Power Seat Efficiency Improvement
Team Members
Elaine Cook, Reid Deckebach, Nalen Nadarajah, Joseph Reiter, and Yifei Wu, Mechanical
Engineering
Advisor
William Endres, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Sponsor
Adient
Project Overview
The team is developing a next-generation power horizontal adjust system for Adient,
a tier-one automotive supplier located in Plymouth, Michigan. The main task is to
increase efficiency of the system. The current system has an operating efficiency
of 11 percent. Adient desires to improve this to 20 percent. The most efficient system
on the market has an efficiency of 18 percent. With the completion of this project,
our goal is for Adient to have the most efficient system on the market.
Bobcat Object Detection and Classification
Team Members
Drake Lindberg, Alex Hanson, Josh Sell, and Cody Goodreau, Mechanical Engineering;
Paul Baldwin, Electrical Engineering
Advisor
Aneet Narendranath, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Sponsor
Bobcat
Project Overview
Our team has been engaged to design a system that can detect, classify, and alert
operators of various hazards and foreign objects surrounding compact construction
equipment for Bobcat. Current skid steer vehicle designs have limited visibility throughout
a variety of maneuvers while operating. This system seeks to reduce costly damage
and increase safety in the workplace.
Space Debris Mitigation—Drone Team
Team Members
Cooper Pedersen, Marcus Shamberg, Cy DeLeeuw, and Zack Papciak, Mechanical Engineering
Advisor
Eddy Trinklein, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Sponsor
Air Force Research Laboratory
Project Overview
Three sub-teams from our department are working together to represent Michigan Tech
in the 2018 Air Force Research Labs (AFRL) Competition. Our team has been working
alongside the two other AFRL teams to create a space debris mitigation device. The
AFRL Competition requires teams to deploy a device that acquires and attaches to a
moving piece of simulated space debris.
Jeep—Next Generation Vehicle Entry/Exit Technology
Team Members
Kayla Buczkowski, Carl Pietila, Dylan Steman, and McKenna Wagner, Mechanical Engineering;
Robert Tracy and Ryan Usimaki, Electrical Engineering
Advisor
Fei Long, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Sponsor
FCA USA LLC
Project Overview
The first thing a person touches when entering a vehicle is the door handle. We have
been tasked by FCA to design and prototype a new and innovative ingress/egress method
for Jeep that will instill a feeling of quality and robustness to the customer. Throughout
the design process we must translate customer voices into engineering metrics, creating
a design that will appeal to both current and future Jeep customers. It is our hope
that this new and innovative design will give Jeep an edge in the luxury SUV market.
Motorcycle Landing Gear
Honorable Mention Design Expo Senior Design Award
Team Members
Philip Zambon, Jake Len, Jordan Powers, and Chris Lake, Mechanical Engineering; James
Dykstra, Computer Engineering; Chad Ross, Electrical Engineering
Advisor
William Endres, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Sponsor
Mark Zambon
Project Overview
Our team was tasked with the design and prototyping of an on-road motorcycle “landing
gear” system. The motorcycle is our customer’s 2007 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R. The customer,
SSGT Mark Zambon, is a bilateral above-the-knee amputee whose injuries prevent him
from operating a conventional motorcycle. Currently, there are no other engineered
systems available in the country to address this need. We are also adapting the footrests
and controls to further accommodate his injuries. Our product will not only benefit
our customer, it could potentially spark aftermarket opportunities to get other disabled
riders back on a motorcycle.
Space Debris Mitigation: Attachment Team
Team Members
Emily Vigil, Paul Bosko, Stephan Ballance, and Cameron Potter, Mechanical Engineering
Advisor
William Endres, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Sponsor
Air Force Research Laboratory
Project Overview
Non-functioning rocket bodies in low-earth orbits have the potential to collide with
functioning satellites, potentially causing damage. The Air Force Research Laboratory
(AFRL) has tasked our team with designing and building a prototype of a device that
will be launched from a host satellite, travel to the piece of debris, attach to the
debris, and then deploy a drag device that will cause the debris to de-orbit. Our
team is one of three working on this project; we are focusing on the attachment method
of our payload to the debris.
Prevailing Torque Nut Performance Improvement
Team Members
Daniel Freed, Carl Kangas, Steven Peltier, Austin Hower, and Nils Miron, Mechanical
Engineering
Advisor
William Endres, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Sponsor
MacLean-Fogg Component Solutions-Metform
Project Overview
MacLean-Fogg is currently producing deflected lock nuts that are exhibiting a large
variation in on/off torques at final audit. These nuts are used on car axle spindles,
which hold the wheel hub onto the axle shaft. If the prevailing torque required to
turn these lock nuts off the shaft is too low, the wheel may come off during operation.
