Mechanical concept design Problem solving with 15 projects

Name: Mechanical concept design Problem solving with 15 projects
Rating: 4.3 (258 reviews)

A project based course showcasing a framework to solve mechanical design engineering problems

Created byMufaddal Rasheed

Last updated 12/2022

English

English [Auto],Korean [Auto],

What you'll learn

How to formulate a problem into a logical framework to improve problem solving
How to select concepts based on criteria
The Concept development process within the larger product development
Multiple examples to develop problem solving through practice

Course content

4 sections • 34 lectures • 4h 25m total length

Engineering Design process9:13
Define the problem thoroughly to anchor the engineering design process, then conduct background research, specify requirements, brainstorm concepts, prototype and test, and iterate toward implementation and communication of results.
Types of Mechanical end products12:24
Trace the evolution of mechanical end products from the wheel to cars, robots, and medical devices. Classify them by technology—pure mechanical, electromechanical, and mechatronic—and by primary function.
Problem decomposition from product to system to component level8:01
Learn how mechanical design solves product requirements from the voice of the customer by decomposing products into system and component design problems, then integrating the final solution.
Structures and Mechanisms in Mechanical systems7:28
Identify the two fundamental building blocks of mechanical design—structures and mechanisms—and learn to decompose systems into static load-bearing elements and moving link mechanisms for easier analysis and integration.
Types of Design problems3:02
Explore three levels of mechanical design problems: conceptualization, analysis and improvement, and manufacturability. Learn how brainstorming, validation, strength and safety analyses, and ease of assembly shape final designs.

Structured Problem solving - Part 110:35
Follow a structured mechanical design problem-solving process from problem definition to concept generation, defining functional requirements, inputs, constraints, and generating concepts via sketches and cad.
Structured Problem solving - Part 211:22
Generate concepts from rough sketches to cad models, then evaluate and iteratively refine under safety, durability, and manufacturing and assembly constraints, balancing creativity with analytical methods and prototyping.
Definition of Function - Functional keywords7:41
Define core functional requirements for a mechanical design using keywords like bear weight, move, isolate, mount, and measure, then prioritize safety and other constraints for an optimal design.
ICF Framework for Problem Definition and Formulation8:31
Defines the three-part icf framework for solving mechanical design problems: input information, design constraints, and design freedom. It highlights environment, loads, materials, interfaces, design space, and geometry as controllable variables.
What is Concept Evaluation ? Levels of concept Evaluation9:09
Concept Selection4:47
Compare concepts with a reference concept and the selection matrix, evaluating criteria such as lightweight, stiffness, strength, manufacturing complexity, tooling costs, dimensional accuracy, and assembly to select the superior concept.
Manufacturing and Assembly considerations in Preliminary design7:04
Design concepts must satisfy manufacturing and assembly constraints to be practical and cost-effective. Use concurrent engineering to merge function with design for manufacturability and ease of assembly from the outset.
Designing with Assembly in mind - Practices7:51
Design with assembly in mind by reducing parts, simplifying assembly, and ensuring access for fastening; embed self-alignment features and locating tabs to ease orientation, while integrating threads to minimize fasteners.
Summary and Action Items5:00

