Where did you intern, and what were you doing for your internship?
I interned at Open Additive, LLC in Beavercreek, Ohio. During my internship, I assisted in projects focused on designing, building, testing, and improving metal 3D printers and Sieving stations manufactured by the company. This involved using CAD drawings to see how the systems are built, assembling the systems, making notes of any problems that need to be fixed on future systems, and writing the assembly/user instructions for the systems. I was also made the lead of a project and was responsible for ordering the parts and completing the project from start to finish.
How did your internship help you reach your career goals?
I have always been extremely interested in 3D printing technology and this internship has given me first-hand experience with advanced metal 3D printer technology. This has allowed me to better understand the technology while giving me experience that will help me a lot in the future.
After your internship, did you stay working in Ohio?
Yes, the company I interned for actually decided to hire me on full time after my internship was over!
Tell me a little bit about what you learned throughout the course of the internship.
During my internship, I learned how to use different mills, drills, and power tools. I’ve learned how to use tools to alter parts to make them work when the original design doesn’t work. I learned the importance of working with other companies to get a project done and how to contact other companies to request quotes for specific products. I learned how to prioritize tasks for projects in order to meet deadlines, and I have also learned a lot about how metal 3D printers and sieving stations work. I feel like I am a lot more capable now than I was at the beginning of my internship, and I now have the knowledge and confidence to suggest ideas and improvements for 3D printing and sieving systems.
Tell me about how Clark State helped you find your internship.
After seeing a lot of potential internships close due to covid, I was very nervous about whether or not I would find one, but career services at Clark State reached out to me about a possible internship at Open Additive and I was thrilled when I was given the opportunity for an interview and hired for an internship!
Why do you think it helps to learn on the job?
I think hands-on experience is definitely one of the best ways to learn new skills and improve the skills you already have, especially when those skills are specifically related to the job. During my internship, I’ve learned how to use a lot of different tools, power equipment (such as forklifts), and improved upon the skills I had already gained from my classes at Clark State.
What accomplishments did you make during your internship?
I think hands-on experience is definitely one of the best ways to learn new skills and improve the skills you already have, especially when those skills are specifically related to the job. During my internship. I’ve learned how to use a lot of different tools, power equipment (such as forklifts), and improved upon the skills I had already gained from my classes at Clark State.
The Intern Spotlight Series are interviews conducted with current and past SOCHE Interns and interns from SOCHE member institutions, discussing the value of their on-the-job experience at their internship.
If you are interested in hiring an intern, contact Patty Buddelmeyer at patty.buddelmeyer@soche.org or (937) 258-8890.
If you are interested in applying for a SOCHE Internship, go to www.socheintern.org.
