Day in the Life

It’s 7:45 am in Edmonton, Alberta. I get prepped and head to the TAC to start my day. That’s about 10:45 am in Sussex, New Brunswick where I grew up. After waving hello to my manager from across the lab, I set up the files for a prototype of a valve replacement to print in our 3D printer. This printer is unlike any equipment I’ve used before, and there are only six of its type in Canada. It can print anything from metal to wood to food! I needed a bit of help from a colleague to get the filament sorted, but it’s brrrrring away now. It isn’t quick though, so I will return and check on it later.

After touching base with my manager, I begin researching different types of potential materials that can be used to solve a client’s issue with the durability of their widgets. Their original design and materials were developed for use in a much warmer and drier climate than we have here in Edmonton, so we are working on a Canadian solution that will decrease their annual widget replacement costs. The research I do in the lab is a bit different from the type of research I was exposed to during my studies at Holland College in Charlottetown PEI, but the TAC team has given me plenty of tips and tricks on how to approach this type of research problem and they are all really supportive when I have questions.

It's 12:30 pm, so I have a taco platter in the cafeteria before heading back to the lab. Edmonton has a pleasantly surprising food scene!

After lunch, three of us from the TAC meet with a new client. They are having trouble with one of their machines and need us to help them develop an additional tool that can be added to the final phase of their manufacturing process. To make sure they don’t waste time and money going down the wrong research path, we recommend they undertake a 20-hour Interactive Visit supported by Tech-Access Canada for a short initial applied research project with the team.

I check on the 3D printer that has been diligently working away on printing the prototype I loaded into it when I arrived. I don’t see any issues with the progress. Now that I’m confident in my ability to use the printer, I work on a training and guidelines document for a client who was also trained by my colleagues on how to use this equipment. They used it during a previous research project with the TAC, but have recently purchased their own and the TAC is helping them by providing training and documentation for their staff. My coworkers are sad that they may not see the company as much any more, as they’ll be able to do their R&D in-house from now on. But that just means we’ll be able to help new companies!

I grab a coffee with some colleagues, and they tell me about an upcoming project with a team we have not worked with before. They work in another sector, but hope our equipment might be useful for solving some of their challenges with mouse trap manufacturing. I guess that’s one of the benefits of being part of a pan-Canadian network of Centres operating a similar model.

I return to the lab. We have been doing some testing on material for a water treatment filter. We push dirty water though pipes fitted with six types of filters each day to determine how many litres of water can pass through each type before a replacement is required. I am responsible for taking pictures of the filters at the end of each day. After I shoot my shots and make my notes, I pack up my things and head out the door.

Another well-rounded day at the TAC in the books. I head home and feel grateful that I am able to learn both incredibly unique project-specific skills as well as transferrable innovation skills that will give me the competitive edge I need to thrive in the widget company in Halifax I’ll be interning at next!