• The project will be discussed in class, but basically a complex mechanism of some sort will be designed and constructed on a competitive basis. Students are encouraged to present the results of their work at the student research day in April. Potential topics include,
• a large catapult, or equivalent device, that is capable of projecting a payload of at lead 10 pounds a distance greater than 100 feet. This device should be easy to move, and can be recharged without special power sources. This is a team project.
• write programs in Java to do various elements of kinematic design. This would be an individual project(s).
• an autoloader for a keytag rounder
• other project ideas will be entertained
Disc Brake Redesign - Beard, J. - A novel disc brake will be designed using a linkage to actuate the callipers. The design will be simulated, and a model will be built to test the concept.
Catapult - Cummings, J., Freeman, T. and Ramsdell, S. - A catapult or equivalent mechanism will be designed for general use in the department. The design will be portable and capable of launching a 10 pound projectile up to 100 feet. A design will be selected, simulated, built and tested.
Java Applets - Jamison, D. - Applets will be written in Java to help some aspect of kinematics. This will include learning Java, selecting a program objective, writing code, and debugging.
Light Vehicle Loader - Jezewski, C. - To load a snow mobile or waterski onto a pickup truck a mechanism will be designed that can be operated by hand. This mechanism should be lightweight, but allow easy operation. The definition of requirements, design. simulation, construction and testing will be done.
Auto Pitcher - Maxim, J. - The machine will lob balls straight up from a base so that a child may practice batting skills. The balls will be thrown to variable heights to accommodate different batter sizes. The machine will be designed, analyzed, simulated, built and tested.
Stamped Parts Sorting - Mead, M. - To sort good and bad parts that have just been stamped, a mechanism will be designed for ejecting bad parts.
Java Applets - Stehouwer, C. - Applets will be written in Java to help some aspect of kinematics. This will include learning Java, selecting a program objective, writing code, and debugging.
Prosthetic Knee - Wiersma, J. - The motion of a knee is complex, but can be approximately modeled with a mechanism. A mechanism will be designed, simulated, constructed and tested. Final data values will be compared to physiological data.