Project

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As part of this course, you are responsible for a design project.  The project will be done in groups of four.  Your task is to design a mechanism to perform a specific function.  The project for this semester is to design a mechanical device to perform an interesting and yet meaningful task of your choice (subject to instructor’s approval).  As a minimum, the device should demonstrate various mobility (degrees of freedom) of members in translations and rotation and perform certain functional task(s).  Electric motors and/or microprocessor devices may be used but not a requirement.  The mechanical device that you design should involve mechanism design which performs your specific function.  The size of your prototype should be kept at minimum (or in scale down size).  Creativity in your design will be a part of the project grade. 

This is an opportunity for you to apply your newly learned skilled of mechanism synthesis and analysis to designing a creative solution to a real-world problem using CAD tools and other design software (such as Working Model, SolidWorks, AutoCAD, etc.).  It will also make you appreciate the many problems that are encountered in building a working model from your design.  Another objective of the project is to familiarize you with the different phases of design, starting with the recognition of a need, functional requirement, to prototype building and testing.

Dates for Design Reviews:

1. Forming Project Team, date:  Friday, February 2
2. Project Proposal due by Monday, February 11
3. Design Review #1 – design concept selection completed, date:  Friday, February 22
4. Design Review #2 – design synthesis & analysis completed, date: Friday March 21
5. Prototype construction – date: Should begin no later than Monday April 14
6. Demonstration of the working prototype – date:  Monday (May 12, 2008)

Your group is required to give a brief presentation to describe the functionality of your design (about 2-3 minutes) and a demonstration of your design.  The final written project report is due on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 by 3 pm, no late report will be accepted.   The format of the final report will be discussed in class.

Grading:         Functionality of the design & presentation          25%

                        Completeness of the final report                        25%

                                    (calculations, computer simulations,

                                    CAD drawings,…..etc.)

                        Final report organization and quality                  15%

                       Project Presentation                   10%

                        Creativity                                                          15%

                        Design reviews/Attendance of Review               10%

Note:  Members in each group will be graded individually based on his/her contribution to the project.