Rationale for the motion to
drop ME304 (Dynamics of Machinery) and add ME317 (Design for Manufacturing)
as required courses in the Mechanical Engineering Curriculum
Primary motivation:
The incremental gain from adding ME317 is greater than the
incremental loss from dropping ME304.
What do the students lose:
- dynamic
analysis of slider-crank and 4-bar mechanisms
- design
of flywheels
- balancing
rotating machinery
- analysis
of IC engine dynamics
- balancing
of IC engines (single-cylinder, in-line, and V)
What do the students gain:
- knowledge
of a variety of manufacturing processes
- design
guidelines for these manufacturing processes
- introduction
to the industrial setting in which manufacturing is practiced
Why the ME department thinks that this is a good trade:
- ME317
speaks to a broader audience within the ME student body. Knowledge of manufacturing practices and
the associated design considerations is important to almost all mechanical
engineers (biomechanical, fluid-thermal, solid mechanics, and design).
- 20 for
80 principle:
The students have seen the concepts that are applied in ME304
during the sophomore year (i.e. ES201, ES204, and ES205). ME304 squeezes out the last bit of
benefit from these existing concepts by applying them to common mechanical
systems (e.g. slider-crank mechanism, flywheels, and IC engine). The proposed material in ME317 is not
covered in earlier classes so that significantly larger gains can be made
in a similar timeframe.
- Knowledge
of manufacturing processes and design considerations are important for an
engineer’s credibility within the industrial setting, and presently there
are no required courses (and few elective courses) that address these
issues. There is an expectation in
the industrial setting –where most of our graduates will go- that an entry
level engineer has a basic understanding of manufacturing.
- The
importance of ME304 is diminishing as a result of improved coverage in the
sophomore year, the more extensive use and capabilities of dynamic
simulation software, and the decreased focus on the internal combustion
engine within our student body and the profession.
- Most
of the new concepts introduced in ME304 deal with the internal combustion
engine. For the students that have
this interest, these concepts will be explored in the IC Engines class
that is taught as an elective.
- The
change was suggested by the ME advisory board.