AME412B: Mechanical Engineering Design
Spring 2008
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For project Webside click here
Sponsor: Professor Lesley Wright
Faculty Advisor: Professor Lesley Wright
Nayan Bhakta (nbhakta@email.arizona.edu)
Kevin Alber (kalber@email.arizona.edu)
Chris Beard (csbeard@email.arizona.edu)
Ilan Metcalf (imetcalf@email.arizona.edu)
Bradley Romanchuk (bromanch@email.arizona.edu)
Project Description:
The team must design and fabricate a rig that will ultimately be used to experimentally investigate the effect of rotation on gas turbine blade cooling. The mainstream air entering the turbine section of a gas turbine engine can approach 3500-degF; because this exceeds the melting point of most alloys, the turbine components must be cooled. It is desired to have a facility which will allow various cooling designs to be tested in a laboratory environment.
Safety of the rotating rig is paramount, so the team must demonstrate extremely low probability of failure, and the rig must be contained in the event failure does occur.
As the rig will not be rotating at engine speeds, it must adequately model non-dimensional engine conditions. As the rig will be used to study the effect of rotation on internal cooling passages, the important non-dimensional parameters include Reynolds number, rotation number, and the buoyancy parameter. The team is NOT required to design a specific test channel, but the rig must be capable of facilitating a variety of channels for future studies.
Because the rig will be used to study the effect of rotation, the signals from measurement devices must be transmitted from a rotating frame to a non-rotating frame. In addition, coolant must be supplied to the rotating channel from a stationary from to a rotating frame.
The rotational speed of the test channel should be varied to cover the desired range of rotation numbers.
The team must demonstrate the ability of the rig of function of the range of rotational speeds. The rig must be balanced, and signals must be transmitted from the rotating frame to the non-rotating frame.
The fabricated rig will be capable of modeling gas turbines under advanced engine conditions which are typical of modern power generation turbines.
Documents:
For Project Webside click here
Sponsor: Ventana Medical Systems
Faculty Advisor: Professor Robert Erdmann
Ashley Marie Stevenson (astevens@email.arizona.edu)
Blain Matthew Chappell (blainc@email.arizona.edu)
Jeffrey Alan Hanson (jhanson1@email.arizona.edu)
Gregory James Horton (ghorton@email.arizona.edu)
Project Description
A continuous liquid level sensor to measure all kinds of fluids including DI, ionic and non-ionic aqueous, alcohols, limonene, Norpar, and the full range of pH. Needs to produce an analog output. Needs to cost under $100 each to manufacture in 1000 pc quantities, and less if possible. Key deliverable at end of project involves a fully functional prototype capable of sensing changes in level on the order of millimeters regardless of reservoir cross sectional area.
Projects are managed through VMSI R&D Engineering. Students are given freedom and encouraged to be creative. As part of our R&D team, the students will have access to our mechanical, electrical, chemical, & software engineers for consultation. We meet weekly at our facility for the first semester, every other week during the second semester. Traditionally we closely monitor and control purchases, steering students away from expensive options. This year, a budget may be enforced and would be communicated at the first meeting. We STRONGLY encourage teams to fabricate as much as possible by themselves in order to get the experience, not to keep costs down. Parts too complicated will be made professionally for printed using our 3D printing equipment.
Documents:
For Project Webside click here
Sponsor: W.L. Gore and Assoc.
Faculty Advisor: Professor Jonathan Vande Geest
Faisal Ghazi Alsarraj (@email.arizona.edu)
Martin Bours (@email.arizona.edu)
Nathan Dahl (@email.arizona.edu)
Tiffany Hendrickson (@email.arizona.edu)
Project Description:
Several of our medical devices are delivered via a catheter. The hub section of the catheter is used to deploy the device. The catheter hub assembly includes the following components; 1) Y-arm, 2) female luer lock, 3) knob, and 4) deployment line.
The scope of this project is to design and build an automated catheter hub assembler. This includes two adhesive application steps and two ultra violet (UV) curing steps. The adhesive dispenser and UV curing station are off the shelf parts that will be available to the group during the design process. The team is responsible for designing the process and building the mechanisms to apply and cure adhesive to controlled specifications.
