Bsc: Internship Mechanical Engineering - Interface optimization of a ball contact interface

Bsc: Internship Mechanical Engineering - Interface optimization of a ball contact interface

Company: Canon Production Printing

Are you looking for a graduation internship in Mechanical Engineering? Are you looking for an internship where material science, but also modelling & experimentation is important? We are looking for you!

Your Assignment
In the Print Unit of our high-precision machines, we use ball interfaces to ensure accurate alignment between components. These interfaces consist of a set of balls on one part and a counterpart with a cone, a V-groove, and a flat surface on the other. Due to frequent dynamic loading, these interfaces must be both durable and low-friction, typically requiring hard, milled materials—an expensive and complex solution.

Your assignment is to optimize this ball interface by identifying a more cost-effective yet functional alternative. This involves researching and experimenting with different materials and treatments to determine the minimum required hardness and durability, without compromising performance or self-positioning accuracy. You will explore both the balls and their counterparts, focusing on how material properties influence wear, friction, and repeatable alignment.

Key topics you’ll work on:

• Steel insert hardness: material selection, hardening treatments, and alternatives
• Ceramic ball alternatives: cost-effective materials, coatings, and treatments
• Durability and lifetime modeling supported by experimental validation
• Influence of material properties on self-positioning behavior
• This project combines material science, mechanical modeling, experimental testing, and production techniques

Your Profile
You are studying Mechanical Engineering (Bsc), looking for a graduation internship. You are a curious and hands-on engineer or researcher with a strong interest in materials and mechanical design. You enjoy combining theoretical analysis with practical experimentation and are eager to contribute to real-world engineering challenges. You have experience or interest in modeling and experimental validation.

What’s in it for you?

• A challenging assignment with skilled coaching
• Internship/Graduation compensation of €500,- per month
• Travel cost compensation if you don’t have an ‘OV-weekcard’
• The possibility to network with professionals inside and outside your field of expertise, thanks to our diversity of disciplines which you will work with

Interested?
If you would like to receive more information concerning this assignment, please contact Tom Verhaegh via tom.verhaegh@cpp.canon. If you have any questions about the internship in general, please contact Milou Geelen, +31 6 25653192.

What do we stand for?

We develop and manufacture high-tech printing products and workflow software for the commercial printing market as part of Canon, a global leader in imaging technologies. With around 3,300 employees across three continents and our headquarters in Venlo, the Netherlands, we innovate to create high-quality solutions that add color to the world. Guided by the philosophy of Kyosei—living and working together for the common good—our culture is built on openness, collegiality, trust and stability. We empower our people to grow, take initiative, and make an impact.
With our company values collaboration, innovation and ownership, we strive to bring out the best in each other, expand boundaries and feel empowered to take ownership of our work.