Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Projects
Timeline
Generic

John Jacobs V

Blacksburg,VA

Overview

4
4
years of professional experience

Work History

Systems Application Engineer

Kollmorgen
09.2022 - Current
  • Supported efforts in developing an OSP stepper drive, in which I had the opportunity to work with international suppliers
  • During this time, I developed a 3-day course to train internal team members as well as sales and distributors
  • I also caught a critical error in the FOC algorithm of the closed loop function, which would have lost considerable business if not caught
  • Technical lead for China Kollmorgen Application Engineering team in a project whose goal was to go after a $17 million dollar industry with a heavy focus on gantry controlled, high speed, high acceleration, high accuracy, and quick settling time applications such as semiconductor, battery, and other high-tech manufactures
  • During this time, the gantry control algorithm was thought to be 'lacking' to meet these applications' demanding motion profile
  • I was given the task to see if we could get a gantry system to settle within a time that exceeds our controller's bandwidth
  • I was successful in demonstrating how these requirements could be met with our current gantry control algorithm
  • I conducted training for the China team, so they had the confidence to tackle these applications
  • The project has been a success with multiple customer wins in 2024
  • Authored and published technical Application Documents and White Papers on the Kollmorgen website regarding Secondary Feedback Control, Sensorless FOC, as well as a Tuning Guide for High Precision and Quick Settling Gantry Systems
  • I have also been chosen as an editor for papers to be published in Design World
  • Worked with team members to develop my skills in various PLC communication protocols including EtherCAT, Modbus, and Ethernet/IP
  • Since Kollmorgen has an EtherCAT master (PCMM) I have become proficient in programming through our KAS Integrated Developer Environment using mainly FFLD and ST formats
  • I have successfully assisted customers across multiple Fieldbus networks in their setup using our drive as a slave in their Fieldbus network
  • Conducted multiple webinars to teach internal team members, distributors, and customers technical concepts
  • Webinar topics ranged from 'Motion 101: Foundations of Electric Motion' to 'Increase Your Machine's Accuracy and Reliability with Secondary Feedback'
  • A personal project has been to learn Simulink/MATLAB to create my own control algorithms through MechaWare
  • Currently prototyping a yaw control algorithm to reduce yaw in rigidly coupled gantry systems, which will ultimately reduce disturbances in the system making manual tuning easier for the user
  • Assist with RMA product and help customers who require higher level troubleshooting help
  • Manage lab space and lead/assist with projects that take place in the lab

Sales Application Engineer

Kollmorgen
02.2021 - 09.2022
  • Responsible for providing exceptionally Sales Application Engineering work such as sizing and selection, quoting, and technical support for multiple distributors across the United States, Mexico, and Canada
  • Distributors have brought me into multiple customer sites to present my expertise in Kollmorgen products to the customer and increase the chances of securing opportunity ($25k+) prototype orders
  • Developed and presented multiple training courses about our online tools to assist in the onboarding process of new distributors to prepare them for success when dealing with Kollmorgen products
  • Involved in customer design projects to find better methods for controlling their system using Kollmorgen products, such as optimizing the inertia mismatch in an indexing table and providing crossovers from legacy technology to more up-to-date Kollmorgen motion control systems

Education

B.S. - Mechanical Engineering, Green Engineering

Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA
05.2021

Sustainability Program -

Reykjavík University
Reykjavík, Iceland
07.2019

Skills

  • PLC Programming: EtherCAT, Modbus, Ethernet/IP
  • MATLAB
  • Simulink
  • Creo/Solidworks/AutoCAD
  • Electric motor/drive system troubleshooting
  • Technical writing/communication
  • Public Speaking

Projects

Head Coach for FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics Team Turing Squad, 20447, 08/24, Present, Lead Junior High and High School students through the engineering process. Design Non-Destructive Pass/Fail Test of Magnet Bond-Surface Health, 08/20, 05/21, Designed a new apparatus for testing magnet bond-surface health. The GREEN Program Virginia Tech Ambassador, 08/19, 05/21, Hosted presentations and marketed program goals. Hyperloop Propulsion Sub-Team Member, 09/19, 05/20, Designed new motor propulsion concepts. Formula 1 Recruit, 08/17, 01/18, Worked with the Engine Sub Team on carbon fiber layup.

Timeline

Systems Application Engineer

Kollmorgen
09.2022 - Current

Sales Application Engineer

Kollmorgen
02.2021 - 09.2022

B.S. - Mechanical Engineering, Green Engineering

Virginia Tech

Sustainability Program -

Reykjavík University
John Jacobs V