LDS Vacuum

Role Overview

Served as a Manufacturing Engineering Intern at LDS Vacuum, a manufacturer of high-vacuum components and systems. Responsible for fabricating, testing, and inspecting hardware to meet stringent high-vacuum leak rate standards critical for scientific and industrial applications.

Key Responsibilities

• Tested manufactured components using helium leak detection devices, ensuring leak rates were below 1E−9 mbar, consistent with high vacuum standards
• Interpreted and analyzed technical drawings, making modifications and design suggestions when required
• Welded (TIG) and inspected high vacuum components for high vacuum requirements
• Fabricated various stainless steel and aluminum laboratory components by turning, tapping, threading, and milling

Manufacturing Processes

• TIG welding — stainless steel and aluminum high-vacuum joints and assemblies
• Manual lathe — precision turning of cylindrical components to drawing tolerances
• Manual mill — facing, slotting, and drilling of laboratory hardware
• Helium leak testing — quantitative leak rate verification below 1E−9 mbar·L/s
• Metrology — dimensional inspection using calipers, micrometers, and gauges

Technical Standards

All work was performed to high-vacuum and ultra-high vacuum standards, requiring surface cleanliness, material compatibility, and leak-tight joints. Applied ASME Y14.5 GD&T principles when reading and verifying engineering drawings.