Who I am

I am Lance Nichols, an undergraduate student at Montana State University obtaining a degree in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Mechatronics graduating in Spring 2022 with honors. My passion for design, programming, and fabrication helps me bridge the gap between software and hardware. This enthusiasm carries me along the entire design process and drives me to understand parts of almost any topic. I am self-driven and capable of enhancing any team. I love to solve problems and I would love to solve yours.

What I’ve done

At a young age, I began fixing things with my dad. When I was about six years old, I was introduced to use computers and started programming on my own. I learned the nack that is debugging early on. More recently, I have worked on numerous mechanical and electrical projects, from high-altitude valves to workpiece holding. Learn more about these projects in my project portfolio.

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What I know

My years of projects have sharpened my many skills across many fields.

Mechanical

  • Advanced Solidworks usage
  • Advanced Autodesk Inventor usage
  • Design for manufacturing
  • Motor selection and sizing experience

Electrical

  • Power supply design
  • Efficient PCB Design
  • Experience with many microcontroller architectures
  • Component selection and sourcing

Programming

  • Proficient in Python
  • Proficient in MatLab
  • Proficient in C
  • Knowledgeable of more and ready to learn

Miscellaneous

  • Project management
  • Paint.net proficiency
  • Premiere Pro proficiency
  • UAS flying experience
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Where I have Been: Timeline

A chronological timeline of my career.

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Aug 2017 - Rocket Mass Heater Sensor Array

Created a thermocouple temperature sensor array to measure the temperature inside a wood-fired J-Tube type rocket mass heater for preliminary emissions testing.

 

Nov 2017 - Captain Missoula Robotics Team

Tasked with running meetings and managing subteams to make sure our robot was ready for competition.

 

Jun 2018 - Employed at CM Manufacturing.

Worked at a high precision machine shop ensuring tolerances using Micrometers, CMM, and Optical Comparators based on technical drawings utilizing GD&T

 

Nov 2018 - Montana Space Grant Consortium

Attended weekly meetings at the BOREALIS ballooning lab and worked on small projects.

 

Dec 2018 - Chem-E-Car

Joined AIChE Chem-E-Car team. Tasked with designing and building mechanical and electrical components of car.

 

Feb 2019 - TAG Club

Attended Tactical Action Gaming club meeting to plan upcoming events.

 

Mar 2019 - AIChE Chem-E-Car Competition.

Competed at the regional Chem-E-Car competition in Colorado with a car I built and wired.

 

Jun 2019 - Montana Space Grant Consortium, BOREALIS

Summer intern. Designed systems for high altitude balloon flight including altitude control systems, worked with other engineers to accomplish goals within constraints and programmed control systems for autonomous mechanisms.

 

Sep 2019 - Chem-E-Car Club

Assumed leadership role as head of mechanical and electrical.

Aug 2019 - Space Grant Consortium Apprenticeship Award

Recieved a grant to design and build a large area laser cutter.

Feb 2020 - High Altitude Valve Research is Accepted for Presentation at NCUR

The research creating a high altitude valve system during the summer of 2019 is accepted to be presented at National Conferences on Undergraduate Research.

 

Mar 2020 - Elected President of TAG club.

Elected president of Tactical Action Gaming club. In charge of club operations and events.

Jun 2020 - Montana Space Grant Consortium, BOREALIS

Summer Intern. Interfaced mechanical and electrical systems, managed high altitude thermal control systems and worked with CAD software to design systems.

 

Aug 2020 - Renewed Apprenticeship Position With MSGC

Worked  to construct the previously designed laser cutter.

Sep 2020 - Waterproof Cutdown System Presented at AHAC 2020

Research done during the summer of 2020 into the design production and testing of a high altitude waterproof cutdown system is showcased at the Academic High Altitude Conference.

 

Mar 2021 - Reelected President of TAG club.

Reelected President of Tactical Action Gaming club. Hosted events numbering up to 50 participants.

Jun 2021 - Montana Space Grant Consortium, BOREALIS

Summer Intern. Worked to refine flight termination systems seeking NASA approval. Guided other interns on their projects in both mechanical and electrical aspects.

Sep 2021 - Payload on NASA HASP Flight

Our payload flew out of Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Mission success was achieved with all 16 subsystems being detected to have fired as intended.

July 2022 - Started at Boeing Commercial Airplanes

Working as a Process Manufacturing Engineer on the Horizontal Build Line supporting automation for the 777X.
Check out my project portfolio