My name is Angel Vidal!

​I studied Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing at Wentworth Institute of Technology. I've worked as a Product Development Engineer for Committed Paintball, and most recently a Manufacturing Engineer for 908 Devices where I primarily focused on the design, fabrication, and improvement of production floor test fixtures and rigs. Other responsibilities I held are the management of CAD assemblies and drawings, making Engineering Change Orders (ECO), and leading the calibration of our tools/equipment by tracking them in Jira and scheduling yearly calibration days.

Outside of work life my true passions are fabrication, CAD design, and building things from the ground up. Ever since I can remember I have been a maker, you can usually find me using my hands to tinker with all sorts of mechanical and electrical components, 3D printing, or the occasional art supply. From cosplay and prop making, to bespoke product design, and combat robotics I have a wide range of hobbies I enjoy partaking in. I am always eager to take new opportunities to learn new things and grow my skillset. Much of this enjoyment stems from the satisfaction I gain when learning a new skill, completing difficult tasks, or seeing my creations come to life. 

I started my venture into combat robotics when I attended my first NHRL event in Norwalk, Connecticut long before the event grew to the goliath it is today. I came as a supporting member of my friends team, making quick repairs and improvements to his robot between fights. Shortly after at my second event I was invited to join Team Shreddit as a CAD designer where I would design my first ever combat robot, a heavyweight robot called Pain Train which we would take to compete in the televised event "Battle Bots" in Las Vegas. This was quite a turning point in my life as I would become heavily invested in the hobby while still attending college, rapidly strengthening my skills in CAD, fabrication, and electronics which would all become relevant to my career going forward.

Some of my proudest moments lie in the combat robotics scene where I have quickly become a valued member of the community. Most recently I have earned the "Most Valuable Builder" award at the largest hosted Combat Robotics event in the world known as the National Havoc Robot League. My involvement in helping many members of the community and bringing a light hearted yet competitive attitude to events has helped me earn this title.

On the side, I have done lots of product design for Committed Paintball, a subsect of Boston Paintball, renowned for its bespoke product line of high end custom markers and equipment. I started at Boston Paintball in high school as a referee and equipment technician, but would rapidly become involved in assisting the Committed side of the company with product launches. Once I started college as a Mechanical Engineering Major, I started taking on design projects involving CAD design for custom milled marker frames, hardware, and equipment. Some of my favorite projects have been the design of intricate patterns for HPA regulators that would be machined using tooling a fraction of a mm in diameter to achieve extreme detail. These became some of the favorite designs of the many that Powerhouse Air would produce for us and other paintball brands.

While I have learned so much in the short amount of time I have been involved in these communities, there is plenty more I am eager to take on in the engineering space, to contribute and apply in my career going forward, regardless of where it takes me.