QUALIFICATIONS
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Diploma in Mech Eng – 2019
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L2 National Certificate in Engineering – 2007
- L4 National Certificate in Machining & Toolmaking- 2007
SOFTWARE
Mechanical CAD Software
- AutoCAD
- Inventor (Autodesk)
- Solid Edge (Siemens)
- SolidWorks (Dassault)
PDM/PLM Software
- Inventor Vault (Autodesk)
Analysis Tools
- AxisVM
- Excel (for numerical method analysis)
- Inventor Nastran (Autodesk)
- Pipeflow Expert
Nathaniel Thomas
MECHANICAL ENGINEER
Skills Overview
Nathaniel Thomas is an mechanical engineer with a great deal of design experience. In addition, he has over a decade learning and applying practical skills such as machining and toolmaking, assembly, and a seven year stint as a factory engineer on a deep sea trawler. This combination of skills and experience makes Nathaniel an effective and versatile engineer who quickly adapts to new team environments.
- MACHINE DESIGN – Nathaniel has designed a range of different equipment, varying from conveyors to test equipment, his practical experience is an invaluable aid to help think outside the box, an example of this is a pie conveyor utilising an unique method to spread the pies apart, a conveyor capable of separating rocks and produce, an accurate bag weighing load frame and a waste weighing hopper.
- SHEET METAL DESIGN – Nathaniel has extensive experience in the design of sheet metal parts that can be efficiently assembled and/or fabricated, resulting in a labour efficient, cost effective product.
- DESIGN FOR FABRICATION – Nathaniel has worked on a number of structures, platforms, stairs and walkways for Wyma Solutions. Nathaniel ensures his designs are optimized ease of manufacture and ensuring that manufacturing drawings are detailed enough for welders and assemblers to easily understand.
- DESIGN FOR TESTING – Nathaniel has designed a number of items of test equipment, trying to use off the shelf components as much as possible, both for Crocker research (Oil & Gas Tools) and for Wyma Solutions, some examples are a hydraulic test rig for testing roller longetivity, and a simple rig for checking the force required to engage multiple pinned conductors, to allow mechanical blind mating.
- WATER PROCESS SPECIFICATIONS, CALCULATIONS AND DIAGRAMS – Nathaniel has spent considerable time at Wyma Solutions on water management and P & ID diagrams, calculations of drainage, pump requirements and pump surface treatments.
- PUMP AND PIPEWORK DESIGN – Nathaniel has designed pipework and specified pumps for multiple processing lines, including a major line in Canada incorporating wastewater collection, drainage; water filtering, clarifying and redistribution of the processed water and as well as pit agitation and benching design.
PERSONAL STATEMENT
I enjoy working in engineering as it is such a broad field with new and interesting problems and solutions cropping up all the time. I like being part of the solution.
I enjoy the whole process of engineering, from trouble shooting, design through to repairs and improvements. I’ve been working as a design engineer on a variety of projects for a number of years now, I’ve worked as a designer and field technician in oil & gas. (Also dealing with explosives & radioactive sources). I am qualified as a machinist toolmaker, have worked as a factory engineer on a full factory deep sea trawler, where keeping production going is vital, all you have to solve an issue is your head (an assortment of machine tools, a welder and spare parts don’t hurt though).
I enjoy working and building things in the shed (I’ve got plenty of tools and three 3D printers), building with Duplo and LEGO with my children, and spending time with my family and friends.
Project Experience
Design, Testing & Product Improvement
Nathaniel has worked in most product areas at Wyma, projects include designing walkways and platforms, flumes and stone traps, design of equipment test pumps and pipework, also improving and continuously improving or modifying existing products including bin fillers, weigh systems, water filters and conveyors.
Weigh Hopper
The Client required a hopper to record outgoing waste, a conveyor drops wase into the hopper and at a predetermined weight the doors quickly open, dropping the weighed waste onto another conveyor, in this fashion process waste is efficiently tracked, a second identical one is currently being built for the same site.
Rock Trap
The purpose of this design was to separate out 20-30 tonnes of potatoes from 50 tonnes per hour of a stone/potato mix. I worked from a concept, calculated the requirements and designed the final product. CASE STUDY
Test Rig
The purpose of this design was to create a rig capable of testing four rollers under accelerated lifetime conditions. I completed full calculations, design, and drawings of the mechanical and hydraulic system, ensuring loads could be applied and maintained with minimal intervention. CASE STUDY
Product Testing
This project involved testing products through a wide variety of carefully controlled and monitored Underwriters Laboratory tests. Comprehensive reports were written for each test and results thoroughly analyzed.
Flour Recovery & Pie Conveyor
This project involved designing a new conveyor designed to widen the distance between pies coming out of the conveyor, and recover excess flour. It involved finding new ways to use old materials to achieve the desired outcome. I designed the conveyor, supports and process piping to connect a cyclone, supplied by another company.
PAGE MACRAE
Bespoke Dust Controlled Bulk Hopper
Designed rail bogies and retractable wheel system including detailed design on the bogies and wheels. This project involved detailed calculations and the use of multiple standards. CASE STUDY
Various Projects
Worked on a variety of smaller projects here, including items to be built into a container, such as a internally mounted gantry.
Ongoing Research
Crocker Research in Western Australia gave me my start in design. Crocker were the original developer of a Formation Evaluation Tool (FET). This tool is deployed down-hole (At 110 MPa external pressure) and uses various sensors (Density, Resitivity /Conductivity, several pressure gauges) and takes multiple samples to characterize the oil formation in a well (How much is there, how fast can it be produced and what is the composition of the formation)
Using Solid Edge and working under an R&D manager, I was responsible for ongoing development of the existing tool (FET V3), drafting, as well as documentation such as manuals, assembly diagrams. I restructured the drawing office procedures, brought in and maintained a QA process for the company, and simplified various parts to cut costs.
FET V4
During the last year of my work at Crocker development of this new tool system was begun concurrent with my other work for the company.
This tool was to operate under higher pressures (135 MPa external pressure), have a smaller maximum tool diameter (4.5″ rather than 6.5″) and incorporate improved features such as a superior tool coupling system, self sealing hydraulic lines, while still maintaining the existing features of the V3.
The project was fairly well advanced before I moved back to New Zealand. I used AS 1210 3.9.4 for the design of the external pressure vessels (containing electronics under atmospheric pressure), implemented the tool coupling and electrical connector blind mating system, redesigned the sensor assembly, including the density sensor. Unfortunately, in part due to sustained low oil prices and stiff competition this project has been shelved.
GOOD BUGGER AWARD
May 2025
Nathaniel received nominations from two of his colleagues. He’s become a cornerstone of the Wyma team — technically sharp, generous with his knowledge, and always ready to lend a hand. Whether it’s supporting colleagues new to the site or offering machine-specific insights, he brings a collaborative mindset and a depth of experience that adds value to every project. “An archetypal good bugger”.
ARA INSTITUTE OF CANTERBURY
Gordon Fairweather Award
Nathaniel received the 2019 Gordon Fairweather Award for a Diploma of Mechanical Engineering student for his “exceptional marks, thorough application and outstanding references“.