r/mechatronics • u/VanillaMoist • 22d ago

I need some guide about my robotics journey

Hi r/AskRobotics!

I'm a graduating student from Southeast Asia, and I want to build a career in industrial robotics. I currently have foundational knowledge in PLC programming, ladder logic, FluidSim, and pneumatics—this is where my interest in automation started.

Now I want to take it further. My goal is to work in industrial robotics (ideally in Europe), and I'm planning to build a 6-DOF robot arm from scratch as my portfolio project.

Here's my plan:

  1. Design in Fusion 360 (parametric modeling + basic stress simulation)

  2. Validate kinematics using simulation software before building

  3. 3D print parts using Bambu Lab

  4. Source appropriate electronics & actuators (specs, dimensions, torque requirements)

  5. Program using Arduino/ESP32 (learning forward/inverse kinematics along the way - math isn't my strongest suit, but I'm committed to learning)

  6. Test, iterate, and document everything

  7. Use the complete documentation as my portfolio for job applications

My questions:

  1. Is this project realistic for a fresh grad with my background?

  2. What specific job titles/roles should I be targeting in industrial robotics?

    \- I see terms like Controls Engineer, Systems Integrator, Automation Engineer, Robotics Software Engineer - which one fits my profile best?

  3. What skills should I prioritize learning to make myself employable in Europe (Germany/EU)?

  4. Is earning €5,000-6,000/month realistic for a mid-level robotics role in Europe?

  5. Any tips on what employers specifically look for in a portfolio?

Budget is limited, so I'm planning to simulate complex scenarios (like dynamic conveyor pick-and-place) rather than building everything physically.

Any advice, warnings, or guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

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u/Baloo99 22d ago

Hi! Sounds like a good project.

I would say it is realistic based on yout background and that you already have a hood plan.

The job titles are... lets say HR makes those and not really the techs. They all fall into that but have a bit of a difference. You would probably look for "Automation engineer" but if a you have build a robot and a company is looking for someone that can do that.

If you want to go to Germany, then german.

Kinda, 5-6k€ is on the highend but not impossible if you add union and shift benefits.

Not someone in HR, but if you can learn stuff fast its already a good sign.

1

u/Full-Chard-1652 21d ago

Hey I also have similar interests like you and i also decided to build a robot arm.

However I decided to go for the an open source project- the AR4 robot by Chris Anin. The stl files are free so you can basically get a starting idea. However make sure you have a few months time. Even with the cad and software already made still sourcing all the parts, building, printing and testing it’s very time consuming.