Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering News

Category: Students

Nancy Barr Presents at ASEE Annual Conference

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ASEE 2016Senior Design and Technical Communications Program Advisor Nancy Barr (MEEM) presented a paper titled “Extending Writing in the Disciplines to train mechanical engineering GTAs to evaluate student writing” at the ASEE Annual Conference in New Orleans June 27, 2016.

From Tech Today.

The ASEE (American Society for Engineering Education) Annual Conference and Exposition is the only conference dedicated to all disciplines of engineering education. It is committed to fostering the exchange of ideas, enhancing teaching methods and curriculum, and providing prime networking opportunities for engineering and technology education stakeholders such as deans, faculty members and industry and government representatives.

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Mechanical Engineering MachineShop Staff Share Machining Skills with FIRST Robotics Team

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A select team of teenage robotics enthusiasts will spend next week, June 13-17, 2016, at Michigan Tech, working with Mechanical Engineering machinists Marty Toth and Bill Langdon to learn how to operate several metalworking machines including grinders, band saws, belt sanders, drill presses, mills and lathes. The students will also learn blueprint reading, how to use measuring tools and the importance of shop safety.

For more information on the workshop, contact Marlene Lappeus at mmlappeu@mtu.edu or 7-4518.

Read more at Tech Today, by Jenn Donovan.

FIRST Robotics Team members get a leg up on competitors

“They were working in garages and often maybe not even as safe as they could and they didn’t know the safe practices and also maybe not creating a part that they put in that robot and then they’re not as competitive,” said department chairman, Dr. William Predebon.

Read more and watch the video at WLUC-TV 6.

FIRST Robotics TV6

FIRST Robotics TV6

Copper Country High School students attend robotics workshop at MTU

“We had to watch a lot of safety videos before this to prepare us for this and they would show us how to run the machines,” said Danielle Lund, Houghton High School student.

Read more and watch the video at UP Matters.

FIRSTRobotics UP Matters

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Two Short Courses Offered in Engines

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Two short courses (2.5 days in duration) are being offered this month.

Both courses include laboratory components with a format that mixes traditional lecture and group discussion with hands-on experiments conducted in powertrain test-cells and through driving vehicles on the road. The courses will be available to all faculty, staff, non degree seeking students, Michigan Tech graduate students and undergraduate seniors. Both courses are one credit.

Information about the courses can be found when searching courses on Banweb. MEEM 5990 Section 49 and MEEM 5990 Section 50.

Course descriptions are as follows:

Diesel Engines-Their Combustion and Operation (June 15-17)

Topics will be covered through a mix of lecture, hands-on experimentation, group discussions and group data analysis. Both courses will be delivered from the Michigan Tech Advanced Power Systems Research Center located near the Houghton County Airport. Transportation to and from campus will be provided each day. Lunch will be provided on Thursday and Friday.

SI Engines-Their Operation & Control (June 22-24)

Topics will be covered through a mix of lecture, hands-on experimentation, group discussions and group data analysis.

Registration is now open, search for MEEM 5990 Section 49 and MEEM 5990 Section 50. Students are welcome to register for both, or just one. There are no pre-requisites, but familiarity with thermodynamics and IC engine cycles will be helpful.

Contact cjmorgan@mtu.edu,  jjworm@mtu.edu,  jnaber@mtu.edu or cmsarazi@mtu.edu if you have any questions.

From Tech Today, by APS Labs.

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ME-EM Senior Recognition Banquet April 19, 2016

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The ME-EM Senior Recognition Banquet and Order of the Engineer Program was held on April 19, 2016.

The keynote speaker was Seth Newlin, Chief Engineer, Oshkosh Airport Products, Oshkosh Corporation. Newlin is a 1994 alumnus with both a BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering.

Seth Newlin
Keynote Speaker Seth Newlin

Outstanding Student Performance Award

From time to time we observe exemplary and outstanding performance of an individual or group of individuals in Senior Capstone Design or Enterprise, and when that happens we recognize those students with an Outstanding Student Performance Award.

