Introducing Automation Concepts in a "Mechanisms and Robotics" Course

John Mirth

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Conference: 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Publication Date: August 23, 2022
Start Date: June 26, 2022
End Date: June 29, 2022
Conference Session: Mechanical Engineering: Adjusting Course Content
Page Count: 9
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--40445
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/40445
Download Count: 294

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Paper Authors

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John Mirth St. Cloud State University

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John Mirth is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, MN. Dr. Mirth received his Ph.D. and MSME degrees from the University of Minnesota, and his BSME degree from Ohio University. During his career he has taught at five different universities: University of Denver, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, University of Iowa, and St. Cloud State University. Dr. Mirth's technical expertise lies in areas associated with the design and analysis of mechanisms and machines (including Mechanisms, Machine Design, and CAD). Dr. Mirth's educational activities focus primarily on methods to create significant learning experiences for students through the improved design and delivery of engineering courses.

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Abstract

Manufacturing processes are becoming increasingly reliant on automation to improve efficiency and output. Given that manufacturing fields employ approximately 50% of all mechanical engineering graduates, it seems that the shift toward automation should be reflected within the mechanical engineering curriculum. Since mechanical engineering curricula are already full to overflowing in their coverage of topics, the challenge becomes one of figuring out how to introduce automation concepts to students.

This paper presents one pathway for the introduction of automation topics within a “Mechanisms and Robotics” course. The course provides coverage of the design and analysis of planar mechanisms (such as four-bar and six-bar linkages) and an introduction to basic principles of robot kinematics. Since both mechanisms and robots are common to automated systems, the course provides a natural environment to combine traditional course topics with automation.

The Mechanisms and Robotics course introduces automation through a sequence of five course projects. The projects begin with the design and construction of a manually operated offset slider-crank mechanism. This initial build introduces students to the concepts of pressure angle, mechanical advantage, and timing ratios. The manual cranking allows the students to feel the resistance of the mechanism at various positions while also verifying the overall motion of the mechanism before introducing the automation concepts.

The second through fourth projects introduce increasing levels of automation for the offset slider-crank mechanism. The second project requires the use of an Arduino controller with a button to activate a relay to power a motor to drive the mechanism. The third and fourth projects add sensors to the slider-crank to measure the position and acceleration characteristics of the slider.

The fifth project introduces path-planning concepts by using the Arduino to control a planar manipulator. Students build a planar five-bar linkage that uses an Arduino to control two stepper motors. Students use SolidWorks to design a planar path for the mechanism and then download the results of a SolidWorks motion study to the Arduino to draw the path. This introduces students to the automation concepts of stepper motors and path planning.

The paper details the above projects, their specific requirements, and the student response to the projects.

Citation
Format

Mirth, J. (2022, August), Introducing Automation Concepts in a "Mechanisms and Robotics" Course Paper presented at 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN. 10.18260/1-2--40445

TY - CPAPER
AB - Manufacturing processes are becoming increasingly reliant on automation to improve efficiency and output. Given that manufacturing fields employ approximately 50% of all mechanical engineering graduates, it seems that the shift toward automation should be reflected within the mechanical engineering curriculum. Since mechanical engineering curricula are already full to overflowing in their coverage of topics, the challenge becomes one of figuring out how to introduce automation concepts to students.

This paper presents one pathway for the introduction of automation topics within a “Mechanisms and Robotics” course. The course provides coverage of the design and analysis of planar mechanisms (such as four-bar and six-bar linkages) and an introduction to basic principles of robot kinematics. Since both mechanisms and robots are common to automated systems, the course provides a natural environment to combine traditional course topics with automation.

The Mechanisms and Robotics course introduces automation through a sequence of five course projects. The projects begin with the design and construction of a manually operated offset slider-crank mechanism. This initial build introduces students to the concepts of pressure angle, mechanical advantage, and timing ratios. The manual cranking allows the students to feel the resistance of the mechanism at various positions while also verifying the overall motion of the mechanism before introducing the automation concepts.

The second through fourth projects introduce increasing levels of automation for the offset slider-crank mechanism. The second project requires the use of an Arduino controller with a button to activate a relay to power a motor to drive the mechanism. The third and fourth projects add sensors to the slider-crank to measure the position and acceleration characteristics of the slider.

The fifth project introduces path-planning concepts by using the Arduino to control a planar manipulator. Students build a planar five-bar linkage that uses an Arduino to control two stepper motors. Students use SolidWorks to design a planar path for the mechanism and then download the results of a SolidWorks motion study to the Arduino to draw the path. This introduces students to the automation concepts of stepper motors and path planning.

The paper details the above projects, their specific requirements, and the student response to the projects.

AU - John Mirth
CY - Minneapolis, MN
DA - 2022/08/23
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - Introducing Automation Concepts in a "Mechanisms and Robotics" Course
UR - https://peer.asee.org/40445
DO - 10.18260/1-2--40445
ER -