Mechanical Engineering Co-op | Instron | Jan - Jun 2025
Instron Co-op
Instron — Six-month co-op, materials testing systems team
Role & Company
Inside the company that defines materials testing
Instron builds the load frames and testing systems that manufacturers, universities, and labs around the world rely on to characterize how materials behave under load. I spent six months on the systems engineering team, working on the electromechanical frames used for tension and compression testing.
Project Overview
Redesigning a load-cell mounting fixture
My main project was redesigning the quick-change fixture that couples load cells to the crosshead on a mid-range frame. The old fixture required two tools and was a common source of misalignment error during setup — engineering wanted a tool-free swap without sacrificing measurement accuracy.
Responsibilities
Design, stress analysis, and lab validation
I modeled fixture concepts in Creo, ran FEA to confirm the collet-style clamp could hold rated load without slipping, and machined early prototypes myself on the shop’s manual lathe. I also ran repeatability trials on the finished fixture against Instron’s internal accuracy specs.
Technical Contributions
A tool-free swap, within 0.05mm of the original
The final fixture used a spring-loaded detent collar that let technicians swap load cells by hand in under a minute, down from roughly ten. Repeatability trials showed axial alignment within 0.05mm of the original two-tool fixture, well inside the accuracy band engineering needed to sign off.
Skills Applied
Creo / PTC
FEA / Stress Analysis
Machine Shop
Metrology
Test Validation