Experience

During my summer internship at Hailiang Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of copper-based materials, I worked in the production and quality inspection division for copper alloy tubes. I actively participated in multiple stages of the manufacturing process, including melting and casting, extrusion, rolling, and drawing, gaining a comprehensive understanding of large-scale metal forming workflows. I was responsible for assisting with process optimization and performing mechanical and dimensional inspections on copper alloy tubes to ensure compliance with industrial standards. My contributions helped improve inspection accuracy and enhance the consistency of production quality.

I became proficient in operating a wide range of instruments and machining tools at the center, including 3D scanning, 3D printing, CNC machining, various cutting processes, and surveying techniques. As a project, I transformed a block of aluminum alloy into the shape of the NCSU Wolfpack logo using CNC machining, and then combined laser cutting with 3D printing to turn it into a unique piece of art!

We conducted multiple iterations of the hull design, systematically refining the geometry and structural integrity before finalizing the optimized configuration. Distinct additive manufacturing techniques were employed for different components: material jetting for the hull, selective laser sintering for the rudder, and stereolithography for the propeller. Following fabrication, an electric motor and stepper motor were integrated into the assembly as the control system, resulting in a fully functional remote-controlled speed boat prototype

I worked on an exciting project focused on additive manufacturing of hyperuniform force chain network structures using Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) on a Concept Laser system with a 50 μm laser beam. The goal was to print these intricate networks at different size scales and systematically investigate how geometric parameters—such as feature size and overhang angle—affect the structural survivability and print fidelity. Through this process, I explored the limits of laser-based metal printing for highly complex, architected materials, revealing how subtle design and process variations can determine whether a structure withstands the thermal and mechanical stresses during fabrication.

I developed and integrated a complete PLC-based control system. I programmed the PLC to coordinate with photoelectric sensors, transmitting real-time signals to a Python gateway for data processing. Through the MQTT protocol, I established seamless communication between edge devices and the cloud, storing the collected data in a PostgreSQL database. Finally, I connected the system with Factory I/O’s digital twin environment for real-time visualization and monitoring, achieving a fully interactive and intelligent manufacturing setup.

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