Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design Course
Timeline
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September 20, 2020Experience start
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September 22, 2020Initial Client Meeting
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October 30, 2020Project Plan Report
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December 1, 2020Final Design Selection Meeting
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January 26, 2021Interim Technical Review (ITR)
-
March 13, 2021Final Report
-
April 8, 2021Experience end
Timeline
-
September 20, 2020Experience start
-
September 22, 2020Initial Client Meeting
This initial meeting with the client is to help the students understand the design problem, the scope of the project, the deliverables, and the objectives and constraints. Topics that may be discussed include budget, arranging a site visit, safety, codes and standards, etc.
-
October 30, 2020Project Plan Report
Each design group submits a Project Plan Report to the course coordinator, their faculty advisor, and their client. The Project Plan Report will be discussed with the client and will form the terms of reference that will govern the conduct of the design group.
-
December 1, 2020Final Design Selection Meeting
The design group presents several design alternatives to the client and proposes a final design solution. The client reviews the different alternatives and approves the final design solution. Students can now begin detail design work and analysis on this proposed solution.
-
January 26, 2021Interim Technical Review (ITR)
The design group presents the detailed technical content of their project to a panel comprised of faculty, staff, and engineers from industry. This is followed by an extended question-and-answer period that focuses on probing the depth and breadth of the design work and engineering analysis.
-
March 13, 2021Final Report
The final design report is submitted to the client, course coordinator, and faculty advisor.
-
March 19, 2021Design Expo/Final Presentation
Design groups display their final designs in a trade show format attended by faculty, staff, students, clients, and the general public.
-
April 8, 2021Client Review
At an exit meeting with the students and their faculty advisor, a review is made by the client to assess the overall conduct and performance of the design group, including how well the solution fits the client’s needs.
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April 8, 2021Experience end
Categories
Product or service launchSkills
mechanical engineering design engineering analysis solid modelling prototyping technical communicationThis course is the capstone design class for the Mechanical Engineering program, focusing on the synthesis and design of mechanical engineering components and systems. Students work in groups as design teams to solve engineering design problems for companies and not-for-profits. Each design group has four students and is assigned a faculty advisor to guide their progress.
This is a two-term course spanning from September 2020 to April 2021. Companies submit project proposals in July and August. The course begins in September and concludes in April. During this time, the group works with their company to set objectives, determine the scope of the work, evaluate potential design options, and develop a solution that meet's the company's needs. Design groups will search the literature, brainstorm design alternatives, analyze and test the promising alternatives, build and test models, simulate processes, and estimate costs.
Companies benefit from the efforts of a young, eager, technically competent group of 4th-year mechanical engineering students dedicated to help solve a tangible engineering problem. You are given an opportunity to investigate the feasibility of a new design, process or method of production, for minimal cost.
Design groups will typically provide the company with:
- Engineering drawings and solid models
- Bill of materials
- Cost analysis
- Assembly instructions
- Design calculations and the results of any engineering analysis (such as from finite element analysis software)
- Working prototype or proof-of-concept model
- Final report
Project timeline
-
September 20, 2020Experience start
-
September 22, 2020Initial Client Meeting
-
October 30, 2020Project Plan Report
-
December 1, 2020Final Design Selection Meeting
-
January 26, 2021Interim Technical Review (ITR)
-
March 13, 2021Final Report
-
April 8, 2021Experience end
Timeline
-
September 20, 2020Experience start
-
September 22, 2020Initial Client Meeting
This initial meeting with the client is to help the students understand the design problem, the scope of the project, the deliverables, and the objectives and constraints. Topics that may be discussed include budget, arranging a site visit, safety, codes and standards, etc.
-
October 30, 2020Project Plan Report
Each design group submits a Project Plan Report to the course coordinator, their faculty advisor, and their client. The Project Plan Report will be discussed with the client and will form the terms of reference that will govern the conduct of the design group.
-
December 1, 2020Final Design Selection Meeting
The design group presents several design alternatives to the client and proposes a final design solution. The client reviews the different alternatives and approves the final design solution. Students can now begin detail design work and analysis on this proposed solution.
