During my second-year industry linked project I had the opportunity to look around one of Bosch’s factories. It was fascinating to see the automated manufacturing process and better understand the reasons behind some of Bosch’s design decisions. I also had the opportunity to disassemble part of a McLaren 12C engine which gave me an insight into the advanced materials used, and the close tolerances required to build such a high-performance car.

In my third-year project I used the extensive prototyping facilities to develop a stone skimming machine, including processes such as 3D printing, laser cutting, milling, turning, sheet metal bending and welding. I also had access to a wide range of materials, and the technicians are extremely supportive and helpful. So far, this has been my greatest achievement. The machine can launch stones at 45 mph and spin them at 2400 rpm which lead to more than 88 skims being achieved. To accomplish this, I applied mechanical engineering principles learnt in my first two years such as mechanics of materials, dynamics, and machine design.

The University has a very supportive environment, and the lecturers really want you to succeed. My third-year project supervisor was always very encouraging and gave me guidance and advice but ultimately, I was responsible for the output and direction of the project. This really cultivated my ability to work independently, setting my own targets and deadlines, and having the self-discipline to stick to them.