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WESTEC-SME
Manufacturing Challenge
Chapter S192 Entries, 1995 through 2003
Maintained by Dr. Bates:
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Description:
WESTEC Manufacturing Challenge, A Collegiate Level Student Competition. The
WESTEC Manufacturing Challenge is an exciting, stimulating, and challenging day
for collegiate-level engineering and technology students to demonstrate the
important connection between classroom lectures and real-world applications. The
WESTEC Manufacturing Challenge is an open-ended, creative engineering
competition.
Prior to the contest day, the student teams brainstorm, design and build their
manufacturing projects that demonstrate their engineering skills, teamwork and
problem-solving abilities. The completed projects are displayed at WESTEC 2003.
The students and their instructors are also part of the WESTEC EXPERIENCE - the
largest annual metalworking and manufacturing exposition of its kind in North
America. Contest participants can tour over 230,000 square feet of action-packed
exhibits free of charge. They can observe over 6 million pounds of equipment in
operation, and interact with more that 800 exhibitors demonstrating leading-edge
metalworking and manufacturing equipment.
If you have questions or desire more information, please contact Kathy Carter:
kcarter@sme.org
WESTEC 1995 ~ "Rocket Launcher" ~ First Place
This was our first year at WESTEC in the competition. We took a team of 11 students who had designed and built a science learning tool for K-12 classrooms called the "Rocket Launcher". this pneumatic toy demonstrated the Boyle gas laws and students could design rocket foils and other features to enhance flight. It was designed as a kit with 5 launchers and 25 straws with a set of templates for foils, award stickers for student recognition, and a book of experiments.
WESTEC 1996 ~ "Shock Lock" ~ Grand Prize Project Abstract
This was our second entry, and we had learned a lot with our first year of participation. I think we would easily have taken Grand Prize if we had understood the scene a bit better last year. Still, we did it this time. We took an entire model company to LA built around four networked computers from our ICIM/IBM grant. The Shock Lock involved student t eam consultation on our work with engineers at Specialized Bicycles. The Shock Lock is designed to lock up the rear suspension of an off-road bicycle during hill climbs, to avoid the problem of energy loss due to 'bio-pacing'.
WESTEC 1997 ~ "Rack Lobster" ~ Third Place - Report
This was our third project. While we had learned a lot about the competition, we were unable to get the judges very excited about this one. Neat and tidy, the project in fact did not involve much engineering and had several key components which were bought. We were happy to place and learned the value of the Monday night dinner for bringing us all together to enjoy each other.
WESTEC 1998 ~ no entry
The students did not make an entry this year, but over 12 of us went to WESTEC anyway and learned about new hardware and software technologies for manufacturing.
WESTEC
1999 ~ "Shift Kart Racer" ~ First Place - Report
This was our first REALLY complicated project. Project leader Bob Hurst led the team in the design and fabrication of an innovative Shift-Kart Racing frame, which combined adjustable flexibility with the durability of a rigid frame. What did we learn? If you don't field test it, it will not win grand prize. We were very proud and excited by our work.
WESTEC 2000 ~ "Grasshopper Off-Road Wheelchair" ~ Grand Prize - Report
This was a great success. Master designer Luis Rivera (seen in chair at right) led the design team, and the finished product reflected good design, good manufacturing, and great social value. Industry partners and effective field testing with handicapped persons closed the loop. A terrific presentation was delivered to the judges and we won this award handily.
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WESTEC 2001 ~ "Solar Air Conditioner" ~
This was our most complicated project. Innovative, totally appropriate for the times as it was designed and proposed during California's energy problem period of Fall 2001, nonetheless it was too complicated to finish. It also involved two critical components that had to be purchased and which were very expensive. This project was based on the design of cooling units used on train cars. It generated a great deal of interest and was nearly a Grand Prize winner before the judges realized that it was 'vapor-ware'. That is, we had made most of it, but the project was not completed and was not present at WESTEC. It was too big to move anyway - at 8 feet wide by four feet deep by five feet high, it would have taken up over 1/2 of the booth by itself!
WESTEC 2002 ~ "Composite Frame Motorcycle" ~ no place, unfinished project
This was an innovative project that we simply did not plan well enough to complete. Sophisticated and complex components enhanced a motorcycle design that included a composite unit arm suspension and hydraulic steering and braking systems.
WESTEC 2003 ~ "Machinist's Rotary Table" ~ Second Place
This was a beautifully executed project. The team worked very hard to finalized the product. They won second place. Read the abstract and check out the images!
To reach me: 408 924-3190 (main) 408 924-3227 (direct) 408 924-3198 (fax) Email: sbates@sjsu.edu
Copyright © 1999
Department of Technology, College of Engineering
San Jose State University.
All Rights Reserved.