John Hong
Stanford, CA
I am a product designer who operates at the junction of software and hardware. From machine interfaces to mobile/web platforms, I design experiences through a lens that places people at the heart of innovation.
With a MS in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford, specializing in physical product design and manufacturing, and a BS in Product Design from Stanford, I blend technical expertise with a deep foundation in human-centered design to create meaningful, impactful solutions.
Projects
One Micron Mechanism
May 2024
Stanford, CA
As part of the coursework from Precision Engineering (ME324), I developed a fine positioning mechanism capable of micron-level translation using differential screw and flexure-based design—within a 3-week timeline.
The mechanism features a mostly 3D-printed assembly: the housing (white) is FDM-printed in PLA, the differential screw is SLA-printed in Formlabs Durable resin, the dial is laser-cut, and the aluminum flexure is waterjet-cut.
Final performance, measured via micrometer and CMM, yielded an RMS position error of 6.10 µm and a mean repeatability error of 7.25 µm.
Concept & Early Iterations
Final Designs
Testing & Resuts
Final PerformanceTest Setup
Dial Indicator
- Used 2 standard hold down sets (strap clamp, step block) to secure position of mechanism.
- Secured the dial indicator in front of mechanism, set tip of dial indicator to red nose of mechanism.
Performance
- RMS Position Error: 6.10 µm
- Mean Repeatability Error: 7.25 µm
Key Learnings
- I observed a consistent anomaly when targeting 88 µm—results were significantly off compared to other trials. I suspect this deviation may be due to material behavior of the screw under load or an issue with the dial indicator setup.
- The flexure exhibited a subtle drift: it would initially reach the target position, then slowly contract by ~2 µm. This may be due to the nut being free in translation or time-dependent material deformation (e.g., creep or stress relaxation).
Final Product