Samantha Montalbine

My name is Samantha Montalbine. I am a 4th year Mechanical Engineering student in NJIT's Albert Dorman Honors College. Over the past 4 years, my passion for learning has only grown as I have completed my major courses, expanded into my minor and graduate courses, and explored new and intriguing topics in both my three internships and free time.

Internship #1 - Mechanical Engineering Intern at Thorlabs

During my first internship at Thorlabs, being a freshman at the time, I was provided the opportunity to learn about the various types of engineering such that I could determine what was the most fit for me. My initial tasks consisted of performing incoming inspections on various equipment such as a Deltronic Video Inspection System, micrometers, a height gauge, calipers, and precision pin gauges. After inspecting 100+ components, I had moved onto the production floor where I had assembled 50+ manual mold bodies. Going through the process of preparing the parts and surfaces to completing the assembly had provided me with an appreciation and understanding of the work that goes into assembling these products. With this interest, I had moved into the R&D department where I had spent the rest of my summer. Under the guidance of my mentor, each day I would come in and assemble a new subassembly in order to develop four builds of a prototype in its preproduction stage. Through this, I was able to learn about pneumatics, more complex assembly processes such as soldering, manual machining processes, and how to problem solve. For instance, I was able to use my gained experience in inspections to diagnose the manufacturing issue in one of the critical components. With the encouragement of my mentor, I was also given the opportunity to teach myself SolidWorks to model some components for customer assembly models. With everything I had learned, I was presented with an independent project to design, machine, and assemble a jig capable of rotating a motor to the angle required for the final assembly of the prototype. Utilizing my developed skills in design, SolidWorks, resin printing, soldering, and manual CNC machining, I was able to develop the product that is utilized today beyond this product to validate the life of these motors without the need to solder them. In the end, I discovered my passion for design and especially R&D.

Internship #2 - Design Engineering Intern at Valcor

Following my two summers at Valcor Engineering Corporation, I have been able to learn not just about the aerospace industry, but about being a Design Engineer as a whole. Always taking initiative to learn and try new tasks, I was fortunate enough to be treated like and trusted as if I were a full time engineer. With this, in my first summer I was able to learn a lot about designing parts. While initially using my past experience to physically build and optimize the assembly of a fixture aimed at testing one of the high risk components, I was also provided the opportunity to redesign several valve components. After modeling screws as per NASM2469 and O-rings per the Parker O-Ring Handbook, I was encouraged to remodel a cover plate. With this task, I preformed stress analysis calculations based on Roark's Formulas for Stress and Strain to ensure the part's success. Following this, I was entrusted in modeling a new size of the valve for the customer. Noticing model inconsistencies between the various sizes, I was also able to improve the existing valves whilst developing the new size. And, I was able to draft drawings for the new parts as well. In addition to this, I also developed compatibility matrices for a valve undergoing cryogenic temperatures and electromagnetic bistable brakes.

Internship #3 - Design Engineering Intern at Valcor

During my second summer at Valcor, I was provided the opportunity to see the other sides of Design Engineering: drafting drawings and working with other departments to test the designed parts. Throughout the summer, I had assisted my mentor with working on Acceptance Test Procedures, optimizing a test fixture for qualification testing of the previous valve family, communicating with test and manufacturing engineers assigned to the program, and creating drawings for each new part of the complex fixture. Through this time I was able to become familiar with GD&T as per ASME Y14.5-2009, and the process of making engineering drawings that are easy to quote and understand by the machinist. Once the assembly model was altered to be possible to machine, assemble, and receive quotes, all 13 drawings had undergone a design review and were released to be manufactured. I was also fortunate enough to learn more about electromechanical actuators this summer, attending trainings in Maxwell's RandSim software, learning from my manager about electromagnetic brakes and DC Brushless Motors, and creating 25 drawings for an electromagnetic clutch and push solenoid to support a proposal for the company's nuclear department.

Completed ME Courses

Heat Transfer

Stress Analysis

Machine Design

Fluid Mechanics

System Dynamics

Thermodynamics I & II

Kinematics of Machinery

Honors Dynamics

Strength of Materials

Intro to Comp. Aided Design

Mechanical Laboratory I & II

Engineering Materials & Processes

Electrical Engineering Principles

Computer Programming (MATLAB & C++)

More About Me

I am very happy to say that designing is my hobby. Even outside of the workplace, I am consistently trying to learn as much as I can about the processes and methods of designing. Having first learned how to 3D model in TinkerCAD at the age of 11, I have been continuing my CAD journey ever since. Through learning Inventor AutoCAD, PTC Creo, SolidWorks, and then Fusion 360, I have continuously tried to challenge myself and my capabilities through tackling more complex mechanisms that also serve as gifts for friends and family, such as print in place or wind up rolling figurines, and delving into Arduino such that I can make my projects electromechanical. I am fortunate to say that during my time in R&D and as a Design Engineering Intern, I looked forward to going into work each and every day such that I can learn something new or add to my models or drawings. And, as soon as I arrived home for the day, I would hop on my own copy of SolidWorks and work on my next project. I am extremely passionate about designing and learning new things every day. With working in the aerospace industry, I was able to fuel this curiosity and learn more than I ever thought possible in such a short amount of time. I am excited for everything I am able to learn and do in my future as a Design Engineer, and I truly hope that I can utilize all my skills to become the best engineer I can be.

Internship #1 - Mechanical Engineering Intern at Thorlabs

Internship #2 - Design Engineering Intern at Valcor

Internship #3 - Design Engineering Intern at Valcor

Completed ME Courses

In Progress ME Courses

Completed Minor/ Graduate Courses

In Progress Minor/ Graduate Courses

Upcoming Minor/ Graduate Courses

With a 4.0 GPA and minor in Drones and Robotics, I have been able to expand my strong foundation in CAD, heat transfer, machine design, stress analysis, and kinematics of machinery, into my prototyping and design processes.

More About Me