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Hi there, I'm Jake
I am a maker, problem solver, artist, and educator living in Burlington, Vermont.
I love making things that brighten people's day, solve everyday problems, and inspire the next generation of makers.
My passion is helping people problem solve. There's no better feeling than helping your neighbor. Let me know how I can help you!
projects.
EDIT: Pythagorean Theorem Demo
Maeve, a math teacher at Winooski Middle School, wanted a hands-on and intuitive way to demonstrate the Pythagorean theorem to her students.
With this 6-8-10 right triangle, flip it one way and the salt from the two smaller squares (a² and b²) pours into the larger square (c²) and fills it perfectly. Flip it back and it resets.
Students get to see and feel the proof in practice rather than just on paper!
With this 6-8-10 right triangle, flip it one way and the salt from the two smaller squares (a² and b²) pours into the larger square (c²) and fills it perfectly. Flip it back and it resets.
Students get to see and feel the proof in practice rather than just on paper!
Retail Displays - Farm Craft VT
Farm Craft VT sells handmade soaps at markets and retail shops and were in need of a soap display that felt as intentional as their carefully crafted product.
The stand holds 30 bars for display, stores 26 more inside, and includes a brochure slot and bag holder.
Each piece was 3D modeled, laser cut, and friction fit together with no hardware or fasteners.
It was a fun challenge to maximize the storage capabilities while keeping it compact for stores.
I’d love to help you level up your retail display!
The stand holds 30 bars for display, stores 26 more inside, and includes a brochure slot and bag holder.
Each piece was 3D modeled, laser cut, and friction fit together with no hardware or fasteners.
It was a fun challenge to maximize the storage capabilities while keeping it compact for stores.
I’d love to help you level up your retail display!
Pinball Cannon - Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga needed a new cannon for their interactive miniature projectile exhibit. Their existing version was falling apart and needed something built to last through daily hands-on use.
The cannon was 3D modeled to be period accurate, with a spring and plunger mechanism inside to fire wooden balls. The real design challenge was making something historically faithful, compact enough to fit the existing display, and durable enough to survive hundreds of kids a day.
The project came out great and I’m very proud that kids use it each day to learn about how the angle of a cannon affects the flight of a projectile!
The cannon was 3D modeled to be period accurate, with a spring and plunger mechanism inside to fire wooden balls. The real design challenge was making something historically faithful, compact enough to fit the existing display, and durable enough to survive hundreds of kids a day.
The project came out great and I’m very proud that kids use it each day to learn about how the angle of a cannon affects the flight of a projectile!
Owl Holder - NBNC
Each fall, North Branch Nature Center bands tiny Northern Saw-whet Owls as part of a licensed migratory research project.
They needed a containment device to transport these small, delicate birds that was hygienic, safe for the owls, and comfortable for the researchers handling them. The design features four individual tubes of varying sizes with ventilation and a handle for easy carrying.
The canisters have since been adopted by over a dozen owl research stations across the country.
They needed a containment device to transport these small, delicate birds that was hygienic, safe for the owls, and comfortable for the researchers handling them. The design features four individual tubes of varying sizes with ventilation and a handle for easy carrying.
The canisters have since been adopted by over a dozen owl research stations across the country.
Name Tags - FCNRCD
Franklin County Natural Resources Conservation District needed name tags for their events that felt warm and intentional.
Each name tag was laser engraved from local maple with their logo, name, role, and pronouns.
I’d love to help you design custom name tags!
Each name tag was laser engraved from local maple with their logo, name, role, and pronouns.
I’d love to help you design custom name tags!
Audio Guestbook
Gretchen and Will wanted to feature their old rotary phone at their wedding in a fun way by converting it into an audio guestbook.
Guests pick up the handset, hear a recorded message from the couple, and leave a voice message that is stored on an SD card inside.
The phone needed some repairs and rewiring before the electronics could go in. Once restored, a microcontroller was wired into the original housing with everything self-contained.
If you'd like to capture audio memories at a special event, I have an audio guestbook available to rent!
Guests pick up the handset, hear a recorded message from the couple, and leave a voice message that is stored on an SD card inside.
The phone needed some repairs and rewiring before the electronics could go in. Once restored, a microcontroller was wired into the original housing with everything self-contained.
If you'd like to capture audio memories at a special event, I have an audio guestbook available to rent!
Sun Lamp
My least favorite thing about winter is the darkness. I particularly hate leaving work in the dark and returning home to a pitch-black apartment.
To make up for the sun's winter vacation, I made a lamp to mirror its rhythms and provide warmth when the sun won't.
The lamp checks the current date, pulls the local sunset time, and slowly ramps up brightness over the course of the evening until it's at full brightness once it's dark out. The same process runs in reverse each morning.
