As the Spring 2005 semester comes to an end, 34 IME senior engineering students are busy wrapping up 12 capstone design projects in time for the 36th Con-ference on Senior Engineering Design Projects set for Tuesday, April 12, at the College of Engi-neering and Applied Sciences, Parkview Campus.
Projects include new designs for a hybrid hydraulic bicycle that stores energy for uphill motion, and a low-cost rear-window slider for pickup trucks. One team investigated the feasibility of a design for a low-cost and lightweight wheelchair with retractable footrests.
For one project, students designed a radio frequency identification (RFID) system for a production line. Another group sought to integrate an air intake manifold and an air intake system for the auto industry.
Lucas Graham machines spacers on a metal turning lathe for a project that commissioned a sheet extrusion line in the Parkview Campus Plastics Lab.
The study of thermal distortion in shell-sand systems for the metal casting industry yielded important information in one project, and a long-anticipated plastic sheet extrusion line was commissioned at Parkview Campus, sponsored by the Society of Plastics Engineers. A multi-disciplinary project with the ME department worked on a new kind of right angle axle drive.
Nina Simanca (left) and Emily Ebejer review presentation materials for their capstone project to redesign a low-cost truck rear-window slider.
According to Dr. Betsy Aller, senior design coordinator and teacher of the two-semester design sequence, this semester’s group of projects represents an exciting mix of hands-on problem solving for a variety of industry, academic, and community-based customers. She welcomes inquiries and interest in sponsoring projects in upcoming semesters at betsy.aller@wmich.edu
Assisting the students are 13 faculty advisors. The IME advisors include Aller; Drs. Alamgir Choudhury, Paul Engelmann, David Lyth, Mitchel Keil, Jorge Rodriguez, and Sam Ramrattan, and Profs. Fred Sitkins and Jim VanDePolder.
Drs. Azim Houshyar and Bob White of IME serve as co-advisors on three projects. One project involves designing a quality system at a plastics plant. The other two entail redesigns, one of a cereal manufacturing line and the other of the assembly of an EGR valve.
Dr. Richard Hathaway, of the ME department, co-advises the multi-disciplinary project.
Dr. Edmund Tsang, associate CEAS dean, is advising a five-man team on the redevelopment of a transit cart for donated goods for a non-profit organization. The project is sponsored by National Science Foundation and Learn and Serve America grants.
Corporate project sponsors include Dana Corp., Eaton Corp., Fairmount Minerals Ltd., Invensys Appliance Controls, Kellogg Co., Magna Donnelly Corporation, MANN + HUMMEL USA, Oasis Medical, Parker Hannifin Corp., and Systex Products Corp.
Brian Demos (foreground) and William Leach work on part of a redesigned transit cart for a non-profit organization
On April 12, students will share their work in 25-minute presenta-tions offered in two concurrent sessions. Aller will chair six presentations in Rm. D-208 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:25 p.m. Houshyar and White will chair five other offerings in Rm. D-202 from 10 a.m. to 12:25 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
Posts
