Intro to Computer Aided Design

ME430 is an Introduction to Computer Aided Design course that introduces students to basic concepts of CAD (SOLIDWORKS and Creo Parametric) as well as structural and thermal applications used in Mechanical Engineering design problems. More specifically, topics include: geometric modeling, computer graphics, projections, database, mechanism design, structure and thermal Finite Element Analysis, and optimization for design models.

Idler Arm

The Idler Arm assignment served as an introduction to the SOLIDWORKS software. Through the creation of the model, the abilities to perform basic sketch functions and extrusions, to make planes and create threaded holes, were mastered. In addition, this assignment showcased how keyways and the hole sizes of specific screws can be modeled.

Split Cotter Pin

Splitter Cotter Pins are metal fasteners with two tines that are bent during installation, with these specifically being used in high vibration applications. This assignment served as an introduction to more advanced SOLIDWORKS features, such as the sweep tool and global variables. Additionally, it showcased how to efficiently create a model that is intended to have multiple size variations, through utilizing a Design Table.

Support Bracket

The Support Bracket assignment served as an introduction to sheet metal working, showcasing how it is physically manufactured and how it can be modeled in SOLIDWORKS. Utilizing the Sheet Metal option in the software, the abilities to create a base flange, to bend the flanges, unfold them, and modify them to make threaded cuts and overall appropriate cuts with corner relief to relieve stress and ensure more control when physically folding the part, were obtained.

Landing Gear

The Landing Gear assignment served as an introduction to SOLIDWORKS assemblies and renderings. Through the assembly of the parts, basic assembly features and shortcuts were mastered, as well as the abilities to check for interference via the Interference Detection tool, to create and animate Exploded Views, and to use the SOLIDWORKS Toolbox Library and PhotoView 360 Rendering Tools.

Drone Predator Assembly

The Drone Predator assignment served as an introduction to creating models based on specific coordinate data. To make this drone aerodynamic, data points for the splines used to make the body, propeller, and "CLARK YS airfoil" wings of the drone, were utilized. Where, Clark YS is a general purpose wing profile in aircraft design, having a reflexed trailing edge to produce a more positive pitching moment. Additionally, the data was modified via Excel to a specified cord length.

Car Wheel Assembly

The Car Wheel assignment consisted of a car rim, tire and hub cap. Skills in both advanced revolve tools, assembly, and especially design were gained through this assignment, as the rim's design was created and modeled with use of researched pre-existing rim designs.

Housing Cover

The Housing Cover assignment served as an introduction to the machining and drawing creation process. Through mastering the ASME Standards for Drawings, various drawing views, tolerances, and notes for the manufacturing process, were utilized.

Base Support

The Base Support assignment served as an introduction to the CREO Parametric software. Through the creation of the model, the abilities to perform both basic and complex sketch and modeling functions were mastered. Further, this assignment showcased the purpose of ribs in a design and they can be modeled.

Extension Spring

The Extension Spring assignment served as an introduction to more complex commands in CREO Parametric, including the project, revolve and helical sweep functions. Beyond the basics of these commands, how to model a spring with a variable pitch based on specified "pitch points" was also showcased.

Card Holder

The Card Holder assignment served as an introduction to more complex commands in the CREO Parametric software, including the mirror, conic arc, datum points, swept blend, shell and appearances functions.

Razor Handle

The Razor Handle assignment, modeled based on an everyday woman's razor, showcased various complex commands in CREO Parametric. The use of splines with offset datum points and its application, when paired with the use of center and axis ellipses, for ideal lofts was showcased, as well as the use of the project and offset tools to make extrusions on the curved or complex geometry.

Pump Housing

The Pump Housing assignment showcased how CREO Parametric can be utilized to make complex geometry shapes from surfaces. With this, surfacing techniques were mastered including: how to use equations to create an involute curve, how to create a surface quilt, to merge them together to create the complex shape, and then finally to thicken the surface and create said shape with complex geometry.