Documents:
Problem Statement and Definition Report
Midterm Progress Report
For project Webside click here
Sponsor: Sargent Controls and Aerospace (Kahr Bearing Division)
Faculty Advisor: Professor Roberto Furfaro
Mauricio Valenzuela (@email.arizona.edu)
Rober Cisneroz(@email.arizona.edu)
Mark Donnelly (@email.arizona.edu)
Eric Dunemn(@email.arizona.edu)
Sean Paul Van Gaal(@email.arizona.edu)
Project Description:
Spherical bearings are specified by several characteristics: OD, ID, ball width, race width and torque or clearance. Sizes are easily attained through machining operations on CNC equipment. Torque and radial clearance are not so easily attained.
During the production of spherical plain bearings, a cylindrical race is swaged around a spherical ball. The swaging operation cold forms the cylindrical race around the ball. The deformed race is then machined back into cylindrical form on the OD to facilitate the roll release process. The roll release process currently consists of placing the assembly on two rolling cylinders and applying pressure through another cylinder centered above. The part is then rolled for a given time period at a given pressure to achieve the desired torque or radial clearance.
This process is manual, from the pressure application (using a manual pressure regulator) to the time of pressure application (operator counts time or rotations). The combination of pressure and time is also determined by the operator since many combinations of the two inputs can achieve the desired output. What SC&A needs is an apparatus that would apply a given amount of pressure for a desired number of revolutions, both of which would be input into the apparatus by the operator. The pressure must be applied evenly at a controlled rate. The rotational speed must be controlled as must the number of revolutions prior to pressure being released. Finally, a process must be developed to determine the optimum speed/pressure/count combination to optimize production output while ensuring repeatability is not compromised. This project will utilize typical Mechanical Engineering skills such as strength of materials, controls, materials selection as well as budget and time management. Building of the apparatus will require skills such as machining, welding, wiring and component selection.
Documents:
For project Webside click here
Sponsor: Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department, U of A
Faculty Advisor: Professor Cho Lik Chan and Professor Peiwen Li
Greg Barry (@email.arizona.edu)
Sergio Castellanos (@email.arizona.edu)
Kevin Ho (@email.arizona.edu)
Carlos Villegas(@email.arizona.edu)
Jason Kuhn (@email.arizona.edu)
Andre Leon (@email.arizona.edu)
Project Description:
The team will model, design, construct, and test a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) power generation system. The sub-components to be designed and constructed are solar absorption unit, flow channel, and magneto-electrical harvesting unit. The team will bring the finished prototype to Washington D.C. to compete in the annual P3: People, Prosperity and the Planet Student Design Competition for Sustainability organized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Project Summary:
According to the Faraday's Law of Induction, electricity can be produced by flowing conductive fluid through a permanent magnetic field. The fluid circulation in an annulus is caused by natural convection due to solar heating. This is a novel idea of converting solar energy to electrical energy. Disciplines involved in the development of the prototype power generator will include: magentohydrodynamics, solar energy collection, natural convective heat transfer, flow instability and control. The project is intrinsically multi-physics and multi-disciplinary. Students will have hands-on experience of design, optimization, and manufacturing of innovative energy systems for sustainability of environment and economy.
Documents:
Problem Statement and Definition Report
For Project Webside click here
Sponsor: The Center for Gamma Ray Imaging
Faculty Advisor: Professor Irwin Freundlich
Hugo Casahonda (@email.arizona.edu)
Ralph Foree(@email.arizona.edu)
Tara Maggiano (@email.arizona.edu)
Napat Pootrakul (@email.arizona.edu)
Project Description:
Design a motorized camera positioning system within an existing SPECT imaging system. This camera positioning device will transform our FastSPECT II imager into an adaptive imaging system. An adaptive imaging system is one that adjusts its configuration according to the object being imaged in order to best perform a set task. The Center for Gamma-Ray Imaging is pioneering the development of adaptive imaging systems and procedures. This motorized update to FastSPECT II will make it a key component in validating the paradigm shift to adaptive imaging.
Key Specs: Clever mechanical design skills will be required to fit the motorized system into the existing structure. Access to a solid modeling program will be needed. The positioning system must be able to "lock in" to a minimum of 3 different camera positions (magnifications) and do so accurately and repeatably. The overall range of travel of the camera is 6 inches. Smooth motion is desired. A flexible camera mounting interface to accommodate future camera designs is also desired.
Documents:
Problem Statement and Definition Report
Midterm Progress Report
For Project Webside click here
Sponsor: Ventana Medical System, Inc.
