A First-Year Design-Based Activity for Mechanical Engineering Students

Abstract

A team-based 3D design activity administered to first-year mechanical engineering students is discussed in this extended abstract. The activity introduced freshman students to various aspects of the engineering design process including participating in effective brainstorming sessions, the importance of iterations in design and documenting a design 1,2,3. As part of this activity, the students learned to create 3D models of parts and assemblies. The activity is part of two freshman courses offered during the freshman year, MECH1100 and MECH1208. These courses have evolved from lecture based to project based courses with supporting lectures. The two courses cover topics related to mechanical engineering: engineering design, engineering drawing, 3D modeling of parts and assemblies, design innovation, computer tools, project management, reverse engineering, engineering ethics, mechanical components, forces on structures, fluids, and thermal energy.

Using Computer Simulations in a Freshman Mechanical Engineering Course to Make Informed Design Decisions

“…The work performed in the labs is team-based and attendance is taken. Throughout the semester, students work on activities in the lab where they are taught how to create 3D part and assembly models using SolidWorks [16], how to set-up and run a motion simulation of a geared mechanism [17] ( Figure 1(a)), how to perform force analysis of simple structures [18], and how to set-up and run a thermal analysis simulation on a sphere being cooled under forced convection [19] (Figure 1(b)). As previously mentioned, SolidWorks is primarily used to perform these simulations but Matlab is also used.…”

Teaching Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing Concepts Using 3-D Computer Models and 3-D Printed Parts

“…In the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Texas at Dallas, students are exposed to 3D CAD modeling during their freshman year [1][2][3] but are required to take a more intensive CAD course typically taken during the second semester of sophomore year or first semester of their junior year. This CAD course covers 3D part and assembly modeling, parametric curve and surface modeling, fabrication packages for traditional and additive manufacturing, and conventional and geometric tolerancing.…”

A Conceptual Design Activity for a First-year Mechanical Engineering Course

“…The second course is a 2 credit-hour course typically taken in the Spring semester [7]. While the first course focuses on topics of relevance to all engineering majors, the second course focuses on design-related activities relevant to the mechanical engineering profession and covering the topics of CAD [8], forces on structures [9], thermal energy and fluid systems [10], and mechanical components [11].…”