New Developments in MMET Faculty Research

MMET Assistant Professor David Labyak

Research and publication are part of the culture in the MMET Department, especially for tenure track and tenured faculty. Teaching, as well as assessment and curriculum development, are strengths in the department that have led to scholarly articles on pedagogy and innovations in teaching. 

Two of the organizations that support STEM education research in engineering and engineering technology are the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) and the International Association of Journals and Conferences (IAJC). Each holds annual conferences and workshops, and publishes several academic journals.

Assistant Professor David Labyak in particular has published and presented in this area of engineering education. Department Chair John Irwin conducts research on methods used to improve student learning and engagement in STEM subjects. Together they co-authored and presented the paper, Industry 4.0 Integration in a Manufacturing Engineering Graduate Certificate and MS Degree, at the 2022 IAJC Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida. The paper was accepted in the Technology Interface International Journal (TIIJ), a highly-selective, peer-reviewed journal covering broad topics in various branches of engineering technology. 

Their paper outlines the topics and assessment results of learning outcomes from an online graduate course at Michigan Tech, taken mainly by working professionals. The course had two homework assignments on machine learning using MATLAB, which has built-in functions specifically tailored for machine learning applications. 

Some face-to-face interaction was indicated as being important, even though it was offered as an online course. These and other suggestions will help steer future course structure, to improve learning outcomes. 

Irwin also co-authored a paper published in the 2022 ASEE Annual Conference, Four Pillars of Manufacturing Knowledge Revision and Validation Process.

Additional conference proceedings papers have been accepted for presentation in 2023 by MMET faculty members include:

  • Dr. Irwin has a paper accepted for presentation at the ASEE Conference for Industry and Education Collaboration (CIEC) titled, Michigan Learning and Education Advancement Program (MiLEAP), which describes the MMET department workforce development training initiatives in Fluid Power Training. 
  • Dr. Irwin and Research Assistant Professor Sarah Tan (Engineering Fundamentals) Sarah Tan wrote a paper titled Examining the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on S-STEM Financially Supported Students’ Change-Readiness and Self-Efficacy. 
  • Dr. Labyak and Associate Professor Scott Wagner wrote a paper titled Industry 4.0 and Holistic Safety Programs Industry Collaboration in Manufacturing Engineering. 
  • Dr. Labyak will present a conference proceedings paper at the ASEE Engineering Design Graphics Division (EDGD) Midyear Conference titled Teaching Vibration and Modal Analysis Concepts in Traditional Subtractive Machining to Mechanical Engineering Technology Students.
  • Associate Professor Sunil Mehendale has a co-authored paper, Visualization Research of Droplet Freezing on Inclined Titanium Surface, accepted in the Journal of Heat Transfer Research. More information on Dr. Mehendale’s paper can be found in Tech Today.

Industry Sponsors Support Michigan Tech MET Senior Design Teams

MET student Derek Flory at the 2022 Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge, sponsored by NFPA.

At Michigan Tech, we proudly refer to Senior Design as a “first job” rather than a “last class,” as it tasks senior-level project teams to address practical, open-ended design challenges. This past year, the MMET Department at Michigan Tech has been fortunate to have four Senior Design team projects generously sponsored by industry partners: Donald Engineering, Equinox Bicycleworks and Engineering, National Fluid Power Association (NFPA), and Kohler. These project supporters make a strategic investment in our educational mission.

New hydraulic power equipment at Michigan Tech, donated by Donald Engineering

MMET typically has 6-10 senior design projects each year, says John Irwin, MMET Department Chair. “We’re always interested in forming new partnerships with alumni and friends of the department who are interested in contributing to the education of MET students,”

Senior design projects can be sponsored at various funding levels. The projects involve providing engineering guidance to the team over the span of two semesters, fall-spring or spring-fall. 

The most recent sponsorship came from Donald Engineering, long-time supporter of the “Mechatronics Playground”—a set of labs that support both MMET and the Applied Computing departments at Michigan Tech.

Donald Engineering President Mark Gauthier and his employees supported a Fall 2022 interdisciplinary team made up of two MET students and one EET student. The team designed, built and tested a hydraulically-powered tensile and compression testing apparatus.

