to final assembly. There were a few problems that needed to be addressed . Focus ing the incoming light was of primary concern as the TA chip is only a few millimeters thick, and even the slightest error would have decreased its efficiency. The “V-Block” solved the lens centering issue with sufficient precision. A further concern was maintaining the entire a s s e m b l y a t c o n s t a n t temperature to avoid over heating the TA chip, I employed a Peltier Element and kept the object as small as possible in order to a l low for fast temperature stabilization and to save precious real estate on the laser table. After several iterations on paper and in CAD, and a few consultations with the supervising professor, I moved to machining the parts. Some I was able to make myself, and others were sent to the machine shop for precision work, With a little trouble shooting, DelTA was up and running on the Lithium laser table where it now resides.

2012 FRC Robot for Team 192GUNN HIGH SCHOOL ROBOTICS TEAMRobot for “Rebound Rumble” First Robotics Competition.

I spent two years on the Gunn High School Robotics Team in the position of Structures and Integration engineer. As lead designer, I established an overall structure for the robot that housed all the individual components while adhering to the competition parameters. In addition to the structural engineering and design, I was an integral leader, resolving layout conflicts and encouraging design development. Ultimately I needed to ensure that the robot had a cohesive and reliable design.

The robotics team had a well established design process in order to manage the 50 students and their ideas. Each year, FIRST robotics released a new game for teams to play. After reading the game rules we convened to brainstorm the important points of the game and how e a c h t a s k w o u l d b e addressed. The ideas were individually developed for a few days and then we decided on an overal l d e s i g n . D u e t o t h e integrated nature of the ball handling process, I designed the flow to best fit the robot parameters and the i n t a k e a n d e x p u l s i o n mechanisms. Each part was s ke tched , p ro to t yped , redesigned, and built in house by students. This ownership brought about great pride in our work from start to finish. In my final year on the robotics team, we won a regional in Chesapeake Bay, our first regional win in 10 years.

ZapperGRATTA LAB AT STANFORD PHYSICS DEPTClassroom demonstration that uses elecromagnetic forces.

I was asked to design and build a classroom experiment for an Electromagnetism class at Stanford. The demonstration consists of a very large capacitor (500F) which is charged to a maximum of 10kV. Once charged, the capacitor is discharged rapidly in various circuit elements, to produce extremely large forces. In its first incarnation the capacitor is discharged into a small coil that winds around a coin. The sudden current increase in the coil induces a large current in the coin that acts like the secondary of a transformer. The magnetic force makes the coil explode and the coin implode, causing the diameter of the coin to shrink substantially. This yields a spectacular demonstration of electromagnetic induction and forces.

The zapper was the first major engineering project I tackled on my own. As a result I taught myself CAD, learned how to prototype, assemble, and develop a relationship with machine shop specialists. The project demanded a variety of new skills and each iteration required many changes, but u l t imate ly the exper iment was constructed and safety precautions were implemented. The demonstration is now being used in Physics 45 at Stanford University.

Organic JewelryCARINA ROSSNER ORGANICSSilver and bronze metal jewelry with semi-precious stone accents.

For several years I worked with Carina Rossner, a local jewelry designer, as her studio assistant. I was involved in all aspects of the manufacturing process and business. I crafted many of the pieces of jewelry and sold them in person and online. The accessories were made primarily in sterling silver, but we also worked in bronze and occasionally gold. The jewelry making process evolved over the course of my time as a studio assistant. Initially we worked with a freeform method, avoiding any planning or premeditation; we worked with sheets, wire and molten metal to create a variety of organic forms. These metallic forms were paired with semiprecious stones we polished at a local lapidary studio. Subsequently, we moved away from the freeform objects to cast pieces moulded to leaves and flowers. These castings made the jewelry reproducible and considerably more sophisticated.

JewelryHand made accessories.

I have been making my own jewelry since I learned to string beads. I never outgrew the hobby but simply upgraded the materials. I make jewelry for myself and for my friends, following my own aesthetic and latest inspiration. I often sketch the objects in many views and variations before executing the final accessories.

Fine ArtArt projects for studio classes.

In addition to practical objects I occasionally work on art pieces of conceptual nature. I particularly enjoy working in three dimensions. Shown are two objects I created in an art studio class. The mobile is a three dimensional display of graphics and their powers of storytelling, and the shoe is a piece called “confession” addressing the obstacles that women face in the engineering world.

Graphic Design Just a few sketches for this and that.