Personal Details

Date of birth:  30/03/71

Nationality:  British                  

Education

Cranfield University, Astronautics & Space Engineering   Masters Degree  2004-2005   Graduated on 9^th June 2006

University Of Northumbria, Mech Eng(Hons) Degree Graduation on 5^th July 1994  2.2

Woodbridge School, Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK

Technology ,Physics   ‘A’  levels                                           Completed in 1989  B,D grades

Mathematics        ‘AO’ level                                                    1988  C grade

Framlingham College, UK 

7 including English, Mathematics, Physics & Biology   ‘O’ levels      Completed in 1987 C grades              

Summary Of Work / Education Experience 

1.      Doyen Medipharm Ltd. Contract  Mechanical Design Engineer 08^th.10.2007 To Date

Doyen Medipharm manufactures medical packaging equipment. My role at Doyen has been to design various mechanisms and processes for a new transdermic patch production machine. I used both Autodesk AutoCAD and Inventor.

2.      Freelance CAD Designer  01^st .01.2006 08^th.10.2008

After completing my Astronautics MSc at Cranfield University I worked on a freelance basis for two companies participating in the design process and producing CAD models and presentation drawings.

For The Dome Company who design and manufacture Tented Structures and Geodesic domes I worked on two main projects, a portable theatre for the Kneehigh Theatre Company, and a seasonal covered theatre structure for London Royal Parks.

For Wasteology Systems Limited I produced a series of presentation images of bio-degradable waste composting systems for use at public reviews, trade fairs and to clarify designs with customers. Wasteology uses Solidworks.

3.      Cranfield University, Student, Astronautics & Space Engineering Masters Degree 1.10.2004 to 10.09.2005

Along with taught lectures I undertook two projects as part of this course, a group design project and an individual research thesis. In the group project I worked within a small team of nine people, deriving and analyzing various mission concepts for a Mars atmospheric vehicle, I also analyzed the thermal characteristics of the heatshield during atmospheric entry. As a team we analyzed various concepts such as powered aircraft, gliders, airships and the solution chosen, a hydrogen balloon. To verify the balloon’s structure I produced several finite analysis models and to aid the final presentation I also created a 3D model of the balloon and payload configuration. To analysis the thermal characteristics of the heatshield during EDL I wrote several matlab M-file programs.

For my individual thesis, I developed a concept for an aerobot to float in Jupiter’s atmosphere in a region between 1bar and 100bar. This was a particularly challenging project, due to the fact Jupiter’s atmosphere comprises of 80% hydrogen. I considered several concepts, a temperature differential montgolfiere balloon (proposed by NASA), a 100% hydrogen balloon, an aircraft and a pressure differential balloon. I continued to develop the pressure differential balloon, an idea I devised whereby the probe floats due to buoyancy resulting from a reduced pressure inside the balloon than atmosphere. The obvious difficulty with this type of design is a relatively large pressure difference is required to produce any meaningful buoyancy, which in turn means the balloon has to be structurally capable of withstanding large compressive stresses. The initial concepts I developed comprised of large hard shelled balls, but these proved particularly susceptible to buckling, as the design progressed I looked at more elaborate hard shelled structures and analyzed their structural performance with Nastran/Patran finite element analysis, however they still proved unfeasible. The design then evolved to use a soft flexible surface held in situ using conical struts, which are capable of  withstand high buckling loads. Using non-linear finite analysis models I analyzed deformations in a mylar surface with interlaced carbon fiber netting.  

4.      Diamond H Controls 01.06.2003 to 01.09.2004

After I moved back to Suffolk from Newcastle Upon Tyne , I worked as a contract draftsperson for about one year at Diamond H Controls in Norwich. My main role here was to update their production drawings in line with current production parts.

5.      Orwin Automation, Design Engineer 10.01.2000 to 30.07.2002

Orwin Automation was a medium sized engineering company specializing in the design, development and manufacture of special purpose automation machines.

On receiving an initial design brief for a machine, it was my responsibility as a design engineer to undertake it’s design. I approached this by firstly defining the various operations required and thereafter developing the associated mechanisms, including sensing methods. Finally I producing a set of working drawings to be released to the machine shop for manufacture, all of the CAD work was undertaken using AutoCAD. An advantage of working at Orwins was there were several highly skilled automation engineers, who gave me advice and guidance. Also with an on site machine shop I was able to build good working relationships with the machine operators and toolmakers, who gave me invaluable positive and negative feedback regarding my designs and the practicalities of making them. Some examples of machines I designed here are a car door glazing assembly machine (Nissan), car engine component assembly machines(Ford) and a kerosene jet wash machine for cleaning bearings (NSK).               

6.      ADM Automation Ltd, Design Engineer / Project Manager. 1.12.1997 to 30.11.1999

ADM Automation manufactured automation equipment for industry. My roles at ADM fell into two main categories, design engineer and project manager. As a design engineer it was my responsibility to design machines from original concepts through to final drawings and as a project manager I was responsibly to oversee projects, control budgets, place orders, deal with customers, manage timescales, farm out my designs to various machining shops and source equipment/sensors etc.  Machines were often in the region of 100K-150K, with varying amounts of complexity, so there was a great deal of responsibility required. An interesting project I undertook here was the R40 machine for TRW Automotive, which was designed to mechanically, visually and electrically test dashboard switches for new cars. It consisted of an eight station rotary table with various mechanisms. As well as designing all the mechanical aspects of this machine, I also programmed a vision system to recognize each type of switch icon and programmed a SMC SMAC unit (linear moving coil actuator) to measure the force and travel parameters of each switch, and if required download this data to the system computer for analysis. At ADM I designed several machines both using rotary tables and Bosch palletized conveyor systems.       