Pedaling test fixture, designed for Equinox Bicycleworks by a Michigan Tech MET senior design team.

“The equipment donated by Donald Engineering will be put to good use in other ways,” notes Irwin. “Additional student teams will use it to test their project materials. It will serve as lab equipment in the MET Strength of Materials course—and last but not least, it will enable fluid power mechatronics students to see a real-life application of electro-hydraulics in action.”

Last spring, Equinox Bicycleworks, a local UP company that manufactures mountain bikes, needed a fixture to test the tubular frames to meet industry standards. The Michigan Tech MET senior design team, led by Joseph Williams (now a Michigan Tech alumnus) produced various designs for performing tests, such as fatigue testing per ISO 4210-6 standards on bicycle frames. The team manufactured a testing fixture, and tested the solution. It all came about through a partnership formed with help from Michelle Jarvie-Eggart, an assistant professor in the Department of Engineering Fundamentals at Michigan Tech. Dr. Jarvie-Eggart connected us with her husband, Brian Eggart, who owns and operates Equinox. He is also a research engineer at the Advanced Power Systems Research Center at Michigan Tech.

The National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) runs a yearly contest each April called the Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge, which has many industry sponsors, including Danfoss Power Solutions, Norgren, Parker Hannifin, Lubritech, Hydroforce, and IFP (Iowa Fluid Power). University teams from all over the country develop a timeline to design, simulate, build, test, qualify, and compete with their concepts. MMET Associate Teaching Professor David Wanless has been the advisor for many iterations of Senior Design project groups tackling this challenge. Each fall semester, a new set of students refine the design of the previous groups and then develop a new, improved solution. The outcome of the 2022 contest was that the team won the Sprint Race and were awarded $1,000.

Students at the 2022 Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge, including Michigan Tech’s MET team
MET students Cody Eby and Stewart Daniels present their senior design concept, part of the NFPA Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge
MET student Brendan Bloom worked on the Engine Flow Bench senior design project, sponsored by Kohler. The team presented their project at Michigan Tech’s Design Expo.

Kohler entered into an agreement with the MMET Department for a sponsored project that started in the fall of 2020. The project has since continued, with the goal of assisting Kohler’s Engine Department in designing a new, highly accurate flow bench for small engines.

The first MET senior design team developed an initial flow bench design, but the COVID pandemic slowed their progress and prevented them from completing the manufacturing and testing. The next Michigan Tech MET team took over the project and presented their results in spring 2022.

A flow bench is generally designed to move air through cylinder heads or other components to measure the overall airflow throughout the entire system. The project was mostly complete, except for the controls and data acquisition portion, which is now the task of a third Senior Design team. Their goal is to complete the Engine Flow Bench by spring 2023.

Longtime MMET Advisory Board member Brian Hartwig, director of Kohler Engines’ Application Engineering and Development Lab, provided engineering guidance for this project, along with his team at Kohler.

Pictured here: the MET senior design team’s fan motor and controls, for sponsor Kohler

Miller Welding Donates MobileArc Simulator to Michigan Tech

A Michigan Tech MET student works with a new augmented reality welding system donated by Miller.

Miller Welding Donates MobileArc Simulator to Michigan Tech

A donation from ITW Welding North America (Miller Welding) will engage and introduce students to welding through a hands-on augmented reality experience. The device, a MobileArc Simulator, will be used in the MMET Department’s “Advanced Manufacturing” course to introduce students to the feel of the welding helmet and welding gun at optimal angle and speed with the workpiece. The device will also increase the efficiency of our instructors, by allowing students to practice their skills prior to beginning live welding. 

Miller MobileArc Augmented Reality Welding System

Once the class has progressed to the Machine Shop lab portion of the course, the second part of Miller’s  donation will come in quite handy–welding helmets with the newest clear vision technology. The lenses of these welding helmets are designed to enhance the clarity and natural color so more detail can be seen in the weld joint. The clearer and brighter view before, during and after the welding is accomplished by complementing the colors emitted from the welding arc.

“This donation doesn’t impact just one class,” says John Irwin, Chair of the Department of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology. “Almost every project of the Blizzard Baja Enterprise involves welding tubular frames and steering components in the MMET Machine Shop. Students in other Enterprise teams use this equipment too–as well as MET students working on their Senior Design project.”

