Andy Thistle

Experience

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  Waynesburg Pool

  Jan 2004 - Jan 2008

  Lifeguard
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  Rochester Institute of Technology

  Jan 2006 - Jan 2011

  Student
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  Separation Design Group LLC

  Jan 2007 - Jan 2008

  Engineering Intern
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  Advanced Atomization Technologies (Formerly Parker Aerospace)

  Jul 2011 - May 2018

  Design Engineer

  Design authority on fuel injectors for turbine engines. Design process focuses on balancing low cycle thermal fatigue with high vibratory stresses. Main achievement was the GEnX Program, which can be found on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the new Boeing 747. Previously developed the LMS100 Dry Low Emissions (DLE) natural gas and low wobbe number injector which provided power for the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi Russia. Advancing of AATech core competencies, brazing, fatigue of SX alloys and laser welding.Worked with the executive team to develop a road map for a technical career path and R&D department at AATech. Wrote a full proposal with staffing, costs and equipment based on 0.3% of sales.Cost reduction and manufacturing improvements of over $1,000,000/year Show less

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  Rochester Makerspace

  Jul 2015 - now

  I manage the Metal shop at the Rochester Makerspace. The goal of the space is to provide training and equipment to the community to make anything. I coordinate curriculum for equipment and skill training. Maintain layout, manage equipment donations, equipment repairs and improvements. The makerspace has an open house Thursdays and Saturdays, please stop by and check us out!Current Metal shop equipment:Bridgeport knee millSupermax cnc knee millSouth bend 6" tabletop LatheRockwell 14"x52" LatheMetal brakeHorizontal bandsawVertical bandsawAssorted grinding wheels.Inspection table with blocks and pinsAssorted consumables, tools and metrology equipment. Show less

  • Board Member

    Mar 2024 - now

  • Metal Shop Manager

    Jul 2015 - now
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  G. W. Lisk

  May 2018 - Mar 2020

  Developing 'smart' fluid controls, sprays and electromechanical/electrofluidic systems. Developed a natural gas control valve algorithm and test plan. System used 3 valves to maintain a 5% tolerance on mass flow in a range from 10 g/min to 1 kg/min. Developed a lessons learned database and implemented an agile type of project management that had not been used at Lisk. https://www.gwlisk.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Lisk-Smart-Solutions-071522.pdfRapidly developed an RVDT sensor for the aerospace market. Implemented Lessons learned and agile type project management. Developed Maxwell model of RVDT magnetics to optimize geometry. Mentored co workers on design process. Show less Identified core competencies and developed engineering guidelines to streamline design practices. Used DMAIC process to identify issues in aerospace solenoid valve production and proposed solutions. Developed databases for material properties in order to ensure design decisions were based on best available data. Provided customer support by processing on wing data to identify system level interactions with Aerospace solenoid valves and Identify root cause. Developed additive manufacturing process for solenoid valve production. Show less

  • Senior Research And Development Engineer

    Sept 2019 - Mar 2020

  • Senior Aerospace Valve Design Engineer

    May 2018 - Mar 2020
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  SPX FLOW, Inc.

  Mar 2020 - Jul 2022

  Mechanical Research and Development Engineer

  Program management of mechanical research topics across a large industrial conglomerate. Reporting out on technical viability and business opportunity so leadership could make informed investment decisions. Direct local teams in a staged risk reduction process. The variety of project ideas received forced me to take a high level approach to most problems leveraging expert teams within the company and outside to generate a business case and timeline for development.

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  SPX FLOW Mixing Solutions

  Jul 2022 - Sept 2023

  Senior Mechanical Technologist

  Lead the development of technology and guidelines for mechanical design, supporting Mixing products. Drive design value from principals of advanced manufacturing, fluid diagnostics, dispersed flows and rotating equipment. Develop business cases targeted at 10% revenue growth.

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  Mdot Technologies

  Oct 2023 - now

  Principal Consultant and Owner

  Advising on technology development services and sustainability. mdottechnologies.com