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Session 1566

Automotive Product Engineering Design Project for Fourth Year Undergraduate Engineering Students

Peter R. Frise, William J. Altenhof University of Windsor

Abstract

This paper outlines the rationale, development, and implementation of an automotive product engineering design project for fourth year mechanical engineering undergraduate students at the University of Windsor. The purpose of the project was to give undergraduate students an opportunity to work together as a group, to develop a simple three part automotive component and experience the steps required to develop a typical automotive product engineering project.

The component was a small module which was required to fit into an air vent in an existing vehicle bumper. The three parts of the component were required to be easily assembled to produce the final product and the fit of the assembly into the bumper was evaluated. In addition, the assembled components were tested for their ability to withstand an impact load. Dimensional design constraints on two of the three parts were selected by the authors and presented to the students at an early stage of the design process. The component which each group designed, developed, and manufactured was evaluated based upon the weight, dimensional deviation from the given design constraints, ease and efficiency of assembly, impact resistance, and aesthetics. In addition, each group was required to submit complete CAD drawings illustrating the orthogonal views of each part in their component and an isometric assembly drawing.

This paper will present the methodology, development, and implementation of the automotive product design project. The evaluation procedure of the project will be addressed and several recommendations for improvement on the design project will be presented.

I. Introduction and Rationale

Engineers employed in industry are required to work with other companies, as well as with designers and engineers from their own organization. This is especially prevalent in the modern automotive industry where vehicles are the product of many company’ work as different vehicle s components and systems are sourced from different companies. Difficulties in designing, developing, and manufacturing components often arise when several individuals work together on the same project.

Aside from the commonly experienced personnel issues, the whole process of designing a product to meet a specification, parts of which may be unclear, contradictory or the subject of unavailable information along with reconciling manufacturing styles and capabilities of different people and organizations is key to becoming a successful and technically mature design engineer.

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Altenhof, W. J., & Frise, P. R. (2000, June), Automotive Product Engineering Design Project For Fourth Year Undergraduate Engineering Students Paper presented at 2000 Annual Conference, St. Louis, Missouri. 10.18260/1-2--8178