The new equipment will provide a more safe, efficient, and user-friendly experience for Michigan Tech students, faculty and staff.

Seasons Greetings from John Irwin, MMET Department Chair

Aerial view of campus and the Portage Canal in winter.
John Irwin portrait
Dr. John Irwin

Dear Friends,

The Michigan Tech MMET Department continues to prosper. Thirty MET students graduated in spring semester, and another nine this fall! Our total number of students continues to grow, due to the large incoming class of new and transfer students. 

One of the courses our students really enjoy is “Fundamentals of Machining,” where future engineers learn how parts are manufactured using traditional machining methods. Building a product from a piece of raw material is very satisfying. It’s an experience that lasts a lifetime. 

Making mistakes along the way is part of the process. It teaches the difficulty inherent in machining—and develops a lasting appreciation for manufacturing design—something that is instilled in every proud graduate from the MET program.

I hope you enjoy reading these stories about what has happened here at Michigan Tech over the past year.

Happy Holidays!

Sincerely,

John L. Irwin, Professor and MMET Department Chair

group of MET students on campus
Introducing our Fall 2022 MET First Year Class
Group of MET students on campus
Congratulations to Fall 2022 MET Graduates!
Group of MET students on campus
Congratulations to all Spring 2022 MET Graduates!

Irwin and Labyak Present on Integration of Industry 4.0 with the Graduate Curriculum

IAJC 2022 Interntional Conference

John Irwin and David Labyak (MMET) co-authored and presented a paper at the eighth IAJC International Conference on Engineering and Technology, held October 13–16, 2022, in Orlando, Florida (IAJC 2022).

The paper is titled “Industry 4.0 Integration in a Manufacturing Engineering Graduate Certificate and MS Degree.”

The paper has not yet been published. Contact Irwin at jlirwin@mtu.edu or Labyak at dmlabyak@mtu.edu for more information.

IAJC is the International Association of Journals and Conferences.

Related

Mason Petersen Named MMET Department Scholar

Congratulations to MMET student Mason Petersen!

The Department of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology (MMET) is pleased to announce that Mason Petersen has been selected as the 2022 MMET Department Scholar.

“Mason is a Mechanical Engineering Technology student who just completed his third year at Michigan Tech. He enjoys working with his hands on automotive and industrial machine projects,” says John Irwin, MMET department chair. 

“Once Mason challenged himself by purchasing a fully deconstructed motorcycle to reassemble, and with the help of a service manual and internet forums, he completed the build. This allowed him to analyze the engineering design features behind the motorcycle’s engine as well as establish priceless problem-solving skills for use later in his career,” adds Irwin.

Last year, Petersen served as R&D intern at International Woodworking Technologies (IWT) where he led the design and creation of a prototype for a new particle board concept. He applied numerous skills learned in his MMET courses at Michigan Tech, such as stress analysis and designing for manufacturability. While at IWT, Petersen worked closely with local machine and fabrication shops to produce parts for the prototype. This experience built the foundation for his understanding of process flow in the manufacturing industry.

This past year, Petersen’s leadership qualities were on display as treasurer and assistant coach of the Michigan Tech Men’s Rugby Football Club. He applied accounting skills and managed the budget for expenses, such as field maintenance, traveling, and game fees. He also leaned heavily on his communication and teamwork skills, and helped teammates train. 

Petersen is also involved with the Advanced Metalworks Enterprise (AME) team, where he collaborates with peers and Enterprise team advisor, MMET Assistant Professor David Labyak, to implement industry 4.0 technology into the Michigan Tech foundry. This includes adopting modern methods for monitoring molten metals as well as monitoring the moisture of the sand used for casting molds.

This summer, Petersen is working as an intern at General Motors focusing on engineering design in GM’s Cranktrain, Fuel Delivery, and Lubrication department. “This experience in the corporate environment will further develop Mason’s engineering skills,” notes Irwin. 

After graduation, Petersen plans on pursuing a MS in Mechatronics, and aspires to establish a business that provides automation solutions to manufacturing and production companies.

