Trimax Mower Deck Control System

Objective: At Trimax Mowing Systems, as the first and only mechatronics engineer for the company, I was tasked with designing and creating an electromechanical control system for the Pegasus Quiklift mower. The existing system employed basic proximity sensors in conjunction with hydraulic actuators. To enable more precise control of the three mower decks by the operator, a need was identified for a control system utilizing an off-the-shelf PLC to be integrated with existing platforms.

Contribution: I was solely responsible for the design, fabrication, and testing of the custom-designed power electronics, control system PCB, and integration. I handled procurement and testing of components, installation of the prototype, and a demonstration to company management. Upon completion, a bonus was awarded, and the device is now in use with the company.

Skills:

• Circuit design and fabrication

• Electromechanical component procurement

• Power electronics

• PLC programming, installation, and integration

• Documentation, report writing, and staff training

• Working with an interdisciplinary team

• Self-reliance and initiative

Takeaways: By taking on such a wide-ranging role as the only mechatronics engineer greatly increased my understanding of the discipline, and how it related to the commercial design and manufacture. Being responsible for all aspects of the system was a challenging yet rewarding task. This included conceptual design, fabrication, installation, and subsequent testing and validation – in addition to turning customer requirements into actionable processes.