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Joe Simmons

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“I left my job to focus on school full-time. Currently I am a doctoral student at Georgia Tech heading a project to precisely center a machined bearing ring on a rotating spindle in preparation for surface measurement. The centering tolerance is less than 10£gm. To achieve this design, I will first perform exploratory work to understand the underlying physical mechanisms (e.g., friction, stick-slip motion). Then, beginning with conceptual design, I will plan the device configuration, code the control system program, and fabricate a full working prototype. I will use micrometrology gauging and other sensing (e.g., force, acceleration) combined with an actuation mechanism to center the ring. Low centering time and low cost are the main drivers. “Regarding my future endeavors, my passion lies in utilizing my creativity combined with application of the tools in my toolbox toward real problems (especially those that have been difficult in the past or that new knowledge has brought to light). I yearn to see my efforts produce a realizable and elegant solution. For that reason, after graduation I plan to pursue a job as a research scientist at a sponsored laboratory, where I can have the freedom to drive myself to achieve these results. “I can see in the future leveraging my knowledge to start my own company in the Quality field. The Simmons Scholarship will help to support me in completing my graduate study, allowing me to take the first step toward realizing my future passions.”

Since getting his Ph.D. from Georgia Tech, Dr. Mears has joined the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Clemson University, where his current research interests are focused on improved sensing and data analysis for manufacturing, flexibility in manufacturing systems, friction modeling, and its application to motion control.  His teaching interests are in manufacturing processes, both from qualitative and modeling standpoints, and data acquisition and analysis, particularly as applied to manufacturing optimization.

He can be contacted at <mears@clemson.edu>.