Course Information

General Information

What : Project class – Mechanisms in Motion

When : Monday, Tuesdays,  Thursday 3:00 PM to 5:45 PM
  Wednesday – Office Hours from 3:00 PM to 5:45 PM (subject to change)

Where : Hunt Library, Room A-5

Instructor : Jayla Patton, Susan Finger

Teaching Assistant : Noel Lau

ProgramSummer Academy for Mathematics and Science

Course Description

This course introduces students to Computer Aided Design (CAD) and laser cutting. This course teaches students the basic elements of mechanical systems while emphasizing the underlying physical principles. Through this course, students will develop an understanding of the principles and workings of elements, such as linkages, cams, and gears, which generate and convey mechanical motion. Students will also learn about basic prototyping techniques using paper, cardboard, wood and acrylic. Students will gain hands-on experience in designing and fabricating mechanisms through design project. As a culmination of their learning during the course, students will design and build final projects of mechanisms in motion. The class will involve working in teams and will emphasize hands on learning.

Project Description

Students will work in  teams to design and build an automaton– mechanism in motion.  The project will allow students to apply the acquired knowledge of mechanisms to create the automaton. Examples of automaton include using mechanisms to mimic the motion of dancing ballerinas to creating simple automotive engine – the possibilities are only limited by your imagination and creativity!

Towards completion of the project, the students will:

  1.  Conceptualize ideas for their automaton,
  2. Develop sketches and  initial prototypes using paper and cardboard,
  3. Develop CAD models for different aspects of their project and
  4. Build a final prototype using wood and/or acrylic.

Class objectives

At the end of successful completion of this course the students should be able to:

  • Understand the principles and workings of basic mechanical elements such as linkages, gears, cams.
  • Select appropriate mechanisms for desired motions
  • Use CAD  (SolidWorks) to create design models
  •  Design and fabricate simple designs using tools such as  Laser cutting and prototyping techniques

Tentative Schedule 

Week 1

Kinematic  fundamentals

Linkages

Introduction to Laser-cutting

Week 2

Cams

Gears

Introduction to SolidWorks

Week 3

Introduction to the project

Conceptualizing automaton ideas

Generating cam profiles for automaton

Week 4

Developing CAD models

Developing initial prototypes

Week 5

Fabrication of automaton

Assembly and testing

Week 6

Final presentations

Symposium

Class Resources

See Resources