Proposal for mechanical design education by considering the design process of model Stirling engines

(Importance of learning from analysis to manufacturing technology as a skill set)

Abstract

The author attempted to extract important elements for mechanical design education by considering the design process. As the results of considering the design process of the model Stirling engines that the author has developed, it was noticed that the final design was found by moving back and forth among analysis, idea generation, modeling, and manufacturing technology. It was also confirmed that this design process is not limited to model Stirling engines, but the designs proceeded through similar processes in other development cases as well. Based on these considerations, it is desired that the design process from analysis to manufacturing technology should be conducted as a process, and it is also desired to teach these as a skill set in mechanical design education. As an example of this approach, the Stirling engine exercise in Depertment of Mechanical Engineering in the University of Tokyo is introduced.