ME 250
is the best class I have taken so far at the University of Michigan. It was actually fun, informative, and we
learned actual skills to use in the field of engineering. I really enjoyed being around so many
engineers and learning from actual experiences.
I feel like I have gained more from this one class that I did in college
so far. During an internship over the
summer, I realized that most of the time engineers don’t use fancy, complicated
equations or crazy differential equations.
Instead you use common sense and the design process to make wise
choices.
In the
design and manufacturing part of this class, I strengthened my knowledge in
many fields. I learned a new CAD
software to some extent, which could be a good resource in the future of my
career. Also, I learned a little more
formally about drawings, manufacturing plans, etc, instead of just learning as I
make mistakes in the field. The coolest
thing about this class was the fact that we actually were able to build
something physically. Instead of just
designing and having someone else construct it, we had to build our machine
with our own two hands. Using the mill
and the lathe in the shop, along with all of the other tools, actually gives
you a sense of what can actually be made in the real world. Instead of designing an impossible part or
tool without knowing how it will be made, we can know some processes that can
make it therefore making the entire process easier on everyone involved.
This
class also taught a lot about leadership, teamwork, and deadlines. In the beginning, our team had a few issues
getting along because of differences in opinion, but at the end we came
together to complete the task at hand. I
don’t feel like there was one true definite leader in our group. We all were
leaders at one point or another even though we had to pick one specific one at
the beginning. I truly believe that this
is what sets the University of Michigan apart from other universities. Everyone here is a leader and has been a
leader throughout their lives. I also learned
that if you want to get something done, you need to set a deadline earlier than
the actual deadline to allow for troubleshooting and adjustments. I noticed a lot of groups just finishing up
on the last day with no real time to test the capabilities of their
machine. This is where I think our group
excelled. We completed the chassis and
drive-train almost 2 weeks ahead of time so we could test. Sure enough, the hex axles that were provided
in the double gearbox were not hard enough to handle the force of the set
screws that kept our axles from spinning.
With a little redneck ingenuity, we were able to cut down Allen wrenches
to replace the axles. Without this, we
would not have come close to getting 3rd place (even though we should have
won).
This
course could be improved by changing the task for the class. Instead of having Balltower every semester,
the students should get to design the course, and choose what type of machine
they want to. It just seemed like we did
the same exact thing as the class last semester and there wasn’t a whole lot of
room to be creative or have an advantage in the competition. Everyone knew every strategy and how to build
a successful machine for each strategy.
Also, I feel like the motors we were provided were a major reason why a
lot of teams' designs failed. The shafts
were too soft and the gears were not very strong. I understand this is an introductory course
so I wasn’t too concerned about the quality of the motors. It was cool however to understand the mechanics
behind an electric motor/gearbox.
I could
have improved in this class by practicing more with the solidworks program, for
that is a useful skill. Also, I could
have improved on our planning of the building of the machine. At the end we had to do a lot of shimming and
fitting so everything would fit together properly. With better tolerance and diligence with the
design, I could have made a machine that fit together perfectly. This is something I will definitely remember
in the future.
I
really had a fun time in this class and mostly with my group members. I feel like we all learned numerous new
skills in manufacturing and we all made new friends. Thanks Beverly, Robin and Joe for the great experience.
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