I'm a mechanical engineering student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, working on the Baja SAE Racing Team's rear suspension subteam. I recently completed a machine shop internship at Vandenberg Space Force Base, and I work as an engineering and math tutor.
Scroll down to see the projects I've built and worked on.
Validated SolidWorks models against hand calculations, studied mesh convergence and boundary conditions, and applied FEA to structural optimization, stress concentrations, and buckling.
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Progressed from researching Orion and NASA mission systems to leading a multidisciplinary simulated Mars mission as project manager.
View project →Placeholder description. Machine shop internship, CSWA cert, DFM work, etc.
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Low-cost knee scooter design built for mobility support with a PVC frame and stability-focused geometry.
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Designed and built a mobile carrying device to safely transport and invert 5-gallon water bottles, going through the full engineering design process from user interviews to a working prototype.
View project →SolidWorks assembly and motion analysis project focused on an automated bottling system with indexed motion and mechanical interaction analysis.
View project →About Me
I’m Apolonio Ordaz, a mechanical engineering student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. My path has included hands-on work in construction, leadership in coaching, tutoring, and engineering projects that connect problem-solving with real-world fabrication.
Vandenberg internship in rapid prototyping and manufacturing
Cal Poly Mechanical Engineering student and Baja SAE member
Engineering / math tutor and campus leadership
Independent contractor and shift leader roles
General Builder Supplies — Store Associate