Basketball Rim

The Basketball Rim assignment showcased how CREO Parametric can be utilized to make complex geometry shapes from specific data. The rim supports were created based on an assigned offset coordinate system and a curve through imported data points. This assignment also showcased how to thicken a sketch, which was utilized for the bracket's extrusion.

Cam

Cam Shafts are utilized to open and close the valves at the top of each cylinder within an engine. When designing a cam in a roller follower cam arrangement, it is important to account for the displacement of the follower per degree of rotation of the cam. To ensure this, the sweep used to make this cam was made mased an imported datum graph of this displacement versus degree of rotation, utilizing the variable section option to do so.

Pinion Shaft Drawing

The Housing Cover assignment served as an introduction to the drawing creation process in CREO. Through using the mastered ASME Standards for Drawings, various drawing views, tolerances, and notes were created.

Roller Chain Assembly

The Roller Chain Assembly assignment served as an introduction to CREO Parametric assembly processes. Through the assembly of the parts, assembly constraints were mastered. Further, the ability to use subassemblies to simplify the assembly process was showcased.

Roller Chain Drawings

The Roller Chain assignment showcased one's skills with creating part drawings in CREO. Firstly, how to create exploded views within the software was showcased, as well as how to create a Bill of Materials and check for interference. Then, with little to no other instructions, assembly drawings were created for each of the subassemblies, and a part drawing was made for the pink link plate.

4-Leg Jansen Mechanism

The 4-Leg Jansen Mechanism assignment served as an introduction to SOLIDWORKS simulations. Once assembly skills were used to create the 4-Leg Jansen assembly, a motion study was created to showcase the motion of the mechanism. Showcasing how to perform motion analysis on a SOLIDWORKS assembly by setting the initial position of and the motor as the crank part, graphs of the X, Y and Z components of the Linear Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration plots of front and rear side legs, as well as the animation shown, were able to be obtained.

Slider Crank Mechanism

The Slider Crank Mechanism assignment served as an introduction to CREO Parametric simulations. Assembly skills were firstly further developed, as this assignment showcased the different types of joints available to constrain the parts. Once assembled, a kinematic study was performed on the piston. Showcasing how to define a servo motor and set the initial position, plots of the piston's acceleration, velocity and position over time was able to be obtained. The Global Collision Detection tool was also used to correct interference during its motion.

Pulley Support Static Study

The Pulley Support assignment served as an introduction to SOLIDWORKS's Finite Element Analysis. Once the material was applied, the bottom holes were set as Fixed Geometry, and Mesh Control was applied to the highest stress area, a Static Simulation was ran to determine and generate a report of the Von Mises Stress and Yield Strength, the Resultant Displacement, the Equivalent Strain and both Factors of Safety in general and above 1, as a result of an applied force and bearing load. Using this data, conclusions were able to be made about whether the part would fail under the specified material, which it did.

Heatsink Thermal Study

A Heat Sink is a piece of metal that is paired with a CPU to control heat transfer. This assignment served as an introduction to SOLIDWORKS's Finite Element Analysis, which utilized equations commonly taught in Heat Transfer courses. Once the location of the CPU or hottest area, was isolated via the split line tool, the material, heat power and convection condition were applied, and a fine mesh was created, a Thermal Steady State Simulation was ran to determine and generate a report of the Temperature Distribution and Resultant Heat Flux at several locations, as showcased via the images specifically included. With this, design improvements were able to be made.

Swing Table

The Swing Table Assembly is the final project for the class, showcasing all skills learned and one's ability to take an assembly drawing and convert that into several parts and ultimately the final assembly. Utilizing the SOLIDWORKS toolbox, the assembly was created with the addition of the created parts: Trunnion Stud, Table and Base. In addition, one's mastery of assembly and part drawings was showcased through the four required for this assignment, as well as one's understanding of interference.

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