Apple Speaker Hardware Product Design
At Apple, I interned as a Mechanical Design Engineer where I completed two projects on the speaker design across different Apple devices. Specific details subject to confidentiality
Project 1: Speaker Seal Reliability
I led a project to enhance the sealing methods in small, injection-molded mechanical enclosures, focusing on improving acoustic performance, manufacturing yield, and durability. Key contributions included:
​
-
Developing Design of Experiments (DOE) with multiple CAD models in Siemens NX to test design iterations and tolerance adjustments.
-
Collaborating with cross-functional teams such as Manufacturing and Materials to integrate innovative technologies.
-
Applying Design for Manufacturability (DFM) guidelines and coordinating with international vendors for testing and feedback.
-
Introducing a solution using laser welding with IR-transparent materials, which significantly improved seal reliability and represented a new approach for the organization.
Project 2: Watch Acoustic Performance
I redesigned an Apple Watch speaker to enhance acoustic performance by:
-
Modifying 3D CAD geometries to tighter tolerances, ensuring compatibility with electromechanical counterparts.
-
Introducing new metal films with adhesive bonding to optimize assembly.
-
Sealing air leakage gaps, resulting in a 5% improvement in acoustic performance, validated through Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software.
Side Project: Apple iContest Winner
As part of a team, I participated in Apple's annual intern contest, competing against over 600 interns globally. We developed a hardware/software feature proposal for integration into the Apple ecosystem. Our team placed 1st, presenting to Apple VPs and Engineering Directors, with the feature considered for future iOS modules.