John Hong
San Francisco, CA
I’m a product designer working at the intersection of hardware and software. Whether it’s a machine interface, mobile/web app, or a physical product, I design experiences that put people at the center of innovation.
My background spans physical and digital domains, enabling me to conceive and execute holistic solutions across mediums. I hold a BS in Product Design (HCI focus) and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford, where I specialized in physical product design and manufacturing.
Currently, I’m a Product Design Engineer at Sanas.AI, designing the future of interlingual communication.
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