QUALIFICATIONS
- PhD (Mech) – 2021
- BE Mech (Hons) – 2015
SOFTWARE
Mechanical CAD Software
- Fusion (Autodesk)
- Inventor (Autodesk)
- SolidWorks (Dassault)
- Spaceclaim (Ansys)
PDM/ PLM Software
- Inventor Vault (Autodesk)
- SolidWorks PDM (Dassault)
Analysis Tools
- ANSYS Mechanical
- ANSYS Workbench
- Excel (for numerical method analysis)
- SolidWorks Simulation
Angus McGregor
MECHANICAL ENGINEER
Skills Overview
Angus is a versatile engineer with a strong academic background in machine design, vibrations, and composites. Often his projects have required creating packages from concept, to manufacture, to on-site delivery. This gives him a strong skillset from CAD, to analysis, to machining, and project management.
His recent industry experience has been focussed on the materials handling industry, having delivered detail-designed complete machine packages for a timber sorting & stacking line; developing mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems to deliver screen cleaners for Hydroelectric power stations; and aiding in the design of steam boilers, producing supporting systems and calculation sets for design verification.
- MACHINE DESIGN – Angus has created machinery to run one-off kinetic artworks for galleries and large outdoor sculptures including Len Lye’s Water Whirler. He has developed scienfitic equipment for use in hospitals, on semi-trucks and in Antarctica. Angus worked as a projects engineer alongside and after his PhD at the University of Canterbury, which has lead to experience and ability to perform in a range of different industries. In addition, Angus has taught honours-level machine design for 6 years.
- COMPOSITES – Angus has experience designing dynamically optimised composite sections under heavy fatigue loads, using roll-wrapping and pultrusion methods.
- DRAFTING – Angus has used Solidworks and Fusion 360 extensively to produce high-quality drawing packages for systems with the full range of machining processes from welded jigs to cylindrically ground shafts.
- RAPID PROTOTYPING – Angus is a big believer in “nail before you scale”. He regularly uses FDM printing, CNC laser cutters and more to create small working prototypes. Print-in-place machine elements like bearings, rod ends and more are a favourite.
PERSONAL STATEMENT
Engineering is my creative passion. It’s all about learning, sharing, or improving what’s around us.
As a kid growing up in Wellington, my Dad and I built model cars on Friday before watching them scream around Manfield racetrack on Saturday. Early age tinkering and an interest in full-noise systems led me a down doctoral studies pathway at UC to design and build monumental scale kinetic artworks with the Len Lye Foundation.
Having taught mechanical design for 5 years before moving into industry, I have all the horsepower to conduct detailed analyses, and my goal is to implement results into solutions with lego-like practicality.
I’m always keen to learn something new, and approach engineering challenges with curiosity. Anywhere there’s serious vibrations, composites, or old-school machine design: I’m keen to jump in!
Project Experience
MHM AUTOMATION
Timber Stacking Line
Developing machinery for a dry mill, including a 20 bay sling sorter and timber stacking line. Machines developed included roll-cases, conveyer chains, a lug-loader, high-low deck and stick placer,. Additional supporting structures, including walkways and platforms to AS 1657, and machine guarding to AS 4024, plus sensor elements to control the plant. Designs have included extensive work with chain-drives, pneumatics, sheet metal & structural steel fabrications produced by an in-house workshop.
Screen Cleaners
Developed complete detailed machine designs for a pair of screen cleaners to clear material from hydroelectric dam intake screens. These machines feature combined hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical systems and safety systems in order to traverse autonomously atop dams, and clear intake weeds.
Screen Cleaners
Developed complete detailed machine designs for a pair of screen cleaners to clear material from hydroelectric dam intake screens. These machines feature combined hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical systems, and safety systems in order to traverse autonomously atop dams and clear intake weeds.
AEROSPACE
Vibration Testing & Sheet Metal Design
Supported the development of a ruggedised electronic system, providing CAD and FEA support for vibrations test fixturing and mechanical support system hardware. Designed a mass-optimised test fixture, and performed analysis across key components to inform material selection, vibration isolation performance, and development of a custom vibration profile informed by system dynamics.
Led sheet metal design to integrate thermal management, electronics, and vibration isolation elements within a limited-size package. Produced CAD, drawings, and BOMs, engaged with suppliers, and supported the build and refinement.
Milk Tanker Structural Analysis
Milk Tanker Structural Analysis | Conducted finite element analysis (FE) of a novel milk tanker being designed for NZ roads, as part an initiative to improve handling dynamics of these vehicles. FE was successfully used to predict failure modes and optimise the tank geometry.
LEN LYE FOUNDATION
Water Whirler Recommissioning
Managed the project to reinstall Len Lye’s sculpture Water Whirler. When the original pole was damaged in 2018, and deemed irreplaceable using the original manufacturing method, a mathematical model of the artwork was built to recreate the 11m version to the artists specifications. Combining pultruded composite design with the desired dynamic properties – an 11m long custom GFRP pole was successfully modelled, built, and installed on the Waterfront. Have since managed subsequent repairs of the sculpture.
Boiler Support Systems
Worked on projects for MSD Animal Health and Affco. Specified piping systems, cladding, and supports for steam boiler piping, exhaust ducting, flue stacks, compressed air, as well as designing ash-extraction systems for pellet-fed boilers. Designs have required working to meet earthquake standards, including NZS1170.5.
Portable Seismic Source
Designed a portable seismic source for use in Antarctica. The goal was to create a repeatable, high energy single strike to ground without reverberation to map sub-ice topology. By developing a novel self-resetting cam mechanism to catch an accelerated steel projectile after impact with pack ice, I produced a semi-automatic action capable of preventing acoustic reverberation. This constituted a key step in producing fully automated seismic source, to minimising-personnel requirements for mapping expeditions without hindering measurement accuracy.
Development of the Troidometer II
Developed and tested a data logging system for the Troidometer II – a machine used to test arm extension strength in Tetraplegic patients, following deltoid-to-triceps transfer surgery. This work required working with Tetraplegic patients, developing a physiologically based gradient descent algorithm to map muscle strength across patients’ range-of-motion, and specifying scientific-grade data-acquisition hardware to suit.
Women in Engineering Canterbury Mechanical Workshop
Designed workshop centred around the design of a miniature shake table to drive a thin steel wire at several harmonic modes. Using mostly 3D printed & laser cut parts to showcase industry 4.0 manufacturing, this workshop has consistently ranked highly in the WiECAN program.
GOOD BUGGER AWARD
January 2026
Angus has been firing on all cylinders across project work for multiple clients and mentoring colleagues. He brings a huge amount of positivity and insight to every problem.