Our goal is to reduce the variation in the prevailing torque to allow for greater
consistency from part-to-part, reducing the risk that a part is produced out of specification.
Space Debris Mitigation
Team Members
Nicholas Fisher, Computer Engineering
Zakarie Parker and Kyle Wellman, Mechanical Engineering
Advisor
Charles Van Karsen, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Sponsor
Air Force Research Laboratory
Project Overview
We are tasked by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to design a payload for
a satellite that has the potential to attach to debris floating in space and deploy
a device that will increase the drag of that debris. With the increase in drag, this
debris will deorbit and burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere. We competed against numerous
other colleges to determine the best design. We are a team of 11 students split into
three sub teams: an attachment device team, a drone team and a software team.
Anti-Dust Plume Vacuum Cleaner System
Team Members
Mark Daavettila, Alec Holm, Josh Rzeppa, Devin Brienen, and Brenden Lefebvre, Mechanical
Engineering; Patrick Morath, Electrical Engineering
Advisor
Aneet Narendranath, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Sponsor
Bissell Homecare, Inc.
Project Overview
Bissell Homecare Inc. has tasked us with the goal of eliminating the dust plume associated
with the emptying of the canisters in bagless vacuum cleaners in a consumer-perceivable
manner. Our team is also seeking to quantify the dust plume in order to determine
how the plume is actually behaving. This year our team formulated most of our own
testing procedures, gathered data, ran our own tests, and constructed our own hardware.
We have assigned a 40-percent reduction in plume volume to the “consumer-perceivable
manner” reduction of the plume.
Particle Sensing Vacuum
Team Members
Marlena Daniels, Sarah Smaby, and Julia Smit, Mechanical Engineering; Travis McGinley,
Electrical Engineering Technology
Advisor
Aneet Narendranath, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Sponsor
Bissell Homecare Inc.
Project Overview
Bissell Homecare is looking to improve their fundamental knowledge regarding vacuum
performance over time during a standard use cycle. There is currently no system in
place to look at the behavior of debris while the vacuum is running. Our team is creating
and testing a sensor system that can be used to characterize debris entering and exiting
a vacuum. The prototype sensor system will be implemented into a vacuum and provide
customers with an interface to give them a broader understanding of vacuum performance.
Electronic Agricultural Trailer Braking System
Team Members
Jacob Pardy, Benjamin Maat, Nick Monette, Nathan Goering, and Jesse Lassila, Mechanical
Engineering, and Carter Davis, Electrical Engineering
Advisor
Jaclyn Johnson, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Sponsor
Richard Job
Project Overview
Trailer brakes with anti-lock functionality in large agricultural implements are useful
in preventing jackknifing. Current trailer brake designs utilize hydraulic and pneumatic
components, both of which suffer from diminished performance in sub-freezing temperatures.
Since many farmers in northern climates must pull trailers in the winter, safety issues
can result. To address this, the team has designed and built an electronically controlled,
electronically actuated, mechanically applied disk braking system for agricultural
trailers with anti-lock braking system (ABS) capability. This electro-mechanical system
will function at full braking capacity in temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Refrigerator Door Seal Bumper
Team Members
Daniel Lacroix, Amelia Schweikart, Johnny Williams, Derek Severson, and Lily Williams,
Mechanical Engineering
Advisor
Fei Long, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Sponsor
Whirlpool Corporation
Project Overview
Our team has been tasked by Whirlpool Corporation to improve the fatigue life of the
door seal on a new refrigerator model. The seal is not reaching the required lifespan
and continues to fail in the corner where the seal is welded together. We have designed
and prototyped a bumper to be installed at the top of the door in order to relieve
the impact on the seal itself. The bumper will decrease the amount of stress that
is currently being put on the seal, increasing its fatigue life.
Weld Fixture Sensing Improvement
Team Members
Hannah Daavettila, Luke Kearby, Daniel Killick, Zachary Scholzen, and Joshua Smies,
Mechanical Engineering
Advisor
Kevin Johnson, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Sponsor
Shape Corporation
Project Overview
Our team is working on developing methodology for detecting the correct part location
while avoiding damages due to the welding process. Currently, fixed proximity sensors
provide part detection on the parts fixture. Our solution will involve using remote
sensing from an over-head array. This array will not enter into the welding environment,
but will provide the same or better part-detection qualities. The sensing methodology
must also be capable of correctly determining if the clamps and slide locating pins
are in the correct location.
