Kate van der Merwe
Solidworks Mechanical Designer
Welcome to my Engineering Portfolio. I’m thrilled to invite you to peruse my work, skills and professional experience, and get to know a bit more about me. It’s my firm belief that a good challenge offers an opportunity to develop and improve, which is why I make a point of seeking out new ones in the professional realm as well as in my personal life. Take a moment and look around, and contact me directly to learn more.

About Me
Personal Profile
Facilitating design challenges, requires “flexibility” to achieve positive outcomes. I have always been an original thinker trying to bypass rigid ideas with a different approach. I don’t judge and have learnt to respect the quantity value of crude ideas. The key is to be able to identify when you are trying to logically solve problems by merely moving forward, instead of utilizing instinct and knowledge acquired through experience. I have had the great fortune of working on some truly inspiring projects while networking with many influential and creative individuals along the way. I believe in the power of working together to create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. For more information about my career experience, past projects, and current work portfolio, get in touch today.
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"Your job is to discover the world and then with all your heart give yourself to it"
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Documentation on Weapon Systems
Master record Indexes (MRI’s)
System Operating Procedures Manuals (SOPM’s)
Workshop Repair Manuals (WRM’s)
Packaging and Preserver Manuals (PPM’s)
Photo Tracing and Annotation
3-D Exploded Views by Hand on Grid System
Technical Illustrating/Writing of Manuals
Reversed Engineering of Weapon Systems – Security Clearances

Technical Writer and Illustrator
Lyttleton Engineering, Lyttleton, Pretoria
G5, G6 and Rooikat
TFM Engineering, Olifantsfontein, JHB
Cassper MK 1-4/ RG 12 Development
Design and Development Engineer
Engineering Drawings and Technical Specifications for all products the Company develops and/or manufactures. Develop a full Bill of Materials for all products. Prepare Job Card Packs, which includes drawings, process descriptions and Bill of Materials. Product Manage product development, from concept to full homologation, inclusive of variations. Provide support to the vehicle registration function from a documentation standpoint. Provide support to the manufacturing team in terms of technical guidance and Quality Assurance. It is an expectation of this position to stay abreast of the latest technology and development in the field of heavy duty trailer design, custom manufacturing processes and world trends.
Accountability
All types of CAD work can be undertaken, including, but not exclusively;
Converting sketches and drawings to 3D models, or converting AutoCAD to SolidWorks / freehand orthogonal sketching for concept designs.
Modifying existing 3D models.
Creating assemblies from new and existing models.
Producing drawings for manufacture and accurate BOM's.
Creating 3D part and assembly illustrations for product documentation.
Creating 3D part and assembly photorealistic renders and animations.
Reverse engineering.
Run Finite Element Analysis to help improve parts and assemblies.
Using advance SolidWorks techniques to speed up the design process such as Design Tables.
Design plans using computer-aided design and drafting SOLIDWORKS software
Review and analyze specifications, sketches, drawings, ideas, and related data to assess factors affecting component designs and the procedures and instructions to be followed.
Compute mathematical formulas to develop and design detailed specifications for components or machinery, using computer-assisted equipment
Modify and revise designs to correct operating deficiencies or to reduce production problems.
Help design products with engineering and manufacturing techniques
Specify dimensions, materials, and procedures for new components with accurate precision.
Coordinate with and consult other team members to design, lay out, or detail components and systems and to resolve design or other problems.
Produce draft designs and diagrams according to the given specifications
Work from rough sketches and specifications created by engineers
Position instructions and comments onto drawings.
Revise drawings and layouts to accommodate changes and enhancements
Accommodate safety procedures and issues in installation and construction drawings
Assist and provide guidance with regard to design related issues on the Factory floor.
Understand client’s project requirements from a design perspective and design and draw according to the customer specification.
Professional Certification
Essentials
2016
Advanced Part Modeling
2016
Advanced Assemblies
2016
ISO/ANSI Drawings
2016
Model Base Definition (MBD)
2017
Product Data Management (PDM)
2017
Sheet metal
2018
Basics and User Interface, Intro to Sketching, Basic Part Modeling, Symmetry and Draft, Patterning, Revolving Features, Shelling and Ribs, Editing Repairs, Editing Design Changes, Configurations, Using Drawings, Bottom –up Assemblies. Using Assemblies
Multi body Design Techniques, Saving Solid Bodies, Sketching with Splines, Introduction to Sweeping, 3D Sketching and Curve Features, Threads and Library Feature Parts, Advanced Sweeping, Introduction to Loft and Boundary Features, Advanced Loft and Boundary Features, Advanced Filleting and Other Features
Advanced Mate Techniques, Top Down Assembly Modeling, Assembly Features, Smart Fasteners and Smart Components, Assembly Editing, Using Configurations with Assemblies, Display States and Appearances, Large Assemblies, Using Solidworks Treehouse, Layout based Assembly Design
Drawing Sheets and Views, Dimensions, Annotations, Assembly Drawing Views, Sheet Formats and Templates, Bill of Materials and Tables, Performance and Display Issues, Drawing References and Comparison, Preparations for Detailing
Preparing the Part or Assembly, DimXpert Tools, Setting up Solidworks MBD, Using DimXpert, Adding Size and Location Dimensions, Turned Parts, Annotation Views, Capturing 3D Views, Publishing PDF and eDrawing Files, 3D PDF Template Editor
Solidworks PDM Concepts, PDM User Interface, Document Creation and Check In, Versioning Files, File References, Searching, Workflow and Notification, Managing Local Cache, Check Out Files, Working with Bill of Materials
Basic Flange Features, Working with the Flat Pattern, Additional Sheet Metal Techniques, Converting to Sheet Metal, Multibody Sheet Metal Parts, Forming Tools and Gussets, Additional Sheet Metal Functions, Sheet Metal TablesThis is a concise description of your previous work experience and the responsibilities you had. The most effective Portfolios give a clear snapshot of where you’re coming from and where you’re going in a way that’s easy for readers to scan and absorb quickly.








"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?"
Vincent Van Gogh





















"There was no one near to confuse me, so I was forced to become original"
Joseph Haydn















"I haven't failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work"
Thomas Edison

Contact
Address: Malmesbury
Cape Town
Email: vandermerwe.katy@gmail.com
Phone:
072 945 2817
Fax:
123-456-7890