ZRP Memorial Scholarship Challenge: Cookie Cutter Contest Winners Announced

Hey, did someone take a bite out of that wrench? Cookies made by MMET Administrative Aide Pammi Washuleski.

The second annual Zachary Richard Podkul Memorial Scholarship Challenge at Michigan Tech has come to its (delicious) completion.

Students in the Department of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology set out to design a cookie cutter, one that the department could send out to prospective students, employers and alumni. Students were also required to provide an NX CAD assembly model of the process used to manufacture the cookie cutter.

This 3D CAD assembly model was provided to the students as a guide for size and configuration.

If you ever wondered how cookie cutters are made, just take a look at this YouTube video, which helped serve as the inspiration for the challenge. The sponsors, Richard and Cathy Podkul, wanted to honor their late son Zachary with a design contest that incorporated his passions for both cooking and machine design. The contest was announced in late fall semester, and students began their thought process on what to design.

During the spring semester, sophomore mechanical engineering technology (MET) students enroll in a parametric 3D CAD modeling course that teaches how to use Siemens NX CAD modeling software. Many of the students enrolled in this parametric modeling course submitted entries for the cookie cutter contest.

To help get them started, students were provided with a 3D CAD assembly model as a guide for size and configuration. Later this design was substituted with a wrench shape to use as a prototype—something that could be used by students to test and see how the cookie cutter assembly operates prior to submitting their own entries.

MMET machine shop student workers—with assistance from Master Machinist Scott Meneguzzo and Operations/Facilities Supervisor Nick Hendrickson—produced a working model of the cookie cutter manufacturing fixture. After two design iterations of the 3D printed pushers connected to the clamps, the first, successful wrench-shaped “test” cookie cutter was produced.

A working model of the wrench cookie cutter set-up
Wrench-shaped cookie cutter manufacturing set-up
Some wrench-shaped cookie cutters!

The material used for the cutter is a thin strip of brass, cut to the precise circumference of the cutter outline. It is then formed into a hoop, spot welded together, and tempered for formability. Each clamp is manually operated and each has a 2,500 pound holding force. The cookie cutter form in the center was 3D printed on the Fortus 400MC Stratasys 3D Printer, located in the MMET department’s Polymeric Additive Manufacturing Facility

Many interesting cookie cutters designs were evaluated by the contest judges for the following qualities: 1) Parametric⁠—3D CAD model(s) utilizes sketches fully constrained with parametric features and fully constrained parts in the assembly; 2) Originality—a unique and innovative design; 3) Optimized—minimized use of material, while not compromising strength; 4) Manufacturability—the part’s ability to be easily formed in manufacturing fixture; and finally 5) Ease of use—the manufacturing design is ergonomic and simple to use.

The results? Three students tied for second place in the contest. They were Ben Engle, who designed a gear-shaped cookie cutter; Luz Aparicio, who designed a lightbulb, and Patrick Moeller, who designed a Lift Bridge cookie cutter.

Second Place: a gear-shaped cookie cutter submitted by MET student Ben Engle (3-way tie for second place)
Second Place: a lightbulb-shaped cookie cutter submitted by MET student Luz Aparicio (3-way tie for second place)
Second Place: a Lift Bridge cookie cutter designed by MET student Patrick Moeller (3-way tie for second place)

In the end, the contest yielded the first-place winning cookie cutter, Hunter Wilke’s design, also in the shape of the Portage Lift Bridge.

First Place: a Lift Bridge cookie cutter designed by MET student Hunter Wilke. Congratulations!
The winning cookie cutter form is at the center of the manufacturing set-up. See the brass cookie cutter beneath.

All the winners were presented certificates at an awards ceremony on April 19, which was the celebration of Zachary’s birthday.

The next challenge for the Podkuls, together with Michigan Tech MMET department faculty, will be to develop an idea for the 3rd Annual ZRP Memorial Scholarship! With Zachary’s love of cooking, the outdoors and nature, writing, poetry, and his curiosity for discovering how things worked, it could be just about anything!

