Bsc: Internship Mechanical Engineering/Mechatronics - Automatic Refill Station

This internship/graduation assignment is for a BSc-level student in Mechanical Engineering/Mechatronics to develop a concept for an automatic ink refill station that can top up ink during printing (up to 12 printheads simultaneously).

Your assignment

During high-volume or long-duration print jobs, ink levels can run low, potentially disrupting the process. To prevent this, we want to explore the possibility of a refill system that can top up ink during printing — automatically and for up to 12 printheads simultaneously. Currently, refilling is done manually, which is labour-intensive and error prone.
This assignment focuses on developing a concept for an automatic refill station, including a first test setup. The main goal is to explore and demonstrate a working principle and feasibility — not to deliver a finished product. You are encouraged to ask questions, define key variables, and take initiative in shaping your own path. If you're curious, hands-on, and enjoy solving real-world challenges, this assignment is a great fit.

Activities

Explore the challenge

• Identify and clarify the key questions, problems, and constraints.
• Engage with coaches and colleagues to gather input and background knowledge.

Define the requirements

• Translate the insights into clear functional goals and technical requirements.
• Determine which parameters (e.g. flow rate, precision, ink compatibility) are critical for success.

Explore possible solutions

• Come up with and compare different concepts or approaches for automatic refilling.
• Use a method that fits your educational background (e.g. decision matrices, functional modelling, flow simulations).

Build a concept and test setup

• Select the most promising concept.
• Design a simple test rig or prototype.
• Implement basic control or measurement methods if needed (manual or automated).

Test and verify the concept

• Create a structured test plan.
• Run experiments and collect data on performance, stability, and feasibility.
• Evaluate whether the concept can reliably refill during printing without disrupting the process.

Reflect and report

• Summarize your findings clearly.
• Provide conclusions and recommendations for future development or integration.

Your profile

• Studying Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics or equivalent (BSc-level)
• Looking for an internship or graduation assignment that sets an intriguing research challenge
• Able to survey such a project and work independently

What’s in it for you?

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

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.