The backlit outer ring is made up of 16 pieces of carefully cut wood, all oriented with the grain pointing outward like solar flares. A warm, glossy finish reflects the lamp's glow.
All the electronics are housed within the bulb and mounted to the wall with a custom 3D printed mount.
This project was a doozy and I’m very proud of the results!
To make up for the sun's winter vacation, I made a lamp to mirror its rhythms and provide warmth when the sun won't.
The lamp checks the current date, pulls the local sunset time, and slowly ramps up brightness over the course of the evening until it's at full brightness once it's dark out. The same process runs in reverse each morning.
The backlit outer ring is made up of 16 pieces of carefully cut wood, all oriented with the grain pointing outward like solar flares. A warm, glossy finish reflects the lamp's glow.
All the electronics are housed within the bulb and mounted to the wall with a custom 3D printed mount.
This project was a doozy and I’m very proud of the results!
Bunk Beds
I'm a very light sleeper. What started as an experimental project for me and my partner has turned into a glorified bed for our cat, Bucky.
I love building big things and this was a blast. While it doesn't get regular use as a bunk bed, I love sleeping in the cozy wooden den. The under-bed storage was a phase two addition that has been a huge help in our small apartment.
Overall this doesn't serve the end goal I was originally after, but it was fun to build, it's great to sleep in, and it makes a nice guest bed!
I love building big things and this was a blast. While it doesn't get regular use as a bunk bed, I love sleeping in the cozy wooden den. The under-bed storage was a phase two addition that has been a huge help in our small apartment.
Overall this doesn't serve the end goal I was originally after, but it was fun to build, it's great to sleep in, and it makes a nice guest bed!
Dizzy Laser Turtle
I've always been fascinated with laser pointers and the way glass throws the beam around a room.
This piece was inspired by a collection of glasses on my dresser during some thoughtless procrastinating in my work from home days.
After playing with how different configurations of the glasses could produce different patterns, I schemed up a rotating mechanism that would allow for constant changes to the beam.
After testing pint glasses, prescription lenses, broken wine glasses, and more, this small turtle from Goodwill with its uneven rounded shell produced the most unique results.
A small motor with a motion sensor, 3 different colored lasers, a 3D printed housing with a set of bearings, and a mirror brought this project together!
Unfortunately, the turtle met his maker (a concrete floor) while on display at Generator.
This piece was inspired by a collection of glasses on my dresser during some thoughtless procrastinating in my work from home days.
After playing with how different configurations of the glasses could produce different patterns, I schemed up a rotating mechanism that would allow for constant changes to the beam.
After testing pint glasses, prescription lenses, broken wine glasses, and more, this small turtle from Goodwill with its uneven rounded shell produced the most unique results.
A small motor with a motion sensor, 3 different colored lasers, a 3D printed housing with a set of bearings, and a mirror brought this project together!
Unfortunately, the turtle met his maker (a concrete floor) while on display at Generator.
LED Car Sign
This project is the reason I got into electronics. For years I had been scheming up a way to make our interactions in cars better. I don’t like the way cars isolate us from each other and we forget to treat each other with kindness.
This project gives me the opportunity to communicate with the people behind me via pre-programmed buttons and an LED strip mounted on the back
Somebody let’s me merge -> “Thank you!”
Someone doesn’t have their lights on -> “Don’t forget your lights”
My loved ones are behind me -> “Love you!”
Sometimes when driving you end up in the wrong lane and have to cut someone off. With this I have cut people off, hit them with a “sorry” then a “thank you” and seen them smiling ear to ear in the rearview. It's rare for someone to smile after you cut them off!
It’s been a brilliant to spread joy in an otherwise stressful or mundane setting.
This project gives me the opportunity to communicate with the people behind me via pre-programmed buttons and an LED strip mounted on the back
Somebody let’s me merge -> “Thank you!”
Someone doesn’t have their lights on -> “Don’t forget your lights”
My loved ones are behind me -> “Love you!”
Sometimes when driving you end up in the wrong lane and have to cut someone off. With this I have cut people off, hit them with a “sorry” then a “thank you” and seen them smiling ear to ear in the rearview. It's rare for someone to smile after you cut them off!
It’s been a brilliant to spread joy in an otherwise stressful or mundane setting.
Lately most of my work is in the realm of 3D modeling & printing, embedded electronics, lighting, laser cutting, and woodworking (but I like to do a bit of everything).
My hobby is having hobbies! I'm always playing with new ideas and mediums to bring my visions to life.
Have a project in mind?
Let's make something together!
Get in Touch
Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, suggestions, or comments!
I'd be happy to answer questions about my projects and help you with yours.
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