Alexandria Bonner and Nate Campbell
Alexandria Bonner and Nate Campbell

Alexandria Bonner and Nate Campbell

Nate and Alex led the team’s use of simulation and test to understand the root-cause of their design problem on Team 11 Driveline NVH Improvement for Ford Motor Company. Although Alex and Nate were responsible for different aspects of the driveline NVH, they worked together to learn how to use new simulation tools and used test data to validate models of the current driveline system. They used the models to gain insight to limitations of the current design and study the effect of design options rather than guessing or hoping for a successful prototype at the end of their project. Nate and Alex demonstrated that hard work and cooperation are key elements of a successful project.

Josh Dillon
Josh Dillon

Josh Dillon

Josh Dillon has demonstrated outstanding dedication to Formula SAE. Over the past three years, Josh held leadership positions in the FSAE Enterprise, the SAE Student Chapter, and Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. As the 2016 FSAE Chief Engineer, Josh was responsible for the concurrent design, build, and test of three successive competition vehicles. Through these experiences in leadership roles, Josh has developed a leadership style based on responsibility and cooperation. Preparing for the 2016 competition provided many learning opportunities for FSAE leadership. The initial attempt to make a one-piece body was an epic failure. Two aspects of the chassis did not meet rules criteria; one was noted by a design judge just last week. Josh worked with the sub-team leaders to correct the issues and focus on good engineering. With Josh’s leadership, Formula SAE is looking forward to improved success at competition in May.

Marissa Graziano

Marissa has performed outstanding from day 1 of the Team 19 Magna Seating Design Project. She is an excellent communicator and kept everything going smoothly between the client and MTU as well as the client and the team. She managed the team, asked for help when needed, communicated with faculty, staff, team and customer in an organized and effective manner and when the project changed scope organized the document scope rewrite and approval on the MTU and Magna Seating side. She was very effective in leading her team through a complex and challenging project and with her team tackled any challenges that occurred during the project.

Connor Kmiec
Connor Kmiec

Connor Kmiec

Connor Kmiec is the team lead this year for the Ferro Pedal project.  Not only did Connor do a great job leading this team, he differentiated himself by doing the majority of the machining work on this project.  He even sacrificed his Spring Break to perform machining work when outsourcing quotes came in much more expensive than forecasted.  To save time and money, Connor allowed the team to use his personal 3D printer to create prototype parts to verify fit and size.  Connor also led the team to raise additional funds for this project and placed first for both the best Marketing Plan and Most Unique Visitors in the Superior Ideas Rekhi Challenge. Connor’s strong engineering skills coupled with great hands-on know how and leadership skills is exactly the type of engineer we want to represent Michigan Tech and our Mechanical Engineering department.

Paul St. Louis
Paul St. Louis

Paul St. Louis

Dr. Endres has the following to say about Paul St. Louis, a member of Senior Design Team 4 Surgical Tool Attachment, sponsored by Stryker Instruments: Occasionally there is a student who exhibits outstanding organization and team leadership skills that keeps things well on track with great communication and scheduling.  This team as a whole did very well with a great team effort, and with the great organization of this team member, things progressed incredibility smoothly.  The technical results of this team are truly exciting in my opinion and I look forward to our customer taking it to the next level and ultimately a potential new product.  This award goes to Paul St Louis of the Stryker Instruments Surgical Tool Hub Interface project.

View the MEEM Spring 2016 Ceremonies Photo Gallery

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ME-EM Students Win Awards at Design Expo 2015

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138IMG_9708The mechanical engineering-engineering mechanics department held its semi-annual Senior Capstone Design Day Program on Tuesday April 21, 2015. Eighteen teams presented the fruits of their efforts over the past two semesters during presentations to industry reps, faculty, staff, students and MEEM External Advisory Board members. The teams displayed posters and, in some cases, their prototypes in the rear first-floor hallway of the MEEM building. This year’s project customers include American Axle & Manufacturing, Chrysler, John Deere, MacLean-Fogg, and others. Most presentations are open to the public.

