Experience Matters - Grand Valley State University

Automotive Crash Testing at Shape Corp.

Stephen
Major: Mechanical Engineering I developed 2 LabVIEW data acquisition programs according to the needs of the tech center. One program is a strain gage data collection program that instructs the user how to mount strain gauges and will record data for up to 7 strain gauges at a time. I designed and built the software and some hardware for this project. I also got a lot of hands-on experience in a machine shop. My projects required me to use a manual mill, drill press, saws, and other equipment. I performed a lot of daily tests with the testing team including; dynamic vehicle crash tests (pendulum, flat barrier, IIHS, offset barrier, etc), pedestrian protection tests, dog bone and hardness material tests, and more.

Dematic Co-Op: Final Rotation

Jillian
Major: Mechanical Engineering This semester I was given the amazing opportunity to go to Europe for 2 months of the semester. I was there to ensure install of two sites went smoothly and turn the distribution centers over to the customer. I went to both Milan, Italy and Lille, France. When I returned, I worked on wrapping up the projects from the engineering side and turning the projects over to customer service. The rest of the semester I devoted my time to working with engineers to start up a new distribution center in Maryland. I was offered a job with Dematic before I left for Europe, so I have been learning more of what I will be doing when I start full-time after graduation.

Learning the Skills

Kyle
Major: Mechanical Engineering My projects were based on increasing the efficiency of the assembly line I was assigned to. During this work experience I designed an automatic oiling and filtering system that replaced an operator that manually filled and filtered the contaminated oil. I installed and fabricated a carrier steel straightening system that prevented 50 weekly interventions and 2.4 hours of downtime. I participated in many small installations around the line that increased production by 20%.

Fisen Co-op

Tyler
Major: Mechanical Engineering I worked on standardizing a modification so that when a job comes up with it, all the engineering is done beforehand. In doing this project I had to complete a few different tasks. These included 2-D and 3-D modeling, Electrical drawings, talking to vendors, and creating documents needed for sales. I also had the chance to help on the production floor installing modifications.

Padnos Co-op 3rd Semester

Jason
Major: Mechanical Engineering I was able to experience every aspect of a project at Padnos; from meetings, field measurements, design, fabrication, installation, and follow-up improvements. This included coordinating with on-site supervisors, scheduling meetings, design, overseeing fabrication and installation, and following up post-installation with supervisors. This role carried through many projects including a vibratory shaker installation underneath a shredder mill, conveyor rebuild, access deck/stairs/ladder installation, an over belt drum magnet for ferrous material removal, and many more.

Co-op Round #1

Prisciliano
Major: Mechanical Engineering Being the first co-op, I started with some smaller tasks but was quickly brought up to speed. I started with prototyping possible new products and getting familiar with the injection machines and their programs. Shortly after this task was complete, I started building components for an entirely new production line. The line consisted of welders, inspection cameras, and component assembly robots.

Engineering in the Motor City

Andrew
Major: Mechanical Engineering Working in the design department, I was responsible for designing pistons, bearings, piston rings, and connecting rods. I also created drawings related to these 3D models. I worked closely with other engineers from related companies such as Ford, GM, an Chrysler.

Cost and Concept Development Engineer

Erik
Major: Mechanical Engineering Been working on creating quotations for different automation projects in a variety of fields.

A Semester At JR Automation

Daniel
Major: Mechanical Engineering This semester I worked as a mechanical engineer in the design department. I was tasked with various problems that I would have to develop and design, using PRO Engineer design software, a solution for. These problems varied from issues that had arose from machines that had been in operation for a few years to design new technology that was being implemented for the first time.

Haworth Inc.

Colton
Major: Mechanical Engineering I worked on many engineering drawing updates and part model updates using ProE. I helped to construct, then run tests on Haworth's newest desking system. I worked on consolidation and quality control for different parts. I also worked on conceptual designs for a table leg.

Haworth Engineering Internship -Brian

Brian
Major: Mechanical Engineering I was involved in cost reductions, quality issues, and new product launch.

GHSP Intern

Zachary
Major: Mechanical Engineering The tasks that I completed consisted of sound testing, creating and editing tolerance stacks, creating and editing bill of materials, designing and building prototypes, conducting independent studies of parts and issues associated as well as many more tasks.

