Mechanical Engineering 316, Mechanical Systems Design

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Catalog description

This course builds on ME 240 and ME 315. If you haven't taken ME315, visit with Prof. Stoll or Prof. Ehmann to see if this course is right for you.

Who takes it

Mechanical engineers, Biomedical engineers, all students interested in manufacturing and design.

What it's about

This course will focus on the design of mechanical systems with an emphasis on mechanism and precision machine design. Topics include mechanical system design process, mechanism synthesis to accomplish specified tasks involving force and motion, underlying principles of good design, engineering considerations of efficient design, principles of accuracy, repeatability, and resolution, and methods and techniques of precision machine design. The course involves lectures, case studies, in-class design exercises, and team-based design projects.

Course Outline by weeks:

    1. Mechanical Systems Design Process
    2. Introduction to Mechanisms and the Mechanism Synthesis
      Process
    3. Cam Mechanisms and Mechanism Trains (e.g., planetary gear trains, intermittent motion mechanisms, etc.)
    4. Kinematic Synthesis of Linkages
    5. Design Principles
      • Engineering Concepts of Efficient Design
    6. Case Studies
      In-depth discussion of 1 to 3 case studies illustrating application of design principles and efficient design concepts.
      Example case studies:
      • design of an air-actuated disk brake for heavy truck applications
      • design of automotive seat head restraint mechanism for rear impact
      • design of a surgical abrading instrument.
    1. Principles of Accuracy, Repeatability, and Resolution
    2. Precision Mechanical Design
      • Exact Constraint Design
    3. Precision Machine Design Principles and Rules of Thumb
    4. Precision Machine Design Case Studies

Laboratory:

Three hours per week. The purpose of the lab is to train students in ADAMS Mechanical System Simulation Software and to provide time for team project work. Team project results will be presented in the lab. The lab will be held in the ME CAD/CAE room.

Assessment/Evaluation:

Assessment of team projects, and homework.

Textbook:

None; all the material will be provided in class.

Contact:

Professor: Henry Stoll
e-mail: hstoll@northwestern.edu