Faculty Advisor: Professor Ara Arabyan
Rick Collazo(@email.arizona.edu)
Garret Boos (@email.arizona.edu)
Maria Chavez (@email.arizona.edu)
Orlando Ruiz (@email.arizona.edu)
Project Description:
This project involves a system to assist the assembly of the lower half of a Symphony Staining Instrument. The lower half is a sheet metal frame, approx. the size of half a common household refrigerator. The frame is currently supported by a cart similar to a simple pallet jack to allow for vertical movement and the ability to roll. We would like to design a new cart which holds the frame, moves it vertically, and rotates it, and allows for it to be wheeled around. Additionally, the cart must interface with a flexible (non linear) transportation system which is driven at a adjustable pace. The overall system must be easily reconfigured for different floor layouts. This system will ultimately be used to ease the assembly of the lower frame, while also setting the pace for the entire Symphony production. Different carts may be designed later to utilize the transportation system.
Projects are managed through VMSI R&D Engineering. Students are given freedom and encouraged to be creative. As part of our R&D team, the students will have access to our mechanical, electrical, chemical, & software engineers for consultation. We meet weekly at our facility for the first semester, every other week during the second semester. Traditionally we closely monitor and control purchases, steering students away from expensive options. This year, a budget may be enforced and would be communicated at the first meeting. We STRONGLY encourage teams to fabricate as much as possible by themselves in order to get the experience, not to keep costs down. Parts too complicated will be made professionally or printed using our 3D printing equipment.
Documents:
For Project Webside click here
Sponsor: Peiwen Li of the UofA AME Dept.
Faculty Advisor: Professor Peiwen Li
Stacy Darris (@email.arizona.edu)
Derek Downey (@email.arizona.edu)
Amy Sopko (@email.arizona.edu)
Kelly Stewart (@email.arizona.edu)
Jeremy Wagoner (@email.arizona.edu)
Project Description:
This project is to develop a system including solar radiation collection, transmission, and radiation-to-heat conversion that allows users to utilize the solar heat with dramatic flexibility and convenience. The project is targeted at making a solar-heated barbeque stove or indoor hot plate for cooking. The conventional concept of using solar heat for cooking is restricted to the scenario that the function of radiation-to-heat conversion is adjacent to the solar concentrator. It is very inconvenient and even unsafe for users to operate the cooking process in front of a solar concentrator outdoors. In the present project, sun light is first concentrated by a large primary concentrator to a smaller area with high energy flux. Energy from the high flux area is then transported up to ten meters where it is used to heat a hot plate or other conventional cooking device. The transport means can be any mechanism, such as optical, hot fluids, etc. While the light concentrating system is placed outdoors, the hot plate or oven is placed indoors and a traditional style of cooking is made possible.
Documents:
For Project Webside click here
Sponsor: Ventana Medical Systems
Faculty Advisor: Professor Cho Lik Chan
Panithan Floyd (panithan@email.arizona.edu)
Daniel Uzarraga Blanco (blanco@email.arizona.edu)
Nathaniel Lucas (macnatty@email.arizona.edu)
Aaron Phillip Coelho (acoelho@email.arizona.edu)
Sara Ann Brickley (brickley@email.arizona.edu)
Project Description:
The Ventana Symphony Staining Instrument manipulates trays of slides by moving them vertically to various processing stations. The "elevator" that moves the tray vertically stops at these stations where a horizontal motion is employed to push/pull the tray into/out of the station(s). Currently, the vertical motion is achieved using a indirectly driven counterweight system. The project proposed is to design a field retrofit-able direct-drive option (eliminate the counterweight) with no backlash and true position feedback. The production version of the proposal must cost at least 20% less than the current design, which will be disclosed later. Key deliverable at end of project involves a fully functional prototype retrofitted into an existing VMSI engineering Symphony instrument.
Projects are managed through VMSI R&D Engineering. Students are given freedom and encouraged to be creative. As part of our R&D team, the students will have access to our mechanical, electrical, chemical, & software engineers for consultation. We meet weekly at our facility for the first semester, every other week during the second semester. Traditionally we closely monitor and control purchases, steering students away from expensive options. This year, a budget may be enforced and would be communicated at the first meeting. We STRONGLY encourage teams to fabricate as much as possible by themselves in order to get the experience, not to keep costs down. Parts too complicated will be made professionally for printed using our 3D printing equipment.
