Co-op 3
Bradley
Experience Information
Employer: Gentex
Job Title: Test and Measurement Mechanical Engineer
Major: Product Design and Manufacturing Engineering
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: Yes
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
Gentex is a global, highly advanced technological company that is managed by engineers who understand the freedom and discipline that is required to run a company. Originally specializing in technological advancements in interior and exterior mirrors on automobiles, Gentex also specializes in advancing technology for airline windows as well as commercial grade fire alarms. This requires multiple teams of many engineering backgrounds to collaborate together to advance this technology. The unpretentious management of this company also pushes employees to succeed as well as encourage its employees to pursue their education to be smarter and better at what they do every day.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
My job during this internship was to play the role of a test and measurement mechanical engineer. This role involved designing fixtures, custom parts, and machines in CAD to improve the efficiency of test and measurement stations on specific assembly lines in all departments around the company. After a design solution was generated, it was also my job to send out the fabricated parts and purchase the necessary purchased parts. This involved the creation of a professional Bill of Materials as well as budget planning to justify certain solutions. Once that project was fully fabricated, it was also my job to assemble and wire the solution. This allowed me to spot mistakes and learn better ways to design machines and fixtures in the future.
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
This internship allowed me to dive deeper in designing machines that could test and measure parts. During this, I learned some very valuable design techniques such as: how to strategically design sheet metal parts, how to design large and small weldmented parts, how to visualize a machine and its motion on a big picture stand point, and how to design a machine so that it is easy to modify in the future.
Favorite Part of the Experience
Seeing a design that I generated in CAD come to life and actually work after fabrication. After spending countless hours designing a machine or test station and seeing it work is an extremely satisfying experience and my favorite one during this internship.
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
This internship guided me on a path of designing machines for production. The rewarding feeling of generating a machine solution and seeing it work has become slightly addictive. This feeling tells me that this is what I want pursue going forward with my career. Designing machines.