Mechanical Design Methodology and Product Development, 6 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• Mechanical Engineering, M Sc in Engineering

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of engineering materials, mechanics, solid mechanics, physics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and production engineering.

Intended learning outcomes

The course is an introductory course to general design methodology for mechanical engineering problems. After completing the course, students should be able to:

• Tackling minor technical problems in a systematic manner using general design methodology from requirements through concept selection and layout to physical prototype.
• Describe and explain the mechanical design process.
• Describe the concepts of functional, technical principle and technical solution / mean.
• Describe and explain existing technical systems / products in terms of the above.
• Make a simple plausibility assessment and design a technical solution in relation to actual requirements and boundary conditions by applying previously acquired knowledge in mechanics, solid mechanics, thermodynamics and fluid mechanics.
• In small groups perform and both orally and in a written report present design tasks where the above theoretical targets apply.
• Describe some basic design principles for sustainability and environmental friendly development (the Hannover Principles).

Course content

• Product development
• The design process and the engineering designer's role
• Types of mechanical design problems
• Group work and project planning
• Problem analysis and specification
• Concept generation, including functional analysis and solution generation
• Concept evaluation
• Layout design
• Detailed design and drawings
• DFM (Design for Manufacturing)
• DFE (Design for the Environment)
• Report writing and oral presentation 
   

Teaching and working methods

The course lasts throughout the spring semester and is organized in a series of lectures and two compulsory projects. The lecture series, focusing first study period, introduces and explains the parts of the design methodology from a theoretical perspective. The theoretical part is examined by a written examination. The design assignments are implemented in practice in small groups of 4-5 students in parallel with the lectures. The first project focuses on concept generation and is relatively open in terms of choice of solutions. This task will result in a very simple demonstration prototype. The second task is focused on the redesign of an existing concept and will go all the way to a fully working function prototype. The prototype will be manufactured using IEI's mechanical workshop. Thus, the task also includes layout and detail engineering as well as the development of drawings which are important elements in the engineering work. The first task should be presented in a report. The second task is recognized by submissions during the project and a final oral presentation.
 

Examination

Grades

Department

Director of Studies or equivalent

Examiner

Education components

Course literature