ME489 – Mechanical Engineering Design I (3 Credit Hours)

Course Description: Introduction to concepts and techniques of engineering design, with supporting mathematical material. Guest lecturers present professional aspects of engineering. The Capstone Design Project is begun and carried on through ME 490 (ME 489 and ME 490 are taken in consecutive semesters).

Course Instructors: This course is typically taught by the following instructors:

• Dr. Beth Todd
• Dr. Joey Parker
• Dr. Steve Kavanaugh

Sample Syllabus: A sample syllabus indicative of that typically used in the course can be found here.

Pre-Requisite Skills: Students entering this course are expected to have mastered the following skills:

• ME 350 – Static Machine Design
• Design a simple device on paper
• Analyze and design a power screw
• Analyze primary and secondary load for and design a bolt group
• Analyze and design a weld loaded in torsion or in bending

Co-Requisite Skills: Students taking this course are expected to be enrolled (or to have taken) courses that teach students the following skills:

• ME 415 – Thermal Systems
• Calculate flow rates and head loss in piping networks
• Calculate effectiveness for common heat exchanger types
• Calculate pump performance and analyze flow systems that utilize pumps

Course Objectives: Students who successfully complete this course can be expected to:

• Use the engineering design process to successfully complete an eight-week, team-based, competitive design project; (o)
• Identify and utilize real world constraints such as the American Disabilities Act and societal issues that impact engineering design and product realization (h).
• Use brainstorming, "brain writing," and other concept generation tools to develop the goals, objectives, constraints, and preliminary concepts for the project; (c)
• Use Quality Function Deployment, the "House of Quality," and Pugh charts to organize select the best design alternatives; (c)
• Develop the interdisciplinary teaming (working with shop, customers, clients and other individuals or groups) , leadership, and time management skills necessary for the design project; (d)
• Develop oral communication skills by preparing and delivering a project status report and presentation; (g)
• Develop written communication skills by preparing weekly project status memos to fellow team members and the course instructor; (g)
• Prepare engineering drawings, parts lists, and other documentation for your final design; (k)
• Present the results of the design project to three different audiences: clients, shop and engineering staff, and a faculty jury; (g)
• Calculate the net present worth (or annual equivalent value) of a series of present, future, annual, and gradient payments and/or disbursements; (e)
• Apply the NSPE Canon of Professional Responsibility to case studies in engineering ethics; (f)
• Write a team proposal for next semester's ME 490 project: (g)
  • Develop a valid problem statement that accurately addresses the client's needs,
  • Identify, research and contact sources of information that address the nature and scope of the problem being addressed,
  • Conduct a preliminary economic assessment (if appropriate) of the costs and benefits for the project,
  • Outline a planned schedule of activities that will lead to a solution of the client's problem.

Sample Examinations: Examples of Examinations given in this course can be found here.

Downstream Users: This course serves as a pre-requisite to the following courses at The University of Alabama:

• ME 490 – Mechanical Engineering Design II