Method MFG Internship

Over the summer of 2025, I had the opportunity to intern at Method Mfg, an AS9100D-certified CNC aerospace manufacturing shop just outside of Austin, Texas. Method partners with major aerospace companies (SpaceX, Firefly, Axiom, etc.) machining precision parts for rockets, satellites, and beyond.

This internship gave me hands-on exposure to the full manufacturing workflow, including programming, setup, fixturing, CNC machine operation, inspection, and material finishing. I learned how to cut aerospace components from aluminum, stainless, and even titanium.

One of the highlights of this internship was working on Hermle 5-axis machines and running their HS Flex automation robot for large volume orders. I also got to expand my experience on Haas mills and learned to operate other controls, including Datron, Hurco, and Brother NC systems.

This gave me real world exposure to the challenges of multi-axis machining, from understanding work holding to troubleshooting during live runs. I also worked directly from engineering drawings, which strengthened my understanding of GD&T and helped me connect what I had seen on paper to the reality of making a part from print to finished component. The design for manufacturing (DFM) knowledge I picked up here will be invaluable as I continue to learn.

Besides the machining, I developed a better understanding of the materials and finishes that are critical in aerospace. I researched and learned about processes like Type II and Type III anodizing, stainless steel passivation, and other finishing methods that bring a machined part all the way to flight readiness.

The internship was an excellent crash course in how parts are truly made. I learned how much can change when a component goes from drawing, to model, to program, and finally to a physical object. More importantly, I gained a stronger sense of how to design for manufacture and how precision engineering turns into hardware that can reach space. CNC manufacturing is fascinating, and I’m excited to keep learning as much as I can.