Mechanical Engineering senior project help!

ii. Calculated Parameters

iii. Best Practices

h. Device: Parts, Shapes and Conformation

i. Device Assembly, Attachments

j. Tolerances, Kinematics, Ergonomics, etc.

k. Technical Risk Analysis, Failure Mode Analyses, Safety Factors, Operation Limits

3. Methods and Construction

a. Construction

i. Description

ii. Drawing Tree, Drawing ID’s

iii. Parts list and labels

iv. Manufacturing issues

v. Discussion of assembly, sub-assemblies, parts, drawings (examples)

4. Testing Method

i. Introduction

ii. Method/Approach

iii. Test Procedure

iv. Deliverables

5. Budget/Schedule/Project Management

a. Proposed Budget

i. Discuss part suppliers, substantive costs and sequence or buying issues

ii. Determine labor or outsourcing rates & estimate costs

iii. Labor

iv. Estimate total project cost

v. Funding source(s)

b. Proposed schedule

i. High level Gantt Chart

ii. Define specific tasks, identify them, and assign times

iii. Allocate task dates, sequence and estimate duration (use arrows, highlights)

iv. Specify deliverables, milestones

v. Estimate total project time (if it isn’t in the three digits of hours, refine your tasks and try again)

vi. Gantt Chart

c. Project Management

i. Human Resources: You are the most important human resource. Other HR may include mentors, staff, faculty, etc.

ii. Physical Resources: Machines, Processes, etc.

iii. Soft Resources: Software, Web support, etc.

iv. Financial Resources: Sponsors, Grants, Donations

6. Discussion

a. Design Evolution / Performance Creep

b. Project Risk analysis

c. Successful

d. Project Documentation

e. Next phase

7. Conclusion

a. Restate your design title and its complete design readiness.

b. Restate your important analyses and how this contributes to success.

c. Restate your design predicted performance vs actual performance, with respect to your requirements. Use bullets if appropriate.

8. Acknowledgements: For gifts, advisors and other contributors

9. References: You should reference your texts, web sites, technical papers and any other information supporting your proposal.

10. Appendix A – Analyses (each sheet has a number like A-2, with a description)

11. Appendix B – Drawings (each drawing has an ID and complies with ANSI Y14.5)

12. Appendix C – Parts List (use real brands and IDs)

13. Appendix D – Budget (use real numbers and report to the cent

14. Appendix E – Schedule (estimate all hours to the tenths, as our government does)

15. Appendix F - Expertise and Resources (special needs, people, processes, etc.)

16. Appendix G –Testing Data (a form to record your test data)

17. Appendix H – Evaluation Sheet (a form or spreadsheet to compute desired values)

18. Appendix I – Testing Report (create a report of what you expect to say, with blanks)

19. Appendix J – Resume/Vita

1: INTRODUCTION

1a: Motivation: You need to document an engineering problem

This project was motivated by a need for a device that would…

Write Function Statement.

Please use your Machine Design text for an example.

Write Requirements,

Thus, a device is required that would…weigh less than 10#...(numbers, please)…that would accept 10,000RPM…. that would accept a 1000# payload…..

Write Success Criteria:

This could be the ASME Design Competition ‘equation’, or refer to the requirements.

Write the scope of this effort:

For example, “will include only the carburetion portion of the engine.”

Write about a benchmark:

There is probably some similar problem and solution out there. Find one and compare your problem and solution to this benchmark.

Write about the Success of the project:

“Success depends on the final performance of the engine with the new carburetion being at least 10% more efficient than the traditional system.”

DESIGN & ANALYSIS

Write out how you conceived of the design.

A sketch may be appropriate in this section (from your journal, perhaps). Inserting a .jpg is appropriate.

This is also a good section to introduce your ‘engineering merit’ areas.

You should present a couple analyses in this section. Engineers typically use ‘green sheets’ to detail analyses (just like homework). Do it. Use standard formats (name, date, given, find, assume, etc.). Narrate your analysis in this section, but refer to Appendix A where you insert .jpgs of those same green sheets.

Two example analyses are appropriate. This conveys your engineering abilities sufficiently.

REQUIRED: You must clearly show (through your narration) the connection of meeting some R equirements, by applying an A nalysis, that results in a D esign parameter, and is rendered in a D rawing. This will be assessed regularly using a metric.

This is worth repeating in another format. Consider this background and explanation:

The engineering merit of this project can be exemplified through the use of a metric developed at CWU: RADD (Requirements, Analysis, Design Parameters, Documentation) and described below.

For example, salient Requirement(s) that support an application of engineering to this project are (weight, load, etc.)

Some types of engineering Analysis that will be used are the Flexure Formula, and FEA (etc.)

The Design Parameters that will be obtained from the analyses are the dimensions and shape of the main support beam…

Finally, these parameters will be Documented in the technical drawings as the device is rendered.

Only those students that complete this engineering work, will pass this course.

Predict performance of your device:

You must predict the performance of your device! Predict how fast it will go, or how much distilled water it will make in twenty minutes. Do it now, and then later you can test and compare its performance against your predictions.

METHODS & CONSTRUCTION

Write out how you intend to make your solution happen.

Example: This project was conceived, analyzed and designed at CWU (you can say this in your own words representing your own scenario). Working within the constraints of our university resources… parts will be made….

Describe construction of the device:

The device itself will be built in sections… Some parts of the device will be manufactured…. Construction will occur in a specific sequence. First, the… This project is made of 10 parts and 3 sub-assemblies. All but three parts will be obtained from suppliers. The three key components will be machined here at CWU. The first part…

Refer to renderings:

You should be able to refer to ANSI Y14.5 conforming drawing(s) in Appendix B. A drawing tree is required, and should reference all of your subsequent part and assembly drawings.