7.      Bede Technology Ltd , Mechanical Design Engineer  28.10.1996 to 30.11.1997

Bede Technology manufactured special purpose test and production equipment for industry. Initially working with the Engineering Manager, we derived the individual processes required on each machine. It was my responsibility thereafter to design all the mechanical aspects of these machines. Two examples of machines I designing are as follows, the ”TM33” for Elmwood Sensors Ltd, an eight station rotary table, designed to test a variety of thermostats at various operating temperatures, incorporating a piezo-electric cooling device, heated pads 0-200°c, and vacuum pick & place accept/reject mechanisms, and the Terminal Bender also for Elmwood sensors designed to bend the terminal legs of temperature switches to specified angles and also transfer them from a factory pallet into a transportation tray. The machine consisted of a bending jig mounted onto an X-Y mechanism and two draws for input and output trays. Other machines I designed whilst at Bede Technology included a 17” monitor anode voltage tester for Samsung , a circuit board pick & place stacking machine, a role-forming machine to mount brass bases onto temperature switches, 3 thermostat switch testing machines and an airbag testing machine.                    

8.      North East Innovation Center Graduate Design Engineer 1.5.1995 to 25.10.1996

I entered the N.E.I. on a 6-month training scheme and was permanently employed thereafter. The N.E.I. was a local authority funded organization specializing in developing new designs and one off prototypes for individuals and companies.

In the drawing office under guidance, I carried out design and development projects, from concepts through to drawing detail and assembly drawings. I designed a cash point fascia, several of which have been made for The Northern Rock Bank, a grease injection mechanism for a car door lock manufacturer and an X-Y drive mechanism for a water-jet cutting machine.

Part of the training I received was spent in the workshops to improve my practical skills. I was taught how to use MIG welding equipment, digital readout milling machines, lathes, grinding machines and general engineering tools. I gained a basic working knowledge with pneumatic and hydraulic systems and assisted in assembling machines and troubleshooting, both in the workshop and on site.

9.      Final Year Project at University,  1.9.1993 to 1.6.1994

For my final year project at university I designed and made a 2-meter blade diameter portable wind turbine. I wrote a numerical integration program to predict the optimum airfoil profiles for various wind speeds. A new concept I developed with this wind turbine was to incorporate an electromagnetic primary core generator (as opposed to heavier permanent magnets). An onboard electronic control system,( I had some help with) then monitored wind speeds and blade rotation rates using sensors and controlled power supply to the turbines internal batteries, external storage batteries and the generators primary core windings.

10.    British Gas (North Thames) London ,    Industrial Trainee,    1.7.1991 to 1.7.1992.

During the engineering degree placement year I worked for British Gas (Distribution). Responsibilities included managing small projects, designing new pipe layouts, using analysis programs to predicting gas flows. 

Skills

·  I have a creative, (lateral thinking) approach to the design process and I can develop original concepts through sketching and drawing my ideas, before using a computer.

·  I communicate well and participate well in group work.

·  I have several years experience of designing automation equipment and have an understanding of design methodologies, e.g. which sensors optical/micro/proximity are suited to which applications, and how to avoid sensing errors so that systems are fail safe. 

·  I have managed designs from initial concepts to final install, managed in house and contracted manufacture of components and overseen machine assembly on the shop floor.

·  My computer experience includes, A good working knowledge of AutoCAD for 2D design work and Solidworks for 3D solid modeling and at Cranfield university I gained knowledge of using Matlab , STK, Catia and Nastran/Patran finite analysis.

·  Clean UK driving license.

·  British Red Cross First Aid Training.

Interests                                             

Cycling:              I’ve cycled the sustrans coast to coast route (Whitehaven to Sunderland),the London to Brighton charity ride twice and last summer I cycled from Canterbury  to Hull over several weekends, following the coast.

General:             Walking, Recently bought a digial SLR camera and been taking photos around Suffolk

References

Dr Peter Roberts	Course Director -- MSc Astronautics and Space Engineering Space Research Centre, School of Engineering, Cranfield University Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England, MK43 0AL	Tel: +44 (0) 1234 750111 ext 5120 Fax: +44 (0) 1234 758203 Email: p.c.e.roberts(at)cranfield.ac.uk
Dr Jenny Kingston	Project Supervisor -- MSc Astronautics and Space Engineering Space Research Centre, School of Engineering, Cranfield University Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England, MK43 0AL	Tel: +44 (0) 1234 754703 Fax: +44 (0) 1234 758203 Email: j.kingston(at)cranfield.ac.uk
Jeremy Sheath	Engineering Manager—Doyen Medipharm,11Business Park, Copper Smith Way,  Wymondham, Norfolk.NR18 0WY	Tel: +44 (0) 1953 600078 Fax: +44 (0) 1953 605069