INTERN Spotlight
“Connor was able to navigate changing conditions and situations with ease while accepting new duties and responsibillties. Connor is motivated to succeed in accomplishing his tasks while demonstrating a high degree of honesty, loyalty and integrity. He put forth more time and effort into his work schedule to fit the changing requirements of the tasks. Connor understood what needed to be done and made it happen.”
– Andy Bomberger, Tech Cast, LLC.
CONNOR CLAY Tech Cast, LLC.
internship, I was able to continue to learn more about investment casting and apply my schooling to real life applications. This year I was able to branch out and work in unfamiliar territory. I worked more as a product engineer, setting up new tools and conversing with machine shops for reworks and quotes. I was also heavily involved with wax systems and learned about all of the different material properties for wax. Overall, the internship allowed me to get a broader understanding for the investment casting industry and taught me things I never could have learned in school.
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Over the summer, I worked primarily on the design, fabrication, and implementation of a wax filtration system. Within the first week, I was already applying the fluid mechanics knowledge that I had studied in school the previous semester. Using the equations I had learned, along with some material constants, I was able to quickly come up with a plan
uring the summer of 2019, I continued my internship with Tech Cast. By taking this
to build the first iteration of the filter. The next step of the process was actually constructing a filtration system that could stand up to the hot waxy environment. The materials used would need to withstand temperatures of up to 300 degrees and able to handle liquid without contaminating it. I eventually chose to settle on stainless steel for its rust resistance, with a 100-micron filtration sock. After days of cutting, assembling, and welding together a large filter, it was finally time to test its effectiveness. Once assembled, there were a few housekeeping items still on my agenda. I needed to set-up the filter in a safe way, as it would be a pressurized container filled with molten wax. Also, I needed to attach a heating element to the outside to prevent the wax from solidifying on contact with the filter. After these final steps were completed, we were able to test.
The first test is always the most helpful in determining where you need to improve. During the middle of our test, we found that the filter had clogged and pressure was rising. We quickly shut off the apparatus and determined the issue. The clog was caused by the combination of large contaminates and a cold filter. The variability in the filtration sock may have also played a role in the initial clog. Moving on to the second iteration, I decided to change
December 2019 ❘ 29 ®
the filter to a 300-micron stainless steel mesh to remove variability and decrease the chance for a clog. This mesh also allowed for a much easier cleanup and improved the re-usability of
the machine. After implementing
these changes, the filter seemed to work as expected, allowing for a successful first clean of dirty wax.
Throughout working on this project, I once again was able to continuously learn and become a better engineer. My goal last year was to continue working in the metal casting field and I have made my next step to this end. Owing my time as an intern, I accepted a job at Tech Cast for when I graduate. I am happy to continue my path with investment casting, and l hope that I can continue to learn and improve.
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