Prototype and Practical Skills 1: Mechanical Prototyping

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• explain and follow the procedures for working safely in a modern mechanical workshop;
• explain the operating principles of rapid prototyping tools and machining tools found in a modern mechanical workshop;
• safely operate rapid prototyping tools and machining tools found in a modern mechanical workshop;
• apply basic machining theory to work with machining tools found in a modern mechanical workshop;
• use rapid prototyping tools, such as 3D printers, laser cutters, and waterjet cutters, toward the construction of a physical object or mechanical device;
• apply the engineering design process to generate, evaluate, modify, interpret, and revise conceptual design ideas for a mechanical prototype;
• select an appropriate rapid prototyping and/or machining process/tool for prototyping, based on component requirement specifications and technology limitations;
• produce a mechanical prototype of a design using rapid prototyping tools and machining tools found in a modern mechanical workshop;
• test and evaluate the performance of a mechanical prototype;
• produce documentation, including notebook sketches and CAD deliverables, of the design process and iterations involved in the fabrication of a mechanical prototype.