AIST Steel Intern Scholarship
Amelia L. McNamee
My internship at ATI Specialty Materials in Monroe, N.C., USA, was a phenomenal introduction to industrial metal production. As my position was in the capital engineering department, I had the opportunity to improve the equipment used in the metal-making process, provide support for the research and development (R&D) department, and overall work on projects that impacted various areas of the company.
For the course of this internship, I had a powder compaction project as the main project, as well as several other projects and tasks. In the powder compaction project, I spearheaded a design that used vertical movement to compact powder for later compaction testing. Another intern and I ran dry runs and powder-filled runs of compaction that mimicked production so that a baseline for future compaction experiments could be determined. I also led multiple projects aimed at improving the safety and functionality of the stinger prep area. Two such projects for safety were a belt cover and scrap carousel cover, with the former serving to cover pinch points with a belt drive and the latter protecting exposed electronics from debris. I also designed a spatter guard mount for the prep area which allowed for attachment and removal of a copper spatter guard to replace the fabric-based guard then being used. I was given a continuous improvement project with the hand forging area, for which I was to design a transport cart to help move workpieces between the furnaces and forge. However, after observing the hand forging process as a whole and getting input from the operators of that area, several other ideas and projects were added to the continuous improvement list to improve both safety and functionality.
During this experience, I developed my SolidWorks skills in weldments and structural members, while also expanding my design experience into designing for larger scale parts and assemblies. Due to the nature of capital engineering, there was a wide variety of projects to do, areas to learn, and people to work with, and this variety added to the fun and available learning opportunities of the internship. While a lot of time was spent on SolidWorks, the internship was also hands-on. From spending time at the site where the changes would be implemented, to working on prototypes and troubleshooting components, there was never a dull moment.
During my time at ATI, it was quite clear that quality and safety were key to the company. Continuous improvement has been built into how the company operates, and safety was emphasized at every turn. It was also a fun place to work at, especially as my coworkers in capital engineering and R&D quickly became like family. This internship provided valuable experience and exposure to industrial metal production. For example, multiple tours were set up for interns to visit the surrounding facilities of ATI and learn about the processes done at each. Additionally, when a project came up for a new area, the point-of-contact for that area would take the time to explain what the area did, what the project was for, and why it was needed. Through this, I got to witness and then be involved in how the metal was made. Overall, this internship provided an invaluable experience in industrial metal production with a great company and fantastic people, and I would highly recommend it to other students looking for such an experience.
I would like to thank AIST and ATI for this incredible experience. I enjoyed my time at ATI this summer and grew as an engineer and a professional. My interest in the metal-making industry has certainly grown as a direct result of this internship. I’d also like to thank my supervisor and coworkers for making it such a great experience. I’ve absolutely loved working with all of them and for their time, help and patience working with me.