Steve L.

“To the optimist, the glass is half full. To the pessimist, the glass is half empty. To the engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.” ― Unknown I view the world in exploded views and how it was designed for functionality. I specialize in bringing your concepts to reality. My professional career began as an Applications Engineer where I learned to MIG weld; program a 3-axis Haas CNC, turn chips on a manual lathe/mill, and think outside the box to create custom automation that tailored to the plastic mold injection industry, typically involving medical devices. Through the use of parametric drafting my ideas came to life involving robotics, inspection vision systems, and pneumatic driven assemblies which became my solutions for customer needs. Problem solving became the foundation I built my career on. I have been a proficient SolidWorks designer since 2009. I have received a SolidWorks Expert Mechanical Design Certification along with the advanced sheet metal, sustainable design, simulation, drawing tools, weldments, surfacing and drawing tools certifications. I acquired my drafting and design degree from ITT Technical Institute in Orange California Dec. 2012. I have 10+ years of experience with System and Component level design, layout and documentation, which includes but is not limited to Automated Machine design, Welded structures, Vacuum Chambers, Electro-Optical design, Sheet Metal, Medical Device design, and Plastic Part design and surfacing. I have worked in a wide variety of manufacturing industries supplying solutions for their Engineering teams. I am currently a Mechanical Engineer for a Robotics manufacturer. Prior to robotics I worked as a process improvement engineer for a composite material manufacturer. Previous to that I was a Design Drafter II at Fender Musical Instrument Corporation as a part of the Research and Development team. My first engineering opportunities took place as a mechanical designer for a Cryogenic Pump and Turbo Expander Manufacturing company utilizing my SolidWorks and AutoCAD capabilities to design skid piping layouts and turbo-expander blades. As of recent I have completed two advanced 3D modeling courses at Irvine Valley College which entail new methods of rapid prototyping and manufacturing. I decided dive deep on how and where all of these parts I was designing were created. I wanted to know more about what went into manufacturing and the complications involved with poor designs. I completed a beginning and advanced MasterCam CNC Programming course along with an Advanced CNC 5-axis setup/operation course to better my knowledge of how products should be designed for not only easier manufacturing and assembly but also a longer life cycle. I have designed for a variety of manufacturing methods including 3D printing, CNC lathe and mill, laser cutting, vacuum forming, sheet metal, and welded structures. I believe design for manufacturability starts at the conceptual design phase. Small changes in the initial design can have large effects in the final cost of a product. I have deep understanding of most manufacturing processes, and leverage that knowledge to simplify designs whenever possible. Proficient in the following Software: -SolidWorks -AutoDesk Inventor -AutoDesk AutoCAD -MasterCAM -Adobe Photoshop -Adobe Illustrator