Congratulating the 2022 ZRP Memorial Scholarship Challenge winners! From L to R in photo: Hunter Wilke, Cathy Podkul, Luz Aparicio, Patrick Moeller, Richard Podkul, Ben Engle
Zachary and his mom, Cathy, together on Mt. Ripley

Richard T. and Catherine F. Podkul established an endowed scholarship in honor of their son, Zachary Richard Podkul ’18. Zach earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering Technology at Michigan Tech. He suffered from Crohn’s disease, and died in 2020 at age 25. Thankfully, Zachary’s wonderful legacy lives on here at Michigan Tech, now and always.

Five Michigan Tech Students Inducted into Epsilon Pi Tau Honor Society

Epsilon Pi Tau Spring 2022 Inductees: Patrick D. Moeller (MMET), Mason Petersen (MMET), Oliver Shakal (MMET), Bradley Gipson (CNSA), and Keegan McInerney (MMET).

The Department of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology and the College of Computing inducted five Michigan Tech students into Michigan Tech’s Delta Zeta Chapter of the Epsilon Pi Tau Honor Society on April 7.

Epsilon Pi Tau is the international honor society for professions in technology, recognizing students and technology professionals for academic excellence.

Congratulations to Delta Zeta Chapter’s Spring 2022 Epsilon Pi Tau initiates: Bradley Gipson (CNSA), Keegan McInerney (MMET), Patrick D. Moeller (MMET), Mason Petersen (MMET), and Oliver Shakal (MMET).

For more information, contact Delta Zeta Chapter trustee John Irwin (MMET) at jlirwin@mtu.edu, co-trustee Todd Arney (CoC) at toarney@mtu.edu, or visit Epsilon Pi Tau’s website.

Sunil Mehendale Publishes on the Freezing Process of a Water Droplet

Heat Transfer Research cover

Sunil Mehendale (MMET) has co-authored an article accepted for publication in the Journal of Heat Transfer Research.

The article is titled “Visual Study of the Freezing Process of a Water Droplet on a Horizontal Copper Plate.”

In this study, based on the droplet shape analyzer, the freezing process of droplets has been studied experimentally. The effects of the substrate temperature, ambient relative humidity, and volume of droplets on the freezing process were analyzed. The ambient relative humidity and substrate temperature influenced the degree of supercooling. With decreasing substrate temperature, a critical value of supercooling was found to exist. The effect of droplet volume on supercooling time was found to be non-monotonic. With increasing droplet volume, the supercooling time first decreased first and then increased.

This research has potential applications to ice control and mitigation, and de-icing technologies.

DOI: 10.1615/HeatTransRes.2022040980

Happy Holidays: A Note from MMET Chair John Irwin

Dr. John Irwin, Chair, Department of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology

Dear Friends,

Even though it has been yet another pandemic year for us all, I want to share some good news. Despite all the challenges, we are still thriving here at Michigan Tech. We hope you are too.

This past week, 16 of our MET students graduated at Michigan Tech’s mid-year commencement, and most have accepted offers for engineering positions.

Our fall 2021 MET freshman class was again one of the larger groups in recent history at 24 students (same as last year). And our total enrollment for the MET degree program reached an all-time high: 172 students.

Several students enrolled in online courses to attain a graduate certificate in Manufacturing Engineering, which was initiated this year. The majority are MET alumni who work in manufacturing-related positions. In addition, we offer a new MS in Manufacturing Engineering and will soon begin accepting applicants for fall 2022.

Our annual MMET holiday lunch!

Here in MMET, we continue to support the very popular new interdisciplinary MS degree in Mechatronics, offering five graduate courses including an innovative new course, MET5400: Key Factors of Holistic Safety Programs.

We look forward to a productive new year for 2022. We will continue to strive to prepare hands-on professionals that can apply industry 4.0 methodology. Please visit MMET to see our newly developed Mission, Vision, and Goals.

We’ve already gotten about 31″ of snow so far this year…

Be sure to reach out to me with any questions, and let me know if you have any news you would like to share. I always enjoy hearing from you. 

On behalf of all of us in the Department of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering and Technology, I wish you all a very happy and healthy holiday season.

John Irwin, Professor and Chair
jlirwin@mtu.edu
Support MET: https://www.mtu.edu/mmet/department/giving/