Photos of the ME-EM capstone senior design teams can be seen in the ME-EM Capstone Senior Design Teams Photo Gallery

Spring 2015 4911 final presentations

Michigan Tech Design Expo 2015

3rd Place Award – Velovations Team Leaders: Ian Connick, Mechanical Engineering and Kyle McGurk, Electrical Engineering Advisor: Steve Lehmann and Paulus Van Susante, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics Sponsors: Specialized, Thomson, Department of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology
3rd Place Award – Velovations
Team Leaders: Ian Connick, Mechanical Engineering and Kyle McGurk, Electrical Engineering
Advisor: Steve Lehmann and Paulus Van Susante, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Sponsors: Specialized, Thomson, Department of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology

3rd Place Award – Velovations
Team Leaders: Ian Connick, Mechanical Engineering and Kyle McGurk, Electrical Engineering
Advisor: Steve Lehmann and Paulus Van Susante, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Sponsors: Specialized, Thomson, Department of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology

Project Overview: Our team is dedicated to working on bicycle and bicycling industry related projects. For the 2014-2015 academic year, Velovations has more than twenty-five students from various majors divided into four projects. The projects are: a pedal that offers the ability to transition from clipped in to a platform and back at the push of a button; a system to allow tire pressure change on the fly;
an inexpensive winter commuting tire; and an innovative exercise system for wheelchair users that will allow further physical research. Velovations projects cover the complete product development
range, from idea conception, research, and development, to customer communication, testing, and ultimately manufacturing.

Honorable Mention – Chrysler 300 Split Tailgate Team Members: Kelly Shanahan, Joshua Yagley, Alex Bancroft, Jerad Marble, and Parry Ragland, Mechanical Engineering Advisor: Kevin Johnson, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics Sponsor: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Honorable Mention – Chrysler 300 Split Tailgate
Team Members: Kelly Shanahan, Joshua Yagley, Alex Bancroft, Jerad Marble, and Parry Ragland, Mechanical
Engineering
Advisor: Kevin Johnson, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Sponsor: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Honorable Mention – Chrysler 300 Split Tailgate
Team Members: Kelly Shanahan, Joshua Yagley, Alex Bancroft, Jerad Marble, and Parry Ragland, Mechanical
Engineering
Advisor: Kevin Johnson, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Sponsor: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Project Overview: Our goal is to design, engineer, build, and test a split decklid adapted from the current Chrysler 300 architecture. This decklid system will provide the customer both the access required of typical decklids without the upswing of the lower waterfall area and the added feature of a tailgate style lower swing out panel which will provide a surface for tailgate functions. This feature is rare in the industry and provides an opportunity for segment differentiation creating a unique selling point.

Honorable Mention – Dynamometer Calibration Device Team Members: Kristopher Benaglio, Christopher DeGroot, Adam Deibler, Kenneth Smith, Mechanical Engineering Advisor: Paul van Susante, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics Sponsor: John Deere
Honorable Mention – Dynamometer Calibration Device
Team Members: Kristopher Benaglio, Christopher DeGroot, Adam Deibler, Kenneth Smith, Mechanical Engineering
Advisor: Paul van Susante, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Sponsor: John Deere

Honorable Mention – Dynamometer Calibration Device
Team Members: Kristopher Benaglio, Christopher DeGroot, Adam Deibler, Kenneth Smith, Mechanical Engineering
Advisor: Paul van Susante, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Sponsor: John Deere

Project Overview: This design team is working with John Deere to develop a new dynamometer torque meter calibration device. A dynamometer, commonly referred to as a dyno, is a popular test instrument used to measure variables such as torque, speed, and power output. The current calibration method used by John Deere utilizes a static weight stack attached to a moment arm. This design must be replaced because it exceeds the dynamometer test cell envelope, is difficult to transport from test cell to test cell, requires considerable time and effort for two workers to assemble and disassemble, and requires the repetitive lifting of 40 to 45 pound weights.

See a complete recap summary of the 2015 Michigan Tech Design Expo

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Senior Recognition Banquet

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IMG_4021The mechanical engineering-engineering mechanics department held its semi-annual Senior Capstone Design Day Program. Eight teams presented the fruits of their efforts over the past two semesters during presentations to industry reps, faculty, staff, and students. The teams also displayed posters and, in some cases, their prototypes in the rear first-floor hallway of the MEEM building.

Keynote Speaker: Gerald E. McGlynn III, 1984 B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Michigan Tech, Intellectual Property Attorney, Howard and Howard; J.D., cum laude, from Detroit College of Law in 1988  

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