Documents:
Problem Statement and Definition Report
Midterm Oral Presentation
For project Webside click here
Sponsor: Honeywell
Faculty Advisor: Professor Hao Xin
Aaron Noel (anoel@email.arizona.edu)
Mike Martinez (gearhead@email.arizona.edu)
James Evan Witt (jewitt@email.arizona.edu)
Rodney Kremer (rodney.kremer@gmail.com)
Romulo Reyes (reyes3@email.arizona.edu)
Project Description:
A new high-speed reset-able disconnect system is being developed for aerospace application that involves an eddy current braking mechanism. The disconnect system would be utilized on an aircraft to mechanically disconnect an electrical generator from its gearbox drive thus avoiding any proliferation of a failure event in the generator itself. The eddy current braking mechanism is utilized to cause a differential torque between a ball screw and the ball screw nut causing the disconnect to be activated. The main attraction of using such an eddy current braking system is that there are no moving parts that come in contact with one another thus avoiding component wear and the associated debris and part replacement.
At this point, two configurations have been tested with further effort required to refine the concept to reach the target differential torque of 160 in-lbf. The object of the project is to investigate magnet and disc arrangement in the eddy current braking mechanism developing analysis tools, building actual hardware and conducting performance verification testing.
Documents:
Problem Statement and Definition Report
Midterm Oral Presentation
For Project Webside click here
Sponsor: Honeywell
Faculty Advisor: Professor Lesley Wright
Denise Rodriguez (derm@email.arizona.edu)
Zane Brown (zdbrown@email.arizona.edu)
Phillip Grisllo (grisillo@email.arizona.edu)
Daniel Meserve (dmeserve@email.arizona.edu)
Chris Cagle (cagle@email.arizona.edu)
Project Description:
Currently, the gas turbine industry uses correlations for impingement cooling of blades and vanes which were derived under test conditions near ambient temperature, as most thermal correlations are. It is generally assumed than nondimensionalizing this test data makes it relevant to actual operating conditions. Under conditions of realistic very high temperature conditions, this assumption is questionable, and it is unclear how to best use the cold test data. The purpose of this project is to design a test rig/facility which will enable a researcher to later obtain impingement cooling data at large temperature differences between the cooling air and the surface being impinged. Specifically, cooling of the leading edge of a turbine vane or blade will be simulated. The scope will be to design a rig which provides large surface to coolant air temperature differences, and to fabricate most of it. The rig must enable easy changes of key parameters which are at the design disposal of the turbine engineer such that minimal test time is required to build up a design data set. The required instrumentation must be defined and provided for in the design, but not actually installed. The data acquisition system will be defined. Actual testing is outside the scope of the project, but the rig should be nearly ready for subsequent testing by a masters degree student.
Documents:
For Team Webside click here
Sponsor: Professor Jonathan VandeGeest
Faculty Advisor: Professor Jonathan VandeGeest
Jesse J Hibbs (jhibbs@email.arizona.edu)
Kurt Lee Meister (kmeister@email.arizona.edu)
Clay Koevary (claykos@email.arizona.edu)
Megan J Alexander (mjoy@email.arizona.edu)
Winston D. Yu (yuw21@email.arizona.edu)
Jen Watson (jwatson1@email.arizona.edu)
Project Description:
This project involves the design of a prototype patient-specific endovascular graft (PSEVAG) for treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). AAAs are a life threatening disease, as AAA rupture is currently ranked as the 15th leading cause of death in the United States. Endovascular repair (EVAR) was introduced in the early 1990's, and offers AAA patients a less-invasive alternative to the traditional open repair surgery. In this procedure, a stent-graft is crimped into a catheter, inserted into the groin, advanced into the aneurysmal sac, and deployed thus diverting blood away from the aneurysm. Two of the primary failure mechanisms with currently available stent-grafts are endoleak (loss of seal) and migration. It is hypothesized that the development of an endovascular graft which conforms to the patient's specific aortic geometry will decrease the probability of endoleak and migration.
This project involves the conceptual design and fabrication of such a graft using a smart polymeric graft via state of the art molding and 3D printing technologies. Patient specific geometries will be derived from medical image datasets (CT) and used to build a prototype PSEVAG. Design specifications include a PSEVAG which is mechanically robust, clinically functional, and cost efficient.
Student teams will have access to advanced CAD/prototyping facilities, fluid-structure interaction computational modeling, and advanced experimental devices. By the conclusion of this project, the student team should demonstrate the mechanical functionality of the PSEVAG.
