Recent Mechanical Engineering Technology projects:
Project: Automated Lug Wrench Test Fixture
Students: Mark Bucholtz, Phil Wall, and Mike Zegaczewski
Class: ENT422, Machine Design II
Faculty Mentor: Professor David Kukulka
McGard LLC requested the design of a test fixture to be used to qualify new lock designs. This test fixture will simulate the "Lug Wrench Test" that the McGard product engineering group runs to evaluate new lock designs.
Project: Buffalo River Boat Project
Students: Jeffrey Bartle and Daniel Culican,
Faculty Mentor: Professor David Kukulka
Rigidized Metals Corporation is sponsoring a senior design project that requires a design team to design, build, and test a twenty-foot boat. The requirements of the electric boat are to seat six people and serve as a prototype for a harbor ferry service. More.
Project: Centrifugal Clutch Design and Testing: A Look Into Improving Power Transfer
Students: Anthony DeStefano
Faculty Mentor: Professor David Kukulka
Continuous variable transmissions (CVT) are brilliant but simple devices that manufacturers love to see. These systems are cheap to build, simple to manufacturer, and very efficient in transferring power when calibrated correctly.
Project: Cooper Multi-Port Transfer Valve
Students: Chris Mazur, Jeff Cavarello, and Paul McPherson
Faculty Mentor: Professor David Kukulka
Cooper Compression is a local manufacturer of multiple stage air compressors. On a compressor there is a closed loop lubrication system that circulates oil through its major components. A modular oil block would allow all of these components to be located in the same unit. A study of a current modular block has been completed and indicated that the opening for a rotating valve is not easily produced. To solve this problem, the design team proposed manufacturing a test block that allowed testing of different rotating valve designs.
Project: Cyclone Filtration
Students: Adam Beyer, Noel Blair, and Michael Nuchereno
Faculty Mentor: Professor David Kukulka
Cooper Compression, a local manufacturer of centrifugal air compressors, is a sponsor of senior design projects for the MET program. Air filters on the inlet of a compressor are an industry standard. If moisture, dust or contaminants are present in the intake air, it can cause build up on the internal components of the compressor causing premature wear and a reduction in compressor efficiency. Currently this problem is solved using a micron filter element. There are disadvantages in using micron filters. Filters accumulate particulate; the particulate embeds itself into the filter, resulting in additional power requirement. They also require a monthly inspection and filters need to be changed when dirty or every 12 months, a costly task. A research study incorporating cyclone filtration technology into a plant air compressor will be performed. In the conventional cyclone, the gas enters a cylinder tangentially, where it spins in a vortex as it proceeds down the cylinder. Dust particles are centrifuged toward the wall and collected by inertial impingement. Introducing cyclone technology will eliminate the need for a bulky filter that can clog over time and reduce efficiency.
Project: Data Acquisition System for Buffalo State Mini Baja Vehicle
Student: Robert Swiatkowski
Faculty Mentor: Professor David Kukulka
A data acquisition system is being designed in order to monitor engine output for the Buffalo State Mini Baja vehicle. At this time there is no accurate way to fine-tune the engine and continuous variable transmission of the vehicle. The data acquisition system will take real time measurements of the cars performance as different configurations are tested.
Project: High Temperature Coatings and High Speed Magnetic Coupling
Students: Kent Jayme, Jerry LaVenture, and Andrew Ahlet
Faculty Mentor: Professor David Kukulka
Cooper Compression is a local manufacturer of compressors and an annual sponsor of MET Senior Design projects. They have two problems that they would like us to resolve. Cooper has developed a new model of compressor that creates temperatures in excess of 400º F. This new technology helps create greater hp output than current models, but it also creates more heat. This additional heat discolors the coating of the compressor.
Project: Mini Baja
Students: Anthony Destefano, Matthew Row, and Rob Swiatkowski
Faculty Mentor: Professor David Kukulka
Society of Automotive Engineers sponsors various competitions that simulate real-world engineering design projects and their related challenges. The objective of this study is to design an off-road vehicle for a collegiate competition.
Project: Moog Servovalve Nozzle: Design of Experiment
Students: Craig Ford, Brian LaRuffa, and Eric Burton
Faculty Mentor: Professor David Kukulka
Moog Inc., a manufacturer of servovalves, is an annual sponsor of the MET senior design projects. Currently, Moog has been struggling in evaluating the effectiveness of nozzle and determining whether they will perform as designed. Some nozzles are passing this test and then failing in the final assembly. An evaluation of how this test is performed and the test criteria used to pass or fail a nozzle are the primary goals of this project. In order to evaluate the nozzle effectiveness, test nozzles are being produced and then evaluated using different passing criteria. The results of this experiment will be used to determine the test criteria needed to reduce failed valves during final assembly. This project includes the design of experiment, manufacture of test nozzles, interpretation of results, and development of the final test criteria.
Project: Solar Splash: Design of a Solar Powered Boat
Students: James Banasik and Victor J. Monter
Faculty Mentor: Professor David Kukulka
Solar Splash is a collegiate level competition sponsored by ASME. Competition requirements are to design and manufacture a solar powered boat able to compete in an endurance and sprint race competition. Major objectives of this project include the production of a steering assembly and a drive train for the boat.
Project: Vacuum Forming: In House vs. Outsourcing
Students: Michael Conti and Kathryn Martin
Faculty Mentor: Professor David Kukulka
Curtis Screw Co. is a sponsor of MET Senior Design Projects. Currently, they are evaluating the packaging and shipping methods used for a part they produce for the Visteon Company. The new method would entail using returnable trays and totes. A comparison of in house produced trays and outsourced trays will be presented.