2.972 Understanding How Things Work

   -35% Final Report   -20% Class Participation/Field Trips   -25% Labs     -20% External Gear Pump/Motor Project

    Learning how some mechanical, hydraulic, and electro-mechanical devices operate.  In lab, you will (in groups) disassemble several machines, then model the operation of each device. Devices which are of particular interest to students, or impractical to disassemble in lab will be examined during field trips and through final reports.  Some of the skills/knowledge you will acquire in 2.972 are:

Skill / Knowledge		How Acquired
Understanding of how many devices operate		Taking a multiplicity of machines apart and using/running them
Ability to learn/determine how things work		Lectures and lab exercises on using functional requirements, geometry, structure, physics, and flow (material, information, energy, etc...) in machines/devices and using these to determine how machines work.
Ability to explain how things work to others		Explaining operation of machines you take apart in your lab write ups and to other students
Ability to create, rotate, translate, and otherwise visualize 3D objects		Sketching the machines/parts and solid modeling some of them
Understanding fo the limiting and dominant physics of many machines		These will be covered in the workshops and you will use them in lab
Understanding of how geometry is linked to and affects performance		Geometric modeling, mathematical modeling, and by making working model(s)
Knowledge of some machine elements and how they are used		You will see a wide variety of machine parts/elements in lab and on field trips

Tuesday
[19]

Lecture:
     » Discuss Course
     » Questionnaire
     » Discuss prizes
     » Functional Requirements
        & Design Parameters
     » Understanding Geometry, Structure,
         Physics, and Flow
     » Sketching Basics
     » Conversion Spread Sheet

Tour:
     » Waterjet and "Take Apart" Lab (9.45 am)

Assignment:  To Read/Research:
     » Lab write ups, final reports, sample report
     » Solid Modeling Introduction (under design tools)
     » Spread Sheets (under design tools)
     » Final projects via web, patents, library

Workshop 1
Conversion Spreadsheet & Sketching Exercises

Understanding:
-Functional Requirements and Design Parameters

These are important, because:

1. Spread Sheets:
-We will be using spreadsheets to do the calculations in most of our labs.

2. Functional Requirements & Design Parameters:
- It is important to realize the whats (functional requirements,) hows (design parameters,) their relation to each other, and their relation to design/performance in general.

3. Sketching:
- You need to be able to sketch for others the geometry and structure of what you are trying to explain.

- You need to to be able to visualize things in your head, flip them, rotate them, etc.. to understand and explain how many things work.

- You will be sketching many parts from the machines you take apart.

Wednesday
[20]

Assignment: Solid Modeling tutorial
     » Learning the SolidWorks™ Interface
     » Extrude, Fillet, Shell, Basic Assemblies, Basic Drawings/Blue Prints

These are important, because:

1. Physics & Flow:
- You need to understand the physics of machines and trace the flow of power, energy, information, and material to understand how things work.

2. Solid Modeling
- You must make the transition from the 2D world to the 3D world.  Building a CAD model forces your mind to think/see in 3D.   This is very  important.  It is very hard to understand/explain how many devices/systems work unless you can visualize them.

By the end of the day you should have:

1. Chosen a final project and have sources
2. OK'd the subject of your final project with me.

Thursday
[21]

Assignment: Solid Modeling tutorial
     » Revolve, Sweep, Loft
     » Making DXF files for the Waterjet

Tour:
     » Aero-E Department Wind Tunnels (3.00 PM)

By the end of the day you should have:

1. An external gear pump design spreadsheet
2. Outlined your final paper (Use Microsoft Word)

Friday
[22]

By the end of the day you should have:

1. The dimensions you want for your pump
2. Handed in your 3 gear parameters
3. Talked to me about how you will solid model your pump (what is your design intent?)

I will be available in 35-125A on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 5pm.

Monday
[25]

By the end of the day you should have:

1.  Handed in a rough draft (with rough sketches) for your final report (Use Microsoft Word)
2. Finished your GEAR PUMP CAD model

Tuesday
[26}

Assignment:
     » Make gear pump prints
     » Make 1st corrections to final report

HTML is important because you will:

1. Need to write your final report as web pages.  We will collate our reports and make the base pages of the MIT's How Things Work Web Site.

2. You will now be able to make your own web page and publish your resume and portfolio on-line.

By the end of the day you should have:

1. Saved report as HTML and made 1st set of corrections
2. Finished drawings of your CAD model
3. Handed in DXF Files of your pump components

Wednesday
[27]

Assignment:
     » Make 2nd corrections to final report
     » Start CAD models/sketches for your report

Workshop 7
Make Gear Pump Prints and 2nd Correction to Reports

By the end of the day you should have:

1.  Made 2nd set of corrections to final report
2.  Started your CAD/VRML models/sketches for your final report (if applicable)

Thursday
[28]

Workshop 8
Make Final Corrections to Reports, Finish Report CAD/VRML Models, and Make Sure All is Well

By the end of the day you should have:

1.  Made final corrections to final report
2.  Finished your CAD/VRML model/sketches for your final report (if applicable)

Friday
[29]

By the end of the day you should:

1.  Had fun at the contest
2.  Handed in your final projects by 4 p.m.!!
3.  There WON'T be exceptions!
4.  Gone home and Sleep, Party...

Lab #4 cont.
&
Pump/Motor Contest!