Industry Placement; Summary

Overall, I enjoyed my time at SetSquare Staging. I was lucky to have such a good opportunity to work for such a prolific and well regarded company in industry. I think the timing of my placement could have been better; in the office everyone was so busy they didn't have much time to take me through anything and a lot of the time there wasn't a spare computer so I didn't have anywhere to work. But the drawing work I did do was good, and it was so good to get the feedback on how I use AutoCAD, learning new shortcuts and tricks and tips. My main problem is working with lines when I need to join them together to make a group, it makes things easier and quicker. 

When I had things to do in the workshop I enjoyed that. I like the banter of the boys, and the fact that most of them didn't belittle me for being a woman which was my main concern. The only one that was really sexist was the electrician who tried to snaffle me to help him. 

I feel I made friends and I have the opportunity to go back there to use it as a space to build for future projects outside of university. 

It was five weeks well spent and I'm glad I did it. I learned a lot more than I would have done working on a hypothetical design project at uni.  

Industry Placement; Day Seventeen/Eighteen/Nineteen

27th April 2012

The last three days were spent back up in the drawing office; where they finally utilised my skills! I was drawing up flattage, placing flats into ground plans, drawing up flight boxes and a few other bits and pieces including display boxes for CII which looked like this after being made up; 

You can find all the CAD work I did in my folder I have submitted; although I am unable to submit anything digitally because of file copyright. 

Overall, I enjoyed my time at SetSquare, even if I wasn't doing much I had fun doing it and made some friends. I was also offered a reference from them, which is useful and I can always go back for help on any future projects I may do. 

Industry Placement; Day Fifteen/Sixteen

24th April 2012

I spent these two days helping out on the CNC router. I didn't do much else other than lift sheet materials, sand down pieces and clean the CNC bed with an air gun. 

Industry Placement; Day Fifteen

20th April 2012

So I wasn't roped into more boring laborious tasks I hunted around for something to do when I came into work today. It wasn't the most interesting job, but the paint shop were up against it so I helped them out by doing some filling for pieces to be painted. I didn't mind doing this as there is an art to filling pinholes! There were quite a few of us on this job too, so I at least had a sense of comradery unlike yesterday!!

I literally filled holes all day.

Industry Placement; Day Fourteen

19th April 2012

I was due to be working with the electrician again today, and he set me a task yesterday to complete before he got in (I arrived at 8am, he would stroll in at ten). It was very very cold where I was working in the old office above the workshop and what I was doing was extremely dull. I was sticking velcro to LED strip. Yup. Exciting. Oh - it also transpired this guy thought I was about 17 and doing some BTEC at college... which I didn't appreciate. 

My central heating system. 

Possibly the most boring thing ever. 

Oh no wait; wrapping them in bundles was more boring. 

 Then commenced the PAC testing. An important job I understand, but whilst I was not a trained electrician (of which there were two) it was my job to pick off bits of LX tape, old stickers and write new stickers. It was at this point that my patience was being heavily tested by this bloke who was condescending and presumed I was some kind of idiot. I don't mind doing menial tasks if I am benefiting from them in some way, but this really took the biscuit. It was the point where he was telling (not asking) me to make him and this other guy cups of tea that I walked downstairs to the workshop and made myself look busy till I left.

Fun? Educational? No. 

Industry Placement; Day Thirteen

18th April 2012

As we finished the EPT set yesterday, there wasn't much going on for me to do today. I just helped out round the workshop for a bit, and I did a lot of sanding of some CNC cut 6mm. 

Sanding is boring. 

 After sanding the world I was then pilfered by Steve the electrician bloke to help him make new LED strips for the Intel job. LED comes in 5m strips that can be cut to length with an electrical attachment at either end.

Cutting the LED to length

What we are going to be making.

Ali strip (has to be cleaned by hand)

Sticking the LED strip to the ali strip

Then attaching velcro to the back for use on site.

This wasn't even half of them...

Honestly, making LED strip is a lot more exciting than it sounds. I really didn't enjoy this vaguely menial and pointless task, and I have more of it tomorrow. 

Industry Placement; Day Twelve

13th April 2012

Today I did a lot of painting black, and breaking things. The boxes for the sides of the LED screens were to be covered in dibond on the exterior edge then painted black to finish them off. To apply dibond to MDF you use contact adhesive on both objects you wish to adhere. It's super sticky once it's ready so you have to be very careful when applying the dibond, making sure it's in exactly the right place. 

Contact Adhesive.

 Once the pieces have had dibond attached, you need to use a router to make sure the dibond is flush with the MDF surface.

Routing - it was very very cold

Set in the background

Finished! just needs painting black.

I didn't take any further pictures as all I was doing was painting things black, but I also managed to drop one of these pieces and break it; but luckily for me it was easily repairable. I blame Friday 13th.