Host: The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers
Name : [in Japanese]
Date : September 11, 2022 - September 14, 2022
The ability to achieve the optimum design based on specifications is a skill that should be trained in mechanical engineering education. We have developed an engineering educational scheme for designing, creating, and evaluating via the spontaneous participation of students themselves. The most significant feature is to provide experiences such as machining for creating “real (not virtual)” parts to assemble and form real products on one’s hand. Achievement of this goal needs to encourage students to repeat the design cycle to avoid any mistakes in the final products. In the recent case, we took a smartphone stand as the targeted subject and the instructors provided the specifications to third-year undergraduate students at Department of Mechanical Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology. Students designed and analyzed with 3D CAD and created component drawings. Through the analyses (e.g. evaluating stress distribution and entire shape deformation) of the suggested design, they evaluated the feasibility of their design. If not satisfied, they were encouraged to modify in 3D-CAD and then analyze again. Repeating this cycle, students learned the process of optimization of the design, which is often experienced in the real manufacturing process. Once the shape of the parts was finalized, students transferred their CAD design to a laser cutter to cut cardboard, then assembled all to have the final product. The assembled product was then evaluated through the application of the load (for instance) to check whether the product fulfills the specifications. If not, they shall consider an alternative way and propose the idea for the second round of revision,. Such ideas were summarized in their reports to submit to the instructors on the final day of the class. Entire achievements of designing, creating, and evaluating were graded with oral presentations and submitted materials like reports. Adopting the repetitive cycle learning method as above, the students developed their CAD, CAM, and CAE skills while improving their ability to achieve the optimum design based on specifications.
