Designing at JR Automation
Lauren
Experience Information
Employer: JR Automation
Job Title: Mechanical Engineering Intern
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: Yes
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
JR Automation designs and builds manufacturing equipment that is automated to different degrees. They build equipment that is specially designed to fit the needs of their customers in many different industries.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
During this co-op, I was in the mechanical engineering department at JR Automation. One of my big projects was designing a robotic cell that assembled a chair frame. All of the modeling was done in Pro/E. I took it all the way from kick-off to release and went through the design process of concepting, modeling, getting approval, detailing, checking, and releasing the project. I also worked on modifying and adding on to previously designed projects.
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
I improved my CAD skills in Pro/E further in my second semester in mechanical design at JR Automation. I also started to learn a robotic simulation software for Fanuc robots. I learned more about the design process and designing for ease of manufacturing and build. I also gained experience in communicating with other engineers and with customers.
Favorite Part of the Experience
I liked getting to solve problems, either in concepting new ideas or trying to fix something that went wrong on a current cell. I liked being able to get input from and discuss ideas with experienced engineers and builders. Some of them have been working at JR for a long time and I was able to not only learn from my own experience but also from theirs. I also loved getting to see what the other engineers at JR were working on and all of the different cells that were getting built and run off on the floor.
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
I really enjoyed my experience at JR and continued to learn how diverse the mechanical engineering field is. There is so much to learn that I don't necessarily see at school. I would like to pursue a graduate degree but I hope to continue to learn about other aspects of mechanical engineering that may not fall directly in line with the research area that I choose. I want to make sure I become a well-rounded engineer.