Parametric solid modeling across SolidWorks, Siemens NX, and Inventor — from napkin sketch to production drawing.
CAD is the connective tissue between idea and object. My approach starts with the physical constraints — tolerances, assembly order, manufacturing method — and works backward into the geometry, rather than designing in a vacuum and figuring out manufacturability later.
The bulk of my CAD work is mechanical assemblies: multi-part systems with defined interfaces, clearances, and tolerance stacks. This includes labware fixtures and integration brackets at HighRes, structural components for the Neurosafe capstone, and prototype hardware at every stage of a design cycle.
I also work in sheet metal (bend allowances, flat patterns), produce detailed engineering drawings with GD&T callouts for fabrication handoff, and build exploded-view assemblies for documentation and instruction sets.
"The model is always a means to an end — whether that end is a print, a machined part, a FEA mesh, or a drawing. I design with the downstream process in mind from the first sketch."
SolidWorks is my primary tool — used throughout RPI and into my professional career. I'm comfortable with complex assemblies, configurations, Design Tables, and the Simulation add-in.
Siemens NX was the required platform at RPI for coursework. More complex UI, more powerful for large assemblies and advanced surface work. I used it for the Engineering Design Project and select coursework.
Autodesk Inventor is additional exposure — comfortable navigating and producing drawings, useful for working on projects where the team is already on that platform.