Hood Leveler Assembly
Team Members
Jaci Mielke, Cory Williams, Lillian Johnson, Amanda Travis, and Alex Gorcyca, Mechanical
Engineering
Advisor
Aneet Narendranath, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Sponsor
MacLean-Fogg Component Solutions Engineered Plastics Company
Project Overview
Maclean-Fogg sought a new assembly process for their Pedestrian-Protection Plastic
Hood Leveler, a new product that replaces the former metal-and-plastic product. The
sponsor needs an assembly process that can be scaled up to accommodate the increase
in production volume from 70,000 (current) to 3,000,000 (future) parts per year. We
created a new assembly method that can be scaled up to become fully automatic. Our
method includes the optimal process inputs in order to output the correct assembly
without compromising product quality.
Carbon Nanotube Active Noise Control Muffler Element
Team Members
Samuel Brayman, Andrew Hartz, Ian Kramer, Keith Lemley, George Mietelka, and Ethan
To, Mechanical Engineering
Advisor
William Endres, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Sponsor
Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Project Overview
Our team, in conjunction with Michigan Tech Mechanical Engineering Assistant Professor
Andrew Barnard, has utilized carbon nanotubes (CNT) to design and create a new technology
in active noise control (ANC) for automobile exhausts. The ANC device uses carbon
nanotube thermophones to create a temperature fluctuation that results in the formation
of sound waves. These waves can be used to amplify or suppress exhaust noise via constructive
or destructive interference. This CNT ANC Muffler has been developed to be lighter,
smaller, and to create less flow resistance than conventional ANC Mufflers currently
on the market.
Automated Casting Defect Detection
Team Members
Michael M. Mashevsky, Ryan M. Larson, Christopher G. Young, Austin J. Gongos, and
Ethan P. Brown, Mechanical Engineering and Mozzam Afroz, Electrical Engineering
Advisor
Aneet Narendranath, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Sponsor
Winsert Inc.
Project Overview
Winsert Inc. requested that our team spend the year working on designing, modeling
and prototyping an automatic part sorter. This machine will be able to take a bulk
load of a metal alloy raw castings and sort them based on known defects. At present,
the parts are sorted by hand to search for flashing on the gate area, too much break-off
on the gate area, and the lack of a through hole on some parts. Our team's primary
focus for prototyping is on a flexible feed robotic pick-and place system that will
feed the castings to a second machine for inspection.
Keel Cooler Efficiency Improvement
Third Place Design Expo Senior Design Award
Team Members
Neil Olson, Harrison Cannon, Daanish Tyrewala, Shveta Dhamankar, and Colin Neumanl,
Mechanical Engineering
Advisor
Jaclyn Johnson, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Sponsor
R. W. Fernstrum
Project Overview
In order to meet the demands of increasingly strict emissions standards and a subsequent
increase in engine operating temperatures, R. W. Fernstrum has tasked our team with
increasing the efficiency of its marine keel cooler units. The team constructed several
analytical and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models, and investigated a cross-flow
arrangement, comparing it against the current parallel flow arrangement used by R.
W. Fernstrum.
Improved Wire Welding Process
Team Members
Alex Hartmanis, Justin Heil, Eli Anderson, and Andrew Berg, Mechanical Engineering
Advisor
Kevin Johnson, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Sponsor
MacLean-Fogg Component Solutions
Project Overview
The industry standard to remove a protrusion formed through the welding of consecutive
wires in cold forming manufacturing is by the use of a hand-held electric grinder.
This process results in extremely hot shavings to be propelled around the facility
posing a risk of injury to line operators and fires within the facility. Our mission
is to develop, not only a safer alternative, but also one that is more time and cost
efficient than the current process.
Nexteer DCCV Housing Process Improvement
Team Members
Kevin Tillman, Joe Smies, Jose Montano, Daniel DeVries, and Logan Hunter, Mechanical
Engineering
Advisor
Kevin Johnson, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Sponsor
Nexteer Automotive
Project Overview
A DCCV housing used by Nexteer in one of their intermediate shaft assemblies is exhibiting
an out-of-round condition on two holes machined into the finished part. At the request
of Nexteer the team verified the root cause of the problem through finite element
modeling before beginning work on a solution. Our end goal is to eliminate the out-of-round
condition in the finished housing.
Vibration-Induced Muffler Failure Problem
Second Place Design Expo Senior Design Award
Team Members
Carl Jolma, Scott Pederson, Stuart Crewdson, Cam Dulong, Jared Richards, and Chet
Halonen, Mechanical Engineering
Advisor
Charles Van Karsen, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Sponsor
Ardisam
Project Overview
Our team has been engaged to solve a vibration-induced fatigue issue for Ardisam.
The problem Ardisam is facing is that failures are being experienced in the muffler
mount area on their Tazz K32 Chipper Shredder during normal operation. The mounting
bracketry is fracturing due to vibration-induced fatigue. Ardisam asked our team to
determine the source of the vibration, and come up with the design and prototype for
an in-factory solution.