Write: Device Operation:

Projects vary in complexity, so this area may be longer for systems verses shorter for singular parts. In any case, the operation of your device should be clearly described.

Write: Benchmark Comparison:

This orifice is within 10% of the size of the commercially available version…(benchmarking!)…and will produce 10% more horsepower than the benchmark device.

Write Performance Predictions:

The efficiency of the device is predicted to be 80% and will be tested conforming to ASTM standard procedures….

TESTING METHOD

Write out how you will test your device. This is not a trivial scenario. You may have specific needs for resources, etc. For example, you may need a race-track to measure the improved stability of your car from those new struts (this was accomplished in a previous MET Senior Project). Or you may need any number of other resources or instruments.

Test Plan:

You should be able to predict what information you need to evaluate the success of your project. This information should directly reflect your requirements, such as a weight limit. Some of these data may be easy to obtain. In any case, you must make a ‘test plan’ that details how you will obtain all of the necessary information reflecting the performance of your device.

Test Documentation and Deliverables:

All data should be recorded. How it is recorded is up to you. It is strongly suggested that you make up a ‘form’ so that you have a preset document to use as you test your device. There may be ancillary data to collect, such as photos, that you may want to use for different purposes (e.g. your final report). Plan this ahead, so you have both the equipment and the human resources to get it done.

BUDGET/SCHEDULE/PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Write out how you will manage this project. An introduction should reference the ‘risk’ of completing the project. This is normally couched in terms of addressing ‘Risk Analysis’.

Most projects are susceptible to three primary risks: cost, schedule and project management.

Cost and Budget:

A parts list is shown in Appendix C. The parts list details their identification, description (specifications), sources and cost as shown in Appendix D. Relatively low-cost parts like nuts and bolts…

Some of the assemblies will require welding…

The cost of this project is supported by….

Labor costs are separated out and correlated to the time shown in the schedule. Rates are estimated at $100/hour and thus….

The total cost of this project is estimated to be $500.00 (or whatever number you think is appropriate). This includes…

Schedule:

The scheduling issue has to do with obtaining a ‘gizmo’ that can meet the performance specifications within a reasonable time-frame.

The schedule for this project is constrained by the MET 495 course and is shown in Appendix E. A schedule guide has been provided. This project will be completed by the last week of the third quarter.

Create Tasks:

All of the tasks have identifiers that allow the reader to see when they are active (start and finish dates) as well as duration (time to complete). It is required to have tasks that are of small enough scope to realistically associate the type of activity and its duration.

Create Milestones:

Milestones are required. Each milestone may define a ‘deliverable’ (e.g. report, constructed part) or an event (e.g. a review or other document).

Project Management:

Addressing ‘risk’ with regard to an ‘engineering project’ is typically described in the domain of ‘project management’. Our text in MET495A supports this discipline. The area includes issues of budget and scheduling, as well as other areas of risk (e.g. safety, resources). You must address some of these other areas, such as resources. But as your project vary, so will your need or the appropriateness to address areas such as safety. Please ask for guidance as you consider this task.

This project will succeed due to the availability of appropriate technical expertise and resources. Test equipment is available to use for…

The principal engineer will provide…(expertise in…)… and their resume is shown in Appendix J…

The project sponsor is committed to providing monetary support for…. It will also provide equipment for….

DISCUSSION

Write out how your project progressed.

This sounds easy enough. However, you should have recorded enough information in your journal so that you can narrate the evolution of your project from start to finish. Did you change your design at any time? Please detail these issues here in the discussion.

Discuss the things that were successful, but more importantly, discuss what was not successful. When you are discussing what was unsuccessful, talk about why you think it was unsuccessful and what you would do/did differently to make it successful.

Note: There should be many paragraphs/pages devoted to this section. This is where you talk about what actually happened during the year!.

CONCLUSION

Note: In the proposal report, you will include a statement of how your device meets with respect to requirements for a successful Senior Project. These ‘requirements’ include having ‘engineering merit’ and having the necessary ‘resources’ to get it done. In general, you want to ‘sell’ your project. So say something positive like:

“A device/model has been conceived, analyzed and designed that meets the function requirements presented. Parts have been specified, sourced and budgeted for acquisition. With this information the device/model is ready to be created.”

This project meets all the requirements for a successful senior project, including:

1. Having substantive engineering merit in both heat transfer and structural areas

2. Size and cost within the parameters of our resources

3. Being of great interest to the principal investigator

Note: In the final report, you will include a statement of how your device performs with respect to your stated requirements. For example:

The new design oil-separator was a success in both performance and design. It showed improvements over the benchmark in all four areas:

4. 20% more oil vapor was collected

5. There was a 10% improvement in air-flow

6. The cost was reduced by 30%

7. The manufacturing process was simplified from 6 to 3 processes.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Write: Company A sponsored this project…

Write: Person B mentored the principal engineer…

APPENDIX A – Analyses

Insert ‘green sheets’ here!

Write: APPENDIX B – Sketches, Assembly drawings, Sub-assembly drawings, Part drawings

APPENDIX C – Parts List and Costs

Write: Use your sketch (and drawings?) to do a ‘take-off’ of parts (types and numbers). Then start a list of these parts with some sort of identification, description, source (where to get/make it), cost (guess if you have to) and a comment space.

APPENDIX D – Budget

This may be a separate document than the above list of parts. This could address other costs (e.g. labor) as well as timeliness. Aspects such as these are discussed in the area of project management. Write: APPENDIX E – Schedule; use a spreadsheet or software (MS Project), for the year.