Engineering Co-Op First Rotation
Carl
Experience Information
Employer: JR Automation
Job Title: Controls Engineer
Major: Electrical Engineering
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: Yes
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
JR Automation Technologies designs and builds solutions for efficiency and speed. These machines are completely customized to the customers needs. The tasks they undertake are mostly concerned with the automotive field and can range from fully autonomous vision laser welders to manually operated small machinery. The team creates assembly solutions that can include sonic welding, riveting, clip driving, adhesive dispensing, MIG and resistance welding, induction heating, and much more. Thriving on innovation, while building on the solid foundations of experience, JR Automation Technologies, LLC rose from its modest one man, one shed origins to become a leading capital equipment designer and manufacturer throughout the world. Since 1995, that success comes under the management, knowledge sharing, and management resources of the Huizenga Group, a private West Michigan group of tooling and manufacturing companies.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
During my first weeks I was in charge of doing a good deal of work on the floor helping the electricians. This involved wiring robotics, sensors, lasers, cutting wire way, and numerous other tasks. I was then given a computer and completed many red lines, which are corrections to the electrical and pneumatic drawings used for the creation of the machines. Some other tasks I completed included, creating valve stack tags, designing simple pneumatic drawings, operating some of the machinery, training operators, debugging hardware, debugging software, and implementing/writing some code using PLC software. I was placed on all types of jobs big and small. Each had its challenges and headaches but all were highly educational for controls engineering.
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
I gained a better understanding of controls engineering. I learned the process of creating industrial machinery from start to finish. Possibly the most useful knowledge I gained was how to read and design electrical and pneumatic drawings. This is a skill that is required in any engineering setting and will most definitely be crucial to a future career. I learned helpful methods of debugging the hardware and software used in the machines. Learning about the robotics and how they operate was perhaps one of the more interesting parts of my co-op. There are many do's and don'ts when working with highly expensive and powerful pieces of machinery. One wrong move and one could destroy the entire machine. I have also learned how to use Siemens and Allen Bradley PLC software and design some basic code for machine operation. My skill that were learned while on the floor will also be helpful. The skills of how things are wired and connected to power allows for a much better understanding when in the debug process. There are many skills that were learned throughout this co-op and I am more than likely leaving plenty out, but these were key.
Favorite Part of the Experience
My favorite part of this co-op was the fact that the engineers treated you as one of them while still being more than willing to help. They wouldn't simply give you all the terrible projects that needed to be completed. They give you whatever they have at the time which could involve anything from complex coding to simple changes to the machines schematics. I was thrown into some complex projects and forced to learn on the go. This is the best way I learn so I found it to be very helpful and a great experience. The engineers and techs were very helpful so that when I was truly stumped I always felt comfortable asking for a push in the right direction.
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
Going into this co-op as a controls engineer I did not know what to expect being declared as an electrical engineer. I quickly found out that not much of school was used in this field, as taught by GVSU. After three months of work at JR Automation I find myself highly enjoying the different tasks I am given. I could easily see myself working as a controls engineer once I graduate. I am happy to find out that I have made a good decision in my career choice as engineering is definitely for me.