Austin Reitz

Austin Reitz

I'm a mechanical engineering student and makerspace TA. I design parts in SolidWorks and Fusion 360, machine and cut them, and test whether they hold up. This summer I researched laser surface texturing of metals. I study in the Western Colorado University partnership program with CU Boulder.

See my projects Download résumé (PDF)

Projects

Each page covers the problem, my role, the analysis behind the design, and what I would change.

  • Wind tunnel sting guide

    Engineering lead, summer 2026

    Machining, design

    A slotted aluminum guide that stopped the wind tunnel's sting from twisting and chattering. I ran it from design through a 3D-printed prototype to a six-operation CNC program.

    SolidWorks, Fusion 360 CAM, adaptive clearing, CNC milling

    Read the write-up

  • Laser surface texturing of metal alloys

    Research intern, summer 2026

    Research, analysis

    How laser line density, power, and scan speed change the surface roughness of five metals, from Ti-6Al-4V to copper. 675 roughness readings across three parameter sweeps.

    Experimental design, laser processing, roughness measurement, data analysis

    Read the write-up

  • CNC router dust boom arm

    Design and fabrication, makerspace TA project

    Design

    A cable-stayed plywood truss that carries the dust hose over the CNC router and swings to follow the gantry, improving chip clearance and access around the table.

    Fusion 360 CAD and CAM, CNC routing, structural design

    Read the write-up

  • Cast-iron skillet injection mold

    Designer, makerspace TA project

    Design

    A two-part mold for a miniature skillet: parting line, tooling split, and a core refined over three revisions.

    SolidWorks mold tools, design for manufacturing

    Read the write-up

  • FEA: stress concentration and symmetry

    Component design course, fall 2026

    Analysis

    Ansys studies of a steel beam and a tensile dogbone: mesh refinement, stress concentrations at two holes, and full, half, and quarter symmetry models.

    Ansys Workbench, meshing, boundary conditions

    Read the write-up

  • Sim racing shift knob

    Design, drawing, and machining

    Machining, design

    A lathe-turned aluminum knob for my racing simulator: knurled grip, M12 × 1.5 tapped mount, and a drawing taken through four revisions.

    Lathe turning, engineering drawings, SolidWorks

    Read the write-up

Makerspace builds

Seventeen fixtures, racks, and demo parts I've built or helped build for the shop as a TA, including a 4,000 lb steel storage rack.

See the builds

About

I like the whole loop: modeling a part, writing the toolpaths, cutting it, and putting it to the test. As a makerspace TA I help other students turn their designs into real parts, and I build the fixtures the shop runs on.

I'm looking for internships now, and full-time roles starting in 2028, in structures, test, and materials engineering, especially in aerospace and energy.

Design and analysis

  • SolidWorks, including mold tools and sheet metal
  • Fusion 360
  • Ansys Workbench (FEA)
  • Engineering drawings
  • MATLAB
  • GD&T

Fabrication

  • CNC milling, 3- and 4-axis
  • CAM programming (Fusion 360)
  • Lathe turning
  • Laser cutting and engraving
  • Plasma cutting and sheet metal bending
  • 3D printing
  • Welding

Testing and lab

  • Surface roughness measurement
  • Parametric experiment design
  • Laser surface texturing
  • Data analysis

Contact