My CDME experience: recent grads share their stories

Ohio State’s Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence (CDME) is focused on developing the next generation of difference-makers. Through industry-funded product development projects, undergraduate students gain hands-on, mentor-based experience integrating new technology into market-ready applications. These young professionals represent a diverse selection of academic concentrations. Approximately 70 percent are enrolled in engineering courses at Ohio State; the remaining 30% chose majors such as biology, marketing, accounting, or data analytics. 

CDME’s team of industry hardened experts strives to give each student an experience they can leverage in their future careers. They make it a priority to engrain students in real industry projects while allowing them to flex their decision-making skills and turn their own ideas into action. 

We prepare our graduates to be confident and ready to transition from an academic setting into the workforce. Below represent a few members of the CDME Class of 2020. Learn how they spent their time at CDME, in their own words:

Meet Jake

Jake Felicetty
Major: Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
CDME Mentor: Jason Robinson

Work Conducted at CDME: 
“At CDME, I’ve worked primarily under Jason [Robinson] in design. Most often, I worked on the mechanical side of things, designing, modeling, and fabricating mechanical components for various projects. Although I spent most of my time in this area, I also got a lot of experience running experiments and collecting data, microcontroller programming (this was mostly for a project related to automation), and basic electrical engineering.”

On CDME's Impact:
“CDME has helped me gain unbelievably valuable hands-on experience and steered what I want to do with my career. Getting placed in a professional environment where I could go from somebody proposing a problem to us delivering a solution has taught me so much, and the skills I gained really translated to success in the classroom. I found that there were so many things about working in a non-classroom setting that I had become very good at or comfortable with that my classmates often hadn’t even considered. CDME also exposed me to individuals and companies developing completely new ideas and seeking patents and other intellectual property protection. In part, this played a role in me now deciding to attend law school and pursue a career in intellectual property law.”

Meet Antonio

Antonio Montanez
Major: Aerospace Engineering
CDME Mentor: Dr. Ed Herderick  

Work Conducted at CDME:
“The initial work I did at CDME didn't relate to aerospace engineering at all. At CDME, I started by working on a robotic blacksmithing project (also called metamorphic manufacturing), with the goal of creating a new form of additive manufacturing. This project helped me gain practical experience working on machinery with the other engineers at CDME. 

I worked with both the plastic and metal 3D printers, the waterjet, and the CNC mill. This project helped me realize how important it is to have a good working relationship with the shop workers because it's super easy to design something, but even harder to build it. The shop guys make it possible to build the contraptions that we designed. 

After completing my part of the project, I worked with Dr. Herderick at CDME and Professor John Horack at Ohio State on developing a new project related to nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP). I was the lead of the NTP team where I worked with three other students to design and create a 3D printed Nuclear Thermal Propulsion engine. I created concepts for the engine and assisted the other students with designing them in SolidWorks. The team 3D printed many of the parts out of plastic with the purpose of rapidly prototyping a design that would fit together. Future plans included printing the parts out of metal and hot-fire testing the NTP engine to measure thrust, however, these plans were postponed due to COVID-19.”

On CDME's Impact:
“Overall, CDME helped me to achieve my goals by preparing me for the workforce. Working at CDME gave me practical experience in an engineering environment and helped me form connections with extremely talented people.”

Meet Nora

Nora Boyle 
Major: Materials Science Engineering with a focus in Metallurgy
CDME Mentor: Jacob Rindler 

Work Conducted at CDME: 
“I worked with Jacob Rindler to do defect characterization of microporosity in parts made by multi-laser powder bed fusion. I did this using micro CT data and image processing software Dream3D and Paraview to highlight, segment and measure the size, and shape and location of voids.” 

On CDME's Impact:
“I would say that my work at CDME helped me see what an engineering workplace looks like. I was also given the opportunity to present my work at an industry conference. This research experience on my resume helped me shape my job search by showing me what options there are. I would also say this position was critical to my receiving the job offer I did at ATI.”

Meet Ish

Ish Shalash
Major: Aerospace Engineering
CDME Mentor: Dr. Ed Herderick 

Work Conducted at CDME:
“I worked for Dr. Ed Herderick on the nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) engine we are developing at CDME. The team and I designed and 3D modeled an NTP engine and scaled it for 3D printing. We were in the process of 3D printing the components when COVID-19 postponed our progress. Before working on the NTP engine, I was working on a robotic blacksmithing project under Dr. Herderick. The goal was to use machine learning and a robotic arm to forge metal (much like a blacksmith) into parts that needed to be incredibly strong. The main reason for forging parts is for the structural integrity that they provide.“

On CDME's Impact: 
“CDME has helped me grow professionally and prepared me for life after graduation. CDME helped me realize that I have a passion for 3D printing and 3D modeling, so working on the NTP project was the perfect way to enhance my skills and learn more about both topics. I am currently still looking for a position in the engineering field, but I am confident with the experience I have gained at CDME that I will find something.”

Meet Jess

Jess Badinghaus
Major: Strategic Communications
CDME Mentor: Ashley Albertson

Work Conducted at CDME:
"My position required me to write articles, design graphics, and produce web copy for CDME’s website. I entered the position excited but intimidated because I had no prior knowledge in engineering. What is so special about CDME’s student development program is each student is partnered with a mentor in their field. My supervisor, Ashley Albertson, provided so much support and knowledge in marketing and writing, making this an opportunity like no other."

On CDME's Impact:
"I found that coming into this position with little engineering experience turned out to be an advantage. I learned to write the articles for clarity, ensuring that everyone who reads about CDME understands the amazing work going on in this facility. Each story was an exciting challenge and so rewarding.

With CDME’s team of 60 student workers and the constant flow of new projects, I never ran out of stories to cover. My most memorable experience was visiting IC3D, a local Columbus 3D printing company that incubated their business at CDME. Interviewing the CEO and witnessing the business’ innovative technology was an incredible experience to write about as an undergraduate student at Ohio State.

I want to thank all the staff at CDME for making my experience so positive and educating. As I move into my role as a digital marketing specialist at Whiteboard Marketing in Dublin, Ohio, I know I have CDME’s team to thank and lean on for continued support. A huge thank you to Ashley for encouraging me to learn new skills and mentoring me through assignments, even outside of CDME. I am sad to go, but ecstatic to see what CDME does in the future."

by Cassie Crisp, CDME marketing student