I have created this site as a "syllabus" for my students,
as well as a way to clarify some of the many issues encountered by all
students. The
ME department lists general Senior Project guidelines on their website,
while the complete ME Senior Project Instruction Booklet is available at
Second Edition on campus.
Schedule of Events - What is due, and when?
Sample pages you can download (Word Format)
A senior project is a two-quarter design project, usually done individually, where you design, build, and test a device or system. This work takes place under the supervision of an instructor you choose to be your advisor. The idea behind the Senior Project is that you experience as much of the design process as possible, from concept to product.What is especially challenging is that you manage the project on your own, which requires you to keep to a fast-paced schedule. You will perform your Senior Project in two consecutive courses, ME 461 (2 units) and ME 462 (3 units). These courses are to be taken in consecutive quarters, not during the same quarter. In ME 461 you usually complete your design work, including drawings, as well as writing draft copies of the Introduction, Literature Search, and Design chapters of your final report. In ME 462 you fabricate and test your design, then complete the final revision of your report, complete with Results and Conclusions chapters.
Because the entire project, including writing a Senior Project Report, has to be completed within two quarters, the project has to be rather narrow-focused to be feasible. For example, developing a new concept for a bicycle may not be possible within the timeframe of the Senior Project, but developing a new kind of brake caliper or shock may fit well. If your system is too complicated, perhaps narrowing your focus to a smaller subