Using Videotape to Add an Asynchronous Delivery Option to Regular Classroom Instruction

Student schedules are often at odds, forcing them to miss needed classes due to time conflicts. Departments have limited faculty resources, and cannot offer courses every term at times to meet every need. This paper describes the use of instruction via videotape to offer students an option for taking courses when they cannot attend at the scheduled time. Delivery of instruction by videotape is not new; this paper describes efforts to adapt this method to specific circumstances and student needs. This has resulted in higher course enrollments when videotape and traditional sections are combined for teaching load purposes, and has permitted students to complete graduation requirements when, without this option, they would have been delayed due to scheduling conflicts.

Heat Transfer Between Particulates and Surface in a Vibrofluidized Layer

The apparatus, in which fluidization of the particulates is obtained by filtration of the gas in the upward direction through the layer of the particulates, is widely used in the industry for various types of processes. This gas serves as source of fluidized agent and the heat transfer carrier. In particular, the fluidized bed creates a favorable condition to carry out numerous heterogeneous processes. In spite of a significant advantage of this hydrodynamics regime, there are some drawbacks. The fluidization occurs only when sufficient filtration velocity of gases is achieved. In some cases when there is a significant difference in particulate sizes, this condition is not acceptable, and for a layer of fine particulates, such type of fluidization cannot be obtained at all. In the latter case, a combination of vibration and filtration of very small amount of gas through the layer is used, and the heat transfer to the solids occurs by conduction from the heating surface. In this paper, a set of differential equations for the heat and mass transfer are formulate and solved for variable and constant temperature of the heating surface. As a result, a relationship of the solid temperatures as a function of time is established. An experimental research also was performed. A comparison of the experimental research data and theoretical analysis shows that the deviation does not exceed 10%. The experimental research also shows that the main influence on the intensity of the mass transfer process has the amplitude of vibration and to the lesser extent the effects of frequency of vibration.

A Continuous Improvement/Management-by-Objectives Approach to Evaluating University Faculty

This paper discusses the design, analysis and implementation of a faculty evaluation system to be used in both departments of Electrical Engineering Technology and Manufacturing Engineering Technologies and Supervision at Purdue University Calumet. The System, based on a faculty member’s continuous improvement plan, builds on the Management-by-Objectives approach, which reflects the Human Resource practice of performance plans and evaluations in corporate America. This new system, being outcome based, asks faculty to set goals and objectives with some degree of flexibility and is in line with the accreditation requirement changes of Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

Computer-Aided Power Requirements

The power requirement of machinery is a necessary consideration for the sizing and selection of machine elements in the design process. The decision process of designing gears, belt drives, clutches, brakes, and bearings are designed and sized based on the power requirement of the application. I have written a software program that calculates the power requirements for three different design applications. This software program simplifies and streamlines the design and selection process by allowing the student to calculate the horsepower and torque requirement.

A Case Study in Laboratory-Based Online Courses: Teaching CNC Programming

Asynchronous web based instruction, more commonly known as online education or distance learning, has been available for some time. This technology has brought education within the reach of many who would otherwise be unable to attend live classes. Time schedules and distance no longer have a bearing on attending a course. Even group projects are manageable with email and discussion groups. Many courses convert quite well to the online format, and studies have shown that students can learn as much from online courses as from live courses. In many cases, multiple course certificate programs and even some complete degree programs are offered online. As inviting as online courses may be, they do have their limitations, especially classes with a laboratory component. A number of institutions have offered laboratory-based classes in an online format with varying degrees of complexity and success. In some cases, students travel to the institution a limited number of times for extensive laboratory experiences while other institutions use what might best be described as virtual reality based systems. This paper discusses Purdue University Calumet’s first laboratory-based online course, MFET 275, Computer Numerical Control Programming Application. A combination of technologies makes this course successful and effective. Development procedures for this course along with technology used, online pedagogy issues, and course assessment are covered in this paper. Suggestions for future course development complete the discussion.

An Innovative Fuel Cell Theory, Testing and Manufacturing Course

A unique course in the theory, testing and manufacturing of fuel cells has been developed at Arizona State University in the College of Technology and Applied Sciences. The course is designed for the engineering technology graduate students, but is also accessible to advanced undergraduates. The interdisciplinary nature of the course necessitates a team-teaching approach, and faculty with backgrounds in electrochemistry, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering deliver portions of the course. The course includes a theoretical portion, but also contains a comprehensive practical portion in which the students build a membrane electrode assembly and assemble, test and characterize this assembly as a single stage proton exchange membrane fuel cell. Feedback from the students indicates a great deal of excitement over the course, and has resulted in several students deciding to concentrate their graduate work in the fuel cell area. The paper describes the first course offering in the spring of 2003.

Methodology for Selection of Rapid Tooling Process for Manufacturing Applications

Digital representation of geometry is transforming the methods for the manufacturing of products. Such transformations include a significant reduction in cost and leadtime to produce products and to increase the variety of products. The ability to produce tooling from material removal and additive processes has led to new methods to produce tooling from digital geometry representations. These include processes that are grouped together as fast-free-form-fabrication (FFFF) methods. In addition, other possibilities exist in modular tooling for generating variety and new processes/methods for producing such geometries. Also, conventional machining processes have improved significantly. As a result of these transformations, a tooling designer faces many choices of methods, materials, and lead-times to produce tooling. These decisions involve geometric reasoning coupled with other requirements based on production needs, cost constraints, and individual casting shop capabilities. This paper discusses a methodology for selection of rapid tooling (RT) processes based on a number of user-specified attributes and relative cost and lead-time comparisons across a wide spectrum of available RT processes. The method is based on a combination of weighted functionals and on the approximate mathematical models of metalcasting process costs and their lead-time. The method has been put on the Internet for easy access. It is currently limited to only several of the most common RT processes and materials. However, the database will be expanded in the future to include a majority if not all of the metalcasting processes.

A Genetic Algorithm Approach to Weld Pattern Optimization in Sheet Metal Assembly

In sheet metal assembly process, welding operation joins two or more sheet metal parts together. Since sheet metals are subject to dimensional variation resulted from manufacturing randomness, gap may be generated at each weld pair prior to welding. These gaps are forced to close during a welding operation and accordingly undesirable structural deformation results. Optimizing the welding pattern (the number and locations of weld pairs) of an assembly process was proven to significantly improve the quality of final assembly. This paper presents a Genetic Algorithm (GA)-based optimization method to automatically search for the optimal weld pattern so that the assembly deformation is minimized. Application result of a real industrial part demonstrated that the proposed algorithm effectively achieve the objective.

Parametric Study of Surface Finish in End Milling Using Robust Design Techniques

Surface finish in end milling depends upon a number of variables, such as feed rate, cutting speed, tool material, etc. The relative effect of these variables on surface roughness is not understood very well. The Taguchi method is used in end milling process to identify variables having major influence on surface finish. Partial factorial design using L9 orthogonal array is used in the design of experiments. Signal to Noise ratio analysis along with analysis of variance is used to study the effect of these parameters on surface finish. Knowledge about these relationships will help a process planner or a machinist optimize the cutting process with respect to surface finish.

Innovative Applied Research Projects Using Industry Collaboration

Partnerships between the Middle Tennessee State University Engineering Technology Department and the local industrial community are well adapted to research and development projects for the students. Resulting interactions between engineering technology programs and industry are advanced in many ways, including long-term partnerships, informal contacts between faculty members and industrial personnel, consulting, and collaboration on training opportunities, discussions, seminars, and teaching programs. Foremost, however, are the many ways students benefit from the related assignments. Through applied research projects, students focus on innovative project developments that provide practical solutions to complex problems. They learn to initiate, design, and implement new initiatives within the university and industrial partnerships and to profit from the opportunities to explore new technologies and practice skills that meet real world challenges. MTSU modified its introductory engineering course to incorporate not only the fundamentals required to the support basic engineering course learning experience, but to include a choice of hands-on design projects. At present, a solar powered vehicle and a moon buggy have been designed, constructed, and entered into national races to test the decisions and capabilities of the projects as a result of this innovative laboratory approach. The laboratory atmosphere centered on these applied research projects features the opportunity to work at the university and/or take advantage of the industrial partner’s equipment and expertise. Partnerships with industry are essential in providing access to the latest equipment and technology. Applied research projects are important for students to gain a much better “sense” of engineering and to progress to higher levels of project interaction that offer design and design problem issues, use of knowledge, physical application, and comprehension of engineering principles.