1. Portfolio
Michael D’Abate
mdabate3@gmail.com 706-348-3230
Retractable Sensor Integration 2016
A vending machine company required 2 sensors to be added to their machine for
inventory management. The sensors could not be tampered with or visible by the user of the
machine and required a line of sight. A single actuator was used to move both sensors. The entire
low-profile assembly fit within the machine’s existing structure, requiring only a minor changes
to the existing part. I collaborated with students of various disciplines and earned the award for
Best Mechanical Engineering Project at the 2016 Georgia Tech Capstone Expo.

2. Engine Starting Simulator 2014
For testing of experimental lead-acid cell and supercapacitor combinations a fixture was
designed and manufactured by myself. A Denso starter motor drove a Toyota flex plate, and
compression was simulated via a Suzuki brake rotor and caliper pressurized by compressed air.
Engines of different cylinder count and compression pressures could be simulated with the
battery on the bench by changing the applied air pressure. I completed the project within the
specified timeframe and shipped it to Detroit for testing.
Glass Conveyor 2016
A glass manufacturing company needed a multi-directional conveyor system for staging
different sized plates of glass into a grid formation and then transferring them to another
conveyor for heat treating. I designed and drafted the system in SolidWorks and generated 2
dimensional files of all parts in the assembly to be sent to a machine shop.

3. Fuel Injector Research 2012
Upon deciding to turbocharge the Toyota 2JZ-GE inline 6 engine inside the 1969 MG
Midget with the Wreck Racing club, initial calculations proved the stock fuel delivery system
inept. With strict budget restrictions, simply purchasing higher flow rate EV1 injectors for the
stock manifold was not an option.
I led a team to determine if the much cheaper and higher flowing GM TBI injectors could
fuel the engine in a multi-port arrangement. It was found that the inductive strength of the coil
and the pintle spring were both too weak to switch the injector quickly enough to deliver low
enough fuel amounts at engine speeds below 1,500 RPM. Lowering the pressure to compensate
altered the spray, which would negatively have impacted atomization.

4. Automatic Transmission Controller 2011
The Mazda Miata at Wreck Racing was powered by a Lexus (Toyota Motor Company)
4.0L DOHC V-8, known as the 1UZ-FE. Toyota unfortunately never manufactured a manual
transmission that mounts to this engine. The budget limitations of the competition and cost of
more important upgrades prohibited an adapter kit. Thus, the stock A430E automatic
transmission was kept mated to the 1UZ and a controller was needed for the electric solenoids
that controlled the hydraulic valve for changing gears and locking the torque converter. The first
revision was created by the team’s electrical engineer, and had voltage regulation problems and a
messy board layout. I re-arranged the components in EagleCAD and had new boards
manufactured that eliminated the previous issues.