1st Co-Op Semester

Erik
Major: Mechanical Engineering Many of the tasks and project that I worked on involved becoming familiar with the machines and manufacturing processes that are used to maintain part quality. This included working with machine operators, checking part dimensions and aiding in capability studies, and working on preventative maintenance sheets. I also worked on two different projects that helped reduce the number of parts damaged by the wash machines (used to remove chips, oil and other debris from parts).

Stamping Matters

Andrew
Major: Mechanical Engineering I created a 10" riser in SolidWorks that closes the shut height of a press. I also drew up concepts for a feeder to feed two coils of steel into a press at different speeds.

Genesis Seating Co-op Experience

Leif
Major: Mechanical Engineering I was responsible for designing continuous improvements. I designed, and constructed, many material presentation carts and racks for the work cell to use. Another large project I worked on was a quick lift table. Most pneumatic lift tables take many seconds to raise and lower. I had to design a lift table that could lift a chair in 3 or 4 seconds. I accomplished this by the use of an airbag jack that can inflate quickly with the right pressure of compressed air.

Genesis Seating Co-op Experience

Leif
Major: Mechanical Engineering My main task at Genesis Seating was to design and create assembly fixtures and part carts. I would be given a problem that the floor workers are experiencing and would have to come up with a way to solve that problem. Most of this just entailed designing a fixture that would hold the part being worked on in a certain orientation. I was also task with doing time studies. This is a way for Genesis Seating to make sure what they quoted a company for labor cost was correct. I would simply watch the work assemble a chair and record the time it took he/her.

First Co-op: Quality Control

Kyle
Major: Mechanical Engineering I performed calibrations on tooling as well as measuring equipment. I helped convert from an old tool maintenance database to a new more professional database and wrote all new work instructions on how to calibrate each set of tools that was stored in their ISO standard. I also helped do a return on investment project to help determine if a new program would be worth the investment.

Mechanical Engineer Co-op

Jared
Major: Mechanical Engineering AutoCAD, ELMII, and SMM were all software (some developed by Dematic) used to create a layout for a customer, order it, track it to the site, and observe it being built.

Real World Engineering

Caleb
Major: Mechanical Engineering While my time at this company, I was able to work first hand on the automated equipment. I was able to troubleshoot problems, ensure proper assembly of the parts and overall prove out of the machines. I was also able to install, power up, and service the machines that this company put into factories.

JR Quoting Intern

Ben
Major: Mechanical Engineering I quoted material handling cells that would use robots to move parts around and torque bolts to a certain specification. I quoted mold tending cells with robots that would retrieve molded plastic parts from and injection mold machine. I quoted assembly stations that would verify the operator assembled a part correctly. JR has a vast customer base and there were very few quotes that were alike.

Co-op II

Stephen
Major: Mechanical Engineering I worked as a CAE analyst. I did FEA analyses of the crash tests we perform in the tech center. When we crash a vehicle into a wall, we simulate the same crash in the computer and compare results. We heavily rely on FEA in the design process to improve our designs. My main projects were simulating two manufacturing processes: (i) stretch-bending aluminum extruded beams and (ii) sweeping roll formed steel beams. Both of these simulations were created to evaluate manufacturing feasibility.

Co-op II with Dematic

Jared
Major: Mechanical Engineering For each project conveyor is quoted and then sent to the application engineering department for refinement and editing based on what the customer orders. After the plan and elevation drawings for the logistics system are completed, the conveyor is ordered using an in house software package called ELM II (Equipment List Management). After the conveyor is ordered and installed on site the engineers visit the site to test, commission and hand the site over to the customer.

Ravenna Ductile Iron

Eric
Major: Mechanical Engineering Clean and inspect patterns that have recently been in production for any wear, breaks, or broken parts. Many projects that I worked on included completed redesign of pattern layouts for new and old tools. Pro/E Creo Parametric 2.0 was used to place castings on a plate that would be optimal for gating that were calculated.

Summer Co-op I

Marshall
Major: Mechanical Engineering Technical documents such as mill operator's manuals were written. Process studies on roll forming mills were written, executed, and documented regarding the weld bridge, jack stand, and the sweep unit.

Trane Summer 14

Albert
Major: Mechanical Engineering I mainly learned everything that goes into a modern day HVAC system. I also was taught psychometrics and common air flow calculations.