Documents:
Problem Statement and Definition Report
Final Design Report
For Project Webside click here
Sponsor: Honeywell
Faculty Advisor: Professor Edward Kerschen
Bryan Booth (@email.arizona.edu)
Adam Drzal (@email.arizona.edu)
Michael Sandquist (@email.arizona.edu)
Sherri Smith (@email.arizona.edu)
Eren Yar (@email.arizona.edu)
Project Description:
An oil deflector is typically a roughly cylindrical aluminum part that is installed over oil spray ports within the rotor assembly of a high speed oil cooled AC aerospace generator. The purpose of the deflector is to evenly distribute the oil to multiple locations radially outward within the rotor assembly. As the industry continues to move toward high power output machines the packaging of the rotor assembly becomes more restricted in size. A low profile oil deflector, meaning that the oil deflector outer diameter and overall size is maintained as close to the rotor shaft as possible, is needed for these more compact rotor assemblies that still performs the designed function of distributing the oil effectively to the desired locations. The deliverable would be an improved design for the oil deflector and a prototype part for the existing 28B555-1 DHC-8 main engine generator.
Documents:
For Project Webside click here
Sponsor: Honeywell
Faculty Advisor: Professor George Frantziskonis
Manuel Vasquez: Team Leader (mpv3@email.arizona.edu)
Decarlo Manuel Rodriguez: Technical Leader (dmr8@email.arizona.edu)
David Mcginty: Finance Lead (davidm1@email.arizona.edu)
Hendrik Petrus Barus: Software Lead (nbarus@email.arizona.edu)
Micah Ivan Davenport: Systems Lead (mid10@email.arizona.edu)
Project Description:
Hairpins are specially formed copper conductors that comprise the majority of the windings on a AC brushless high speed aerospace generator machine. The manufacturing of a hairpin requires bending and forming a copper stock material into the desired shape. Typically many distinct detailed forming steps are performed in series to produce the complex shape which makes speed and uniformity difficult. A manufacturing machine is needed to automate and control the forming steps to increase capacity and reduce variability. Since each generator design typically requires its own hairpin configuration, the manufacturing machine would be most valuable if it could accommodate tool inserts and various operator performed adjustments to manufacture many different configurations. A prototype machine has been built and can manufacture only one hairpin configuration at this time. Refinement and development of greater application of the existing machine can certainly be the baseline of the project. The deliverable would be well illustrated concepts for a multi-hairpin configuration capable manufacturing machine and one set of dies, tool components, and instructions to form a specific hairpin configuration on the prototype machine (existing).
Documents:
For project Webside click here
Sponsor: Floyd Block
Faculty Advisor: Professor Lesley Wright
Russell Joseph Beal (@email.arizona.edu)
Mattieu J Bovee (@email.arizona.edu)
Justin Giacotto (@email.arizona.edu)
Mark D McClellan (@email.arizona.edu)
Rion Arthur Westfall (@email.arizona.edu)
Project Description:
In the desert, Tucson and many other populated areas experience extremely high temperatures that can have negative effects on the life of the batteries that ride under the hood of our vehicles. With advancements in vehicle design of cars, pick-up trucks, SUV's and the like, while becoming more efficient under the hood , the engine compartment has drastically lost the open space it used to have in earlier vehicle models. Cities and suburb areas now have more pavement and concrete than in the past which increases the ambient temperature where vehicles operate on a regular basis. Engines also put off more heat, which when accompanied by the lack of open space and increased ambient temperature is approximately 15-20% more heat under the hood than in vehicle designs in the past. This increase in temperature near the battery has a negative effect on the life of a battery. As prices continue to rise for materials and supplies used in the manufacturing of batteries and when considering the toxicity and disposal of batteries, an engineering design to increase the life of batteries would be extremely beneficial to our economy and environment. A design that would allow for a 20-30 degree decrease on/around the battery would ultimately enable a consumer to receive an extra 10-30% extension on the life of the battery. Batteries that last 4 years could last 5 years in use for example. Deliverables would be a design that could be implemented and modified slightly to fit and adapt to the majority of vehicles on the road. Also, testing and data collection will be completed and presented to determine with less error the real values of extension of battery life. All information will be written up in a single document that could travel with the product explaining clearly the issue and solution. The manner of write up will be consulted with the sponsor and determined in the process of development and in conclusion.
Documents:
