Aidan

My name is Aidan Tamayo, a Mechanical Engineering student at UC Davis graduating in Spring 2025. I have always loved to tinker with and fix things, and this background drove me to engineering.

My experience at both Diamond Tool and Die and BART has given me hands-on expertise in taking projects from concept to implementation. I like environments where I can prototype, test, and optimize mechanical systems.

I want to develop technologies that solve meaningful problems. Whether I'm designing a control panel for emergency tunnel ventilation or prototyping a more efficient measuring tool for the rail engineering team at BART, I enjoy the process of iterative design and creative problem-solving.

• Mechanical design and CAD
• CNC and manual machining operations
• Rapid prototyping
• Technical documentation and engineering drawings
• Programming (MATLAB, R, C, Python)
• Project planning and implementation
• Material sourcing and procurement
• Welding

BART Infrastructure Projects: During my internship, I designed a manual control panel for the Berkeley Hills Tunnel that provides an emergency override for aging ventilation systems. I also designed and prototyped a rail gauge for track engineering to measure distances between running rails and third rails, and updated documentation for backflow preventers across the system.

Diamond Tool and Die: As an intern, I operated manual and CNC equipment to manufacture parts for government projects and public works, including components for BART trains. I redesigned models for gas filtration devices and managed the refurbishment of industrial shock absorbers from the High Street drawbridge in Alameda.

UC Davis Eco Car Team: I apply my mechanical engineering and machining skills to help design components for a modifying electric completion vehicle.

I enjoy working on my own vehicles, electronics, and "toys". I've repaired and upgraded bikes, built custom computers, and fixed various electronics. The upcoming Fox32 fork rebuild project combines my interest in mountain biking with my mechanical skills.

My approach to repairs typically involves me trying to fix something that broke and learning way too much about the thing in the effort to "do it right".

• Mountain biking through trails in Northern California
• Rock climbing
• Camping and hiking
• Working on project cars and my truck
• Building and upgrading computers
• Tinkering with electronics and mechanical devices

I have always supported right to repair and remember watching Linus Tech Tips YouTube videos in middle school sponsored by ifixit furthering this effort. Maintaining and fixing our own stuff should be a right. I'm happy to contribute a repair guide that will help others.