-
January 26, 2021Interim Technical Review (ITR)
The design group presents the detailed technical content of their project to a panel comprised of faculty, staff, and engineers from industry. This is followed by an extended question-and-answer period that focuses on probing the depth and breadth of the design work and engineering analysis.
-
March 13, 2021Final Report
The final design report is submitted to the client, course coordinator, and faculty advisor.
-
March 19, 2021Design Expo/Final Presentation
Design groups display their final designs in a trade show format attended by faculty, staff, students, clients, and the general public.
-
April 8, 2021Client Review
At an exit meeting with the students and their faculty advisor, a review is made by the client to assess the overall conduct and performance of the design group, including how well the solution fits the client’s needs.
-
April 8, 2021Experience end
Project Examples
The nature and scope of the project will depend on your company’s needs. Here are examples of previous work accomplished by our students:
- Ultra-low-cost biomass stove (for an NGO in Uganda)
- Grain drying system using a refrigeration cycle (for an engineering firm in Alberta)
- Self-retracting rain spout (for an entrepreneur in Saskatchewan)
- Industrial lifting device (for a mining engineering consulting firm in Saskatchewan)
- Low-tech intravenous (IV) pump (for an NGO in Mozambique)
- Portable rail car fall protection system (for an engineering firm in Saskatchewan)
- Automated sand blasting system for storage tanks (for a manufacturer in Alberta)
- Dual-purpose harrow for a cultivator (for an agricultural equipment manufacturer in Saskatchewan)
- Grand piano rotation and storage device (for a theatre in Saskatchewan)
- Bolt-on rear impact guard for a semi-trailer (for a manufacturer in Saskatchewan)
- Aerodynamic improvement of a camping trailer (for a manufacturer in British Columbia)
- Pesticide sprayer for small plots (for a university research group)
- Cuttings control for a jet bore system (for a mining company in Saskatchewan)
- Sliding door mechanism for EMS vehicles (for a manufacturer in Saskatchewan)
Companies must answer the following questions to submit a match request to this experience:
Be available for a quick phone call with the course coordinator to initiate your relationship and confirm your scope is an appropriate fit for the course.
Provide a dedicated contact who is available to answer periodic emails or phone calls over the duration of the project to address students' questions.
Be willing to host a site visit (if appropriate or feasible) and consider covering the costs of manufacturing a prototype (if required).
Timeline
-
September 20, 2020Experience start
-
September 22, 2020Initial Client Meeting
-
October 30, 2020Project Plan Report
-
December 1, 2020Final Design Selection Meeting
-
January 26, 2021Interim Technical Review (ITR)
-
March 13, 2021Final Report
-
April 8, 2021Experience end
Timeline
-
September 20, 2020Experience start
-
September 22, 2020Initial Client Meeting
This initial meeting with the client is to help the students understand the design problem, the scope of the project, the deliverables, and the objectives and constraints. Topics that may be discussed include budget, arranging a site visit, safety, codes and standards, etc.
-
October 30, 2020Project Plan Report
Each design group submits a Project Plan Report to the course coordinator, their faculty advisor, and their client. The Project Plan Report will be discussed with the client and will form the terms of reference that will govern the conduct of the design group.
-
December 1, 2020Final Design Selection Meeting
The design group presents several design alternatives to the client and proposes a final design solution. The client reviews the different alternatives and approves the final design solution. Students can now begin detail design work and analysis on this proposed solution.
-
January 26, 2021Interim Technical Review (ITR)
The design group presents the detailed technical content of their project to a panel comprised of faculty, staff, and engineers from industry. This is followed by an extended question-and-answer period that focuses on probing the depth and breadth of the design work and engineering analysis.
-
March 13, 2021Final Report
The final design report is submitted to the client, course coordinator, and faculty advisor.
-
March 19, 2021Design Expo/Final Presentation
Design groups display their final designs in a trade show format attended by faculty, staff, students, clients, and the general public.
-
April 8, 2021Client Review
At an exit meeting with the students and their faculty advisor, a review is made by the client to assess the overall conduct and performance of the design group, including how well the solution fits the client’s needs.
-
April 8, 2021Experience end