Introduction to Projects1:30
Explore case-by-case design problems using a framework to generate concepts, evaluate them, and select using a concept selection matrix, with downloadable input project files for practice.
Design of L bracket9:58
Design an l bracket to mount a component on a frame via two side members and mounting holes, using sheet-metal mild-steel and evaluate weight, stiffness, and strength.
Designing of Lighting mount14:36
Design a removable mounting bracket to rigidly clamp two lighting panels onto a pole, using mounting holes and clamp force. Compare sheet metal and aluminum concepts with a selection matrix.
Design of Welded Outrigger component13:33
Design a welded body mount outrigger bracket to rigidly mount the body insulator to the frame side member, evaluating stiffness and strength under 2000 newtons loads.
Design of Fastened Outrigger component4:54
Evaluate fastened outriggers by contrasting a four-hole sheet-metal bracket with an aluminum solid bracket to achieve a rigid body mount under 2000 N, considering strength and FOS.
Design of a Bell Crank lever in a system8:56
design a bell crank lever in a pushrod suspension to convert vertical pushrod motion to horizontal shock absorber motion, evaluating casted versus sheet metal concepts under 1000–2000 N loads.
Design of a Quick Fit Assembly4:42
Design a push snap fit assembly that locks a panel into a hollow tube without fasteners, using a spring-loaded puppet to engage a rectangular hole for easy disassembly.
Design of Idle Pulley and Tensioning system13:10
Design an ideal idle pulley tensioner to maintain belt tension, using a spring-loaded adjustable idler that compensates belt slack and preserves power transmission.
Design of Enclosure with Simultaneous motion9:24
Convert the enclosure rotation into a 21 mm linear lift of the enclosed part using a rack and pinion, achieving simultaneous motion as the halves rotate 80 degrees.
Design of Simple Caster wheel with Spring Suspension8:39
Design a simple caster wheel with spring suspension to isolate wheel vibrations from the frame using a swingarm concept, preserving mounting points and bearing location while allowing articulation.
Design of T- Gripper For workpiece8:50
Design a t-shaped internal gripper that converts vertical shaft motion into outward horizontal clamping of a workpiece, using a wedge mechanism within a compact bearing housing.
Design of Articulating Microphone mount7:05
Design an articulating overhead microphone mount that clamps to the shelf, uses two linkages and pin joints, and a spring-loaded mic holder to raise and drop the mic.
Design of 3 Jaw Gripper for Cylindrical workpiece7:13
Design a three-jaw gripper for a cylindrical workpiece that converts input rod motion into synchronized jaw clamping with a controlled force, inspired by umbrella mechanisms in planar and spatial variants.
Design of system for motion of Reciprocating Blades8:28
Design a mechanism that converts a motor's rotary input into opposing reciprocating motion of two blades, using bevel gears, a crank linkage, and a sliding guide within a packaged assembly.
Design of Steering system mechanism10:22
Design a steering mechanism that converts motor rotary motion to wheel steering using a rack and pinion, linking a motor-driven pinion to a rack, knuckle, and steering arms.
Design of Blank Piercing Manual device7:07
Designs a hand-operated blank piercing device using a four-bar link mechanism to punch a rectangular hole in tin sheet, amplifying user effort with a slider punch.

Practice Exercise 1 - Post clamp mount bracket3:07
Practice exercise guides you to design a post clamp mount bracket that interfaces with a clamp and fixed members, resisting a 1000 newton vertical load within a 300 gram limit.
Practice Exercise 2 - Steering Column mounting bracket system3:14
Design a lightweight sheet metal mounting bracket to weld the steering column assembly to the cross car beam, developing concepts, sketching, and validating sheet metal manufacturing feasibility in computer-aided design.
Practice Exercise 3 : Rear Footstep mount3:57
Design a mounting bracket to attach the rear footstep to the cross member on a ladder frame, considering a 3000-newton vertical load and an assembly from the bottom.
Practice Exercise 4 : Double Wiper Mechanism4:50
Design a complete mechanism and mounting package that transfers motor rotation to two wipers, achieving a 75-degree oscillation within the fixed mounting frame.

Requirements

Familiarity with using CAD to create models
Engineering basics - Mechanical engineering

Description

Creativity combined with practical well engineered design is the fuel for innovation .

Mechanical design engineering - the profession of creating and analyzing systems which do useful physical work is based on the "Conceptualization of Systems" . Problem solving skills are most sought after in engineers beyond just CAD and tool focused skills.

This course is all about the conceptualization of mechanical designs.

Focusing on the Design Process and elaborating a thought process which can be applied in action during solving Mechanical design problems.

Multiple projects are covered which give a wide and also in depth look at Concept development activity .

Who is it for?

- Mechanical Design engineers working in industry , to improve their conceptualization skills and problem solving skills

- Engineering students to work on challenging projects going beyond the basics of Engineering to Practical problem solving.

Pre-requisites ?

- Familiarity with usage of CAD packages (any)

- Familiarity with basic engineering concepts

What are the Learning outcomes?

- An action focused procedure to breakdown a design problem and define it for developing a solution

- Develop a Concept generation skill through practice

How best to utilize the course?

- Practice and more practice - There are multiple projects included in the course which challenge thinking and with deliberate practice will improve conceptualization skills.

This course focusses on "conceptual problem solving" rather than the accuracy and precision of complete product design . The concepts developed may not be optimal . The reason why input files are provided are to encourage alternative concepts and ideas.

Who this course is for:

Practicing design engineers who want to upskill and enhance their conceptual skills
Aspirant mechanical engineers looking to get a headstart
Product developers or designers who want to design mechanical systems to solve problems

Mechanical concept design Problem solving with 15 projects

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction5 lectures • 40min

Structured Problem Solving framework for a design problem9 lectures • 1hr 12min

Concept Development Projects -16 lectures • 2hr 18min

Practice Projects4 lectures • 15min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: