•Achieved an understanding of automation, manufacturing, machining, prototyping, and design through the construction of packaging machines, such as capping machines and complex conveyor systems.•Built and installed the escalator to carry bottle caps from the hopper to the chute, resulting in an increased comprehension of motors, idler ends, bolt sizes, and machine operations.•Tested the capping machine through multiple runs of bottles, and altered the tongue of the capper between runs, until the success rate of capped bottles was at the percentage necessary.•Designed eight-inch diameter rollers to pop product out of molds on the conveyor line, while still managing to leave room for the hex key to reach the set screws.•Overhauled roller system with co-worker, through the use of a double-sided belt and seven separate gears to spin the upper and lower rollers in opposite directions.•Created various machine parts out of stock aluminum and stainless steel.•Honed machining skills using lathes, manual mills, CNC operations, band saws, drills, drill presses, and horizontal saws.•Attained an understanding of imperative aspects of design such as drill sizes, end mill sizes, bolt sizes, taps, through holes, countersinks, counterbores, and tool clearance.•Broadened knowledge on ways to make the manufacturing process easier for the machinist.