This month, we caught up with Andrew Donnelly our Mechanical Engineer.
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Andrew Donnelly, and I work as a mechanical design engineer at IK Trax. I earned my master’s in mechanical engineering at RGU. Throughout university, I had various work placements, and after graduation, I was lucky enough to be accepted as a graduate mechanical engineer at a start-up oil and gas company and that is where I learned my trade. I now have 6 years of experience in mechanical engineering.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, whether it’s dog walks on the weekends or dinner dates with my fiancé. I am getting married next April, so wedding planning is currently taking up a lot of our time.
Can you tell us about the mechanical capabilities we have at IK Trax and how they are integrated with our electronics engineering capabilities?
At IK Trax, our CAD software allows me to create 3D working assemblies of all our products and prototypes. We also use finite element analysis software and an in-house design calculation package to ensure our prototypes pass the necessary pressure tests before moving to production.
Our electronic engineers can create a 3D model of a PCB, which I can import into my CAD software. I then design an enclosure to house and secure the PCB and other internal components. These components are often subjected to harsh vibratory conditions, so we work together to create an optimal and mechanically robust PCB mounting method.
What projects have you been involved in at IK Trax, and what have been some key highlights and challenges?
I have been involved in various projects at IK Trax, including new prototype Electromagnetic transmitters, our new bespoke Pig Signallers, and BWGP and ROV cradles.
One of my favourite projects was the EMTx50, the largest EM transmitter we’ve ever designed. You can read about the design process in the EMTx50 case study.
The EMTx40 EM transmitter is a product I have worked on from conception. This was my first major project at IK TRAX, in which I was the lead mechanical design engineer. This was also my first project that involved designing enclosures for ATEX certification and while it was challenging learning all the requirements, our prototype type successfully passed all ATEX requirements and testing on our first attempt.
What do you find most rewarding about your role, particularly in the context of developing innovative products like we do at IK Trax?
For me, the most rewarding part of the job is talking to other engineers and seeing a concept design become a working production unit. At IK Trax, I can observe and participate in the production of units I’ve designed. It’s exciting to see something that started as a sketch in a notepad get packed into a crate for a job halfway across the world.
Finally, what are your career goals in the area of mechanical engineering?
My career goal is to apply for and achieve chartered engineer CEng status. This will be an important milestone in my engineering career.
