R&D Engineering Intern
Gits Manufacturing Co.
Test fixture development, reverse engineering, shared engineering services, PDM, and engineering change workflows.
Engineering systems built to be tested.
Mechanical and biomedical engineer turning complex requirements into testable hardware, dependable controls, and clear product-data workflows.
Torsion spring lifecycle testerFive-station control software and configurable motion profiles
Selected work
01Torsion spring lifecycle testerMechanical design · Python · Arduino
A custom test apparatus and companion control software for validating torsion springs used in heavy truck valve assemblies.
Mechanical system
Designed, manufactured, and assembled during R&D engineering work at Gits Manufacturing. The resume describes a five-spring system designed for 2 Hz testing over millions of mechanical cycles.
Design priorities included durability, repeatability, manufacturing, and assembly. CAD and apparatus photographs will be added when available.
Software & controls
- Python/Tkinter operator interface and Arduino Mega firmware.
- Independent station settings, calibration, jogging, cycle targets, and dwell.
- Editable cycle profiles and physical motor-rate configuration.
- Serial and TCP simulators, including spring-failure injection.
- Guard and E-stop monitoring logic with explicit reset behavior.
Operator interfacePython / Tkinter→Serial protocolConfiguration & status→Arduino Mega5 station controllers
Software features are documented in the project source. This portfolio does not establish hardware validation or safety certification; physical safety hardware remains separate from controller monitoring.
Explore the CAD workspace →02Mechanical knee testing fixtureBiomechanics · Prototyping
Replicating knee motion for lifecycle testing of Class I knee braces and compressive supports.
Design approach
Incorporated biomechanical motion constraints to represent joint loading and movement. Designed and fabricated a fixture and created a 3D-printed prototype to assess mechanical feasibility.
Next in this case study
Model views, prototype photographs, design constraints, and supporting analysis will be added as project material becomes available.
03Prosthetic arm design studyBiomedical instrumentation · CAD · Biomaterials
A forearm mockup developed alongside research into residual-limb attachment, tissue health, and material selection.
Interface concept
Evaluated elevated-vacuum suspension and a one-way valve and pump arrangement to improve fit, reduce pistoning, and support tissue loading.
Design integration
Developed the shell, liner, pump, valve, and filter as a coordinated Onshape assembly. The supporting study compares CFRP shell performance and medical-grade silicone liner behavior.
04Engineering shared services & PDMProduct data · Change management · Process design
Engineering workflows that make technical information easier to control, find, and use across multiple companies and divisions.
Shared engineering services
Used Microsoft 365 and SharePoint to build an organizational framework for global engineering shared services, KPI tracking, cross-company coordination, and distributed engineering work.
Product data & change control
Supported PDM practices and engineering-change workflows governing drawings, specifications, technical documentation, review, approval, implementation, release, and revision control.
05Equatorial photography tracking mountPersonal project · Open-source CAD · Mechatronics
A compact camera-tracking mount designed to counter Earth’s rotation for long-exposure equatorial photography.
Mechanical design
Integrated altitude and azimuth adjustment, polar alignment, geared rotation, bearings, fasteners, and a camera counterweight system into a serviceable assembly.
Design for manufacture
Balanced printed housings and custom plates with standard hardware, sleeve bearings, a stepper motor, and an Arduino Nano controller.
06FRC 2022 Rapid React robotPowerhouse Robotics · System integration · Mentoring
A full competition-robot design created for the 2022 Rapid React challenge and carried forward as a mentoring reference.
Robot architecture
Combined drivetrain, intake, conveyor, shooter, climber, pneumatics, electronics, and structural systems in a detailed 200-instance Onshape assembly.
Engineering mentorship
The project supports hands-on mentoring in mechanical design, subsystem interfaces, iteration under deadlines, and communication within a multidisciplinary team.
CAD lab
Explore complete assemblies, compare assembled and exploded views, and open the source models in Onshape.
Select a model.
Interactive and Onshape-linked projects appear here.
Choose a project from the model index.
Background
Mechanical systems. Biomedical R&D. Hands-on engineering.
Iowa State University
B.S. Biomedical Engineering
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
GPA: 3.3 / 4.0
Expected May 2027 · Ames, Iowa
Minors in Biology and Chemistry
Tools & methods
SolidWorks · Inventor · Creo · Onshape · Revit
Python · MATLAB · Java
SLA & FDM printing · CNC machining
DFMEA · 8D · Six Sigma · CSWA
Biomedical Engineering Researcher
Iowa State University
Bone fracture mechanics research, with veterinary collaboration on fixation plates and surgical protocols.
Student Researcher
Iowa State University
Instructional testing and experimental workflows supporting fluid dynamics courses.
Owner & Photojournalist
Zenith Media Group, LLC
Planned client media projects, translated requirements into finished visual stories, and managed schedules, scope, and delivery.
Coursework
Technical reports, calculations, research, and design studies.
Coursework is being prepared.