Mechanical Engineering Design Studies - 2019 entry

When producing a new motorbike, a team of engineers needs to go through a number of manufacturing stages before completing the product - but none of this can happen without a winning design to ignite the process.
 

This module teaches you the practical aspects of mechanical engineering design. Drawing on your previous knowledge, you'll embark on project work, as part of a small design team, to identify a new, exciting product; providing a unique function or solving a real world problem. Then using computer aided design (CAD) you create a model of your innovative device.

To design, you need to understand every stage of the engineering process, as well as the cost, so you will also learn about the implications and practicalities of using various materials and manufacturing methods. As the emphasis is on the design stage, rather than fabricating the actual device, you are evaluated on your ability to work as part of a team, to give a presentation and to demonstrate an understanding of how it will be made, plus being marked on the quality of the idea itself. Completing this module equips you with the design tools and practical experience to move on to more complex problems and the ability to design a new product for the market, using CAD software packages such as "Solidworks".


Prerequisite module: ECM1102 or equivalent

This module aims to give you experience of the practical aspects of detailed mechanical engineering design, drawing on the theory taught in previous modules. It is also designed to give you experience of working in a design team.

This is a constituent module of one or more degree programmes which are accredited by a professional engineering institution under licence from the Engineering Council. The learning outcomes for this module have been mapped to the output standards required for an accredited programme, as listed in the current version of the Engineering Council’s ‘Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes’ document (AHEP-V3).

This module contributes to learning outcomes: SM6m, EA3p, EA3m, EA4p, EA4m, EA6m, D1p-D6p, D1m-D8m, ET3p, ET3m, ET4p, ET4m, ET6p, ET6m, ET7m, EP1p-EP4p, EP1m-EP4m, EP8p, EP8m, EP10m, EP9p, EP11m, G1p-G4p, G1m-G4m

A full list of the referenced outcomes is provided online: http://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/emps/subjects/engineering/accreditation/

The AHEP document can be viewed in full on the Engineering Council’s website, at http://www.engc.org.uk/

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:
 

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

1 apply your previous learning to the development of the detailed design of an engineering device including, inter alia, detailed design analysis, calculations, materials selection, and prototype drawings;

2 demonstrate experience of component selection for sub assemblies in the final device in the light of detailed calculations;

3 demonstrate other subject specific skills dependent on the nature of their design study;

4 use suitable software aids (eg ANSYS, FLUENT, SOLIDWORKS) in the exploration of the design solution.

 

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

5 think creatively and integrate advanced subject specific knowledge and understanding from previous modules into the analysis and solution of a challenging design problem;

6 analyse critically the important features of competitors’ products;

7 assess the merits of a number of design solutions taking into account conflicting factors;

8 develop a suitable design specification;

9 recognise the existence of the many pressures and constraints on engineering design.

 

Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and Knowledge:

10 extract, filter and process a wide range of information;

11 reveal advanced team skills;

12 demonstrate improved presentational skills;

13 show enhanced report writing skills;

14 exhibit strong interpersonal skills;

15 prove experience of providing critical feedback to colleagues;

16 defend your reasoning and conclusions against probing questioning

- design and team selection;

- consultation;

- definition of problem, research and PDS;

- preliminary ideas;

- finalisation of concept and design;

- details of design and drawings;

- critical review;

- costing and scheduling;

- presentation;

- peer review.

If a module is normally assessed entirely by coursework, all referred/deferred assessments will normally be by assignment.

If a module is normally assessed by examination or examination plus coursework, referred and deferred assessment will normally be by examination. For referrals, only the examination will count, a mark of 40% being awarded if the examination is passed. For deferrals, candidates will be awarded the higher of the deferred examination mark or the deferred examination mark combined with the original coursework mark.

Basic reading:

There is no set text for this module. You are expected to make use of existing sources including the library, manufacturers’ information sheets, the world wide web etc.

ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk

Reading list for this module: