Sacha Knight

MECHANICAL ENGINEER

Skills Overview

Sacha is a capable mechanical engineer with a bedrock of experience in design and manufacturing. He has spent time in the building, marine, and manufacturing industries. Sacha is a great communicator and is able to understand issues from a variety of perspectives. He is known for his practical mindset, straightforward nature, and infectious enthusiasm.

DESIGN FOR MANUFACTURE – Sacha is proficient in designing for manufacture. This includes both workshop/machineshop fabrication, and for computer controlled fabrication methods such as laser cutting & folding. In addition, he has experience in sourcing and designing around ‘off-the-shelf’ parts.
MACHINE DESIGN – Sacha has experience designing both small machines, and larger systems-of-machines. He developed these skills designing bespoke machines in the automated packaging industry, and his skills includes pneumatic design, robotic end-of-arm effectors, automation systems and safety critical equipment.
PROCESS IMPROVEMENT – Sacha is adept at finding new ways to streamline processes and systems, increasing efficiency and reducing errors in the process. He is able to identify and focus on what is important, allowing him to implement improvements ranging from simple spreadsheet optimisations to improving entire proceedures from the ground up. Notable past projects include re-designing and streamlining a complex 500+ part machine, reducing the time taken to reliably change key dimensions from days to hours.
ENGINEERING DOCUMENTATION – Sacha maintains a methodical and detailed approach to documentation. Sacha has improved existing or provided new documentation systems for a number of clients. He takes the approach that documentation should be easy to digest, concise, and above all else, useful.

Caliber has experience in the Aerospace industry

Caliber Design has experience in the Biofuel industry

PERSONAL STATEMENT

From a young age I’ve been fascinated by all things mechanical.

A childhood spent designing and building over-complicated contraptions firmly cemented me into a career in engineering, and I’ve stayed on that path ever since.

As an older engineer, some things have changed, my projects usually serve a meaningful objective, and are largely driven by budget and time constraints, but I’m still motivated by the same curiosity and fascination.

Outside of work, I’ve found the engineering mindset lends itself well to the outdoors. I volunteer with a couple of specialist rope rescue teams, and my free time is usually spent exploring the mountains.

Project Experience

Milk Crate End-Of-Arm Effector

Design of a novel robot end-of-arm effector to pick/place milk crates on pallets in a milk processing plant. Design tasks included; conceptual design, detail design for manufacture & assembly, stress analysis, and prototyping.

Orbital Wrapper

Redesigned an orbital stretch wrapper, reducing the weight of the rotary components, rebuilding the models from the ground up to allow for faster implementation of customer-specific modifications, and improvements to functionality, reliability and documentation.

High Speed Palletiser

Design and prototype of a new variable-case high-speed palletising system. Primary responsibilities were the detailed design and specification for manufacture of all in-house equipment, and the production of documentation of automation processes, systems and layouts.

Commercial Cooking Appliance

Led the design & development of a commercial kitchen cooking appliance. Responsible for taking it from conceptual design through to detailed engineering and production ready documentation.

MHM AUTOMATION

Sawmill Automation Upgrade

Design and production of manufacture drawings for a number of timber handling machines.

Accessways

Design and production of installation drawings of aluminum accessways, platforms, ladders, stairs and screens. All structures designed under NZS/AS1657.

INTEGRATED MARINE GROUP

Superyacht Refit

As a Project Engineer, assisted the Project Manager in the refit and upgrade of a 500+ GT Superyacht. Refit included major structural and engineering works, with 100+ companies sub-contracted. Duties were varied, and ranged from co-ordinating with suppliers through to detailing and documenting engineering changes.

GOOD BUGGER AWARD

August 2024

Nominated by colleague Ben Orwin-Higgs “Sacha has been instrumental in maintaining progress during a difficult workload period. His attention to detail, genuine critical feedback, and insight into organising complicated situations has helped Caliber keep a laser focus and the client to ask after our approaches to information and project management. He’s also a legend to work with. Thanks heaps Sacha!”