Wentworth Institute of Technology

Department of Electronics and Mechanical

Mechanical Design I - MECH-163

Spring 2007

WEEKLY COURSE PLAN *

Week /

Lecture Topics

/

Lab Topics

LAB I

/ LAB II
1
Date:
01.18-01.21 / Course Description & Objectives.
Course Requirements.
Teamwork and Group Dynamics.
Definition of Engineering.
Homework: Textbook, Chapter 1 / Forming Teams:
Identifying areas of design interest
and Group meeting times / AutoCAD 2D
Review session
2
Date:
01.24-01.28 / Methodical Design:
Five Basic Phases of Design Process Overview.
Oral communications:
Golden Rules of Presentations.
Homework: Textbook, pg. xx- xxv / Minor Project Assigned / Oral presentations
by teams.
Analytical Thinking,
Brainstorming,
Exercise 1
3
Date:
01.31-02.04 / Analysis of Success of Methodical Design
in Manned Flight
by Wright Brothers.
Basics of Mechanisms: Motions
Homework:Textbook, Chapter1,Case History1.2 / The Wright Brothers’ Success teamdiscussion.
Brainstorming,
Exercise 2 / Reverse Engineering
Discussion.
.
Working on Project
4
Date:
02.07-02.11 / Design Phase I: Needs Assessment.
Nth-Generation Design.
Focusing upon Others: Key to Success.
Basics of Mechanisms: Levers
Homework: Textbook, Chapter 1, pg. 54-62
Team Assignments: Chapters1,2:Case Histories / Chapter 1
Case Histories discussion.
Creative Thinking,
Brainstorming
Exercise 3 / Minor Project
Meeting with Groups to review Progress
5
Date:
02.14-02.18 / Engineering Practices in Producing Drawings
for Design Projects.
National Standards.
Dimensioning Practices Review.
ANSI and ISO Standards / Chapter 2
Case Histories discussion.
Brainstorming
Exercise 4 / Reviewing Minor Projects’ progress.
Working on Report
6
Date:
02.22-02.25 / Different Methods of Holding
Mechanical Parts together
Basics of Mechanisms: Pulley Systems
Midterm Test Review / Working on ProjectMinor project is due on Lab IIMinor Projects’ Demonstration
7
Date:
02.28-03.04 / Design Phase II:Problem Formulation.
Structuring the Search for the Problem.
The Dangers of Misdirected Search
Homework: Textbook, Chapter 3, pgs 88-108
Team Assignments: Chapter3, Case Histories / Midterm Test
Team brainstorming on design need / Major project ideas’
Discussion
Major Project Assigned.
8
Date:
03.14-03.18 / Structuring the Search for a Solution
Design Goals.
Specifications.
Acquiring Technical Knowledge. Patents
Homework: Textbook, Chapter 4, pgs.115-137 /
Chapter 3
Case Histories
Discussion
Brainstorming, Exercise 5 /
Major Project’s
Schedule
Patent Search.
Needs Assessment.
Problem Formulation
9
Date:
03.21-03.25 / Design Phase III:Abstraction and Synthesis.
Generating Different Solutions.
Barriers to Synthesis
Homework: Textbook, Chapters 6 & 7
Team Assignments: Chapter 6,7Case Histories
Basics of Mechanisms: Lifting Systems / Chapter 4 & 5
Case Histories Discussion
Creative Thinking,
Brainstorming, Exercise 6 / Meeting with Groups
To Review Major Projects’ progress.
Alternative Designs are due
10
Date:
03.28-04.01 / Design Phase IV: Design Analysis.
Evaluating Alternative Designs.
Economic Analysis & Decision Matrix.
Homework: Textbook, Chapter 10
pg. 403-422
Team Assignments: Chapter10, Case Histories / Chapter 6 & 7
Case Histories Discussion
Creative Thinking,
Brainstorming,
Exercise 7 /
Reviewing Major Projects progress.
Decision Matrix.
Working on Report
11
Date:
04.04-04.08 / Design Phase V: Implementation.
Transforming a Design into Reality
Design for Manufacturing and
Design for Assembly
Homework: Textbook, Chapters 11,
pg. 429-469
Team Assignments: Chapter11, Case Histories / Chapter 10
Case Histories Discussion
Creative Thinking,
Brainstorming,
Exercise 8 /
Reviewing Major Projects progress
Working on Report
12
Date:
04.11-04.15 /
Hazard Analysis and Failure Analysis
Avoidance of Hazards
Ethics and Product Liability
Personal Awareness and Responsibility
Homework: Textbook, Chapter 8 & 9,
pg. 315-380 / Working on Major Project Report,Written Presentation

Reviewing Major Projects’ progress.

13
Date:
04.19-04.22 / Ergonomics
Textbook, pg. 138-155
Working on Major Project drawings.Written Presentation

Reviewing Major Projects’ progress.

/ Working on Major Project drawings.Written Presentation

Reviewing Major Projects’ progress.

14
04.25-04.29 / Major Project Presentations
Preparation / Major Project Presentations
Final Reports due

* The instructor reserves the right to modify the course assignments as deemed necessary. Also note that there is a weekly quiz in this course, covering lecture and text materials. The quiz could be given in either lecture or lab period.