Matthew McGinley: Electrical Engineer Intern
Matthew Draper: Mechanical Engineer Intern
By working for Cascade Steel, Matthew McGinley (Matt) and Matthew Draper (Matthew) have been able to take what they have learned in school and apply it to a job they could see themselves in after they graduate. Both attend Portland State University and work together in the same office space. They try to ease the confusion by differentiating their names into Matt and Matthew.
Matthew studies Mechanical Engineering and creates 2D models of pieces from 3D models for Cascade Steel. In order to create these models he explains: "To draw a 3D piece you actually have to draw a 2D like a square, and then from there you pull it out and it becomes 3D." Working on this project has allowed Matthew to become experienced in the software SOLIDWORKS which he says is
"Their safety training is equivalent to the military’s."
something he looked forward to when accepting the position.
Matthew's favorite moments at his internship include going out into the mill to see liquid metal being poured, "They’re pretty hard-core." He says his biggest surprise when starting the internship was the amount of time and effort the mill puts into the safety of their employees. Being a former member
of the Air Force Matthew can confidently say: "Their safety training is equivalent to the military’s."
The military is also where
Matthew decided to become a mechanical engineer after watching aeronautical engineers fix an airplane without having to work directly on it.
Matt McGinley spends his time at Cascade Steel creating diagrams, charts, and tables to display how the wiring works in newly acquired machines. In order to approach this work he pays attention to consistency in display: "I think the main thing is looking at other examples of what people have done before me."
Working as an electrical engineer for Cascade
Steel also gives Matt a look into his future: "With the track that I’m on in school for power, one of the opportunities for me after I'm done is in a place like
this." Matt's goal is to work in renewable energy power distribution and "create something that can better humanity."