Michael Nordstrom

Senior Mechanical Engineering student at University of North Dakota with a focus on thermal studies. Planned graduation for Spring 2025. Engineering experience includes various hands-on projects through the University. Previous to studying engineering, work experience primarily involved restaurant service industry positions.

Capstone Project

Lead designer for a kinetic art sculpture.

• Used SolidWorks for part designs and FEA analyses
• Maintained professional communication with stakeholder
• Collaborated as a team with delegated positions
• Developed detailed part drawings and building instructions
• Analyzed part and material costs and created bill of materials

Matlab Tank Optimization Project

Wrote code to calculate the optimal dimensions of a pressurized tank based on a user-input volume.

• Designed to calculate lowest cost for the specified volume
• Output: optimal tank length, radius, thickness and cost
• Incorporated factor-of-safety stress calculations
• Written with a user-friendly interface for intuitive use

Cardboard Packaging Project

Designed the inner and outer packaging for an assigned object

• Accurately measured and recreated a 3D model of the object
• Inner and outer packaging designed using SolidWorks sheet metal function
• Used flattened sheet metal design with bending table to laser-cut cardboard

Constraints:

• Inner and outer packaging each consist of a single piece of cardboard
• Outer package allowed a single sealed edge
• Object had to be 1/2 inch from outer package walls
• Object could not move around within package

Saran Wrap Boat Project

Designed and constructed a boat out of lath, Saran Wrap, wood glue, hot glue, and duct tape

• Used 3D modeling software to design the frame
• Calculated buoyancy with a 1.5 factor of safety
• Worked in a team setting
• Successfully achieved goal while meeting all constraints

Constraints:

• 200 sq ft of Saran Wrap
• 1/2 roll of duct tape
• Hull was to be a minimum of 80% transparency
• Paddle 20 meters to a dock, pick up passenger and paddle back

I have developed skills and methods for 3D designing and printing over the past 4 years. Creatively, I have designed and printed many products for people which would have only been possible with knowledgeable 3D design and printing techniques. I have built skills in Solidworks for CAD designs and used Blender for more artistic designs. I have experience printing a wide range of filaments including PLA, ABS, PETG, PVA, Nylon, PC, PVA and TPU. I have also upgraded nearly every component on 3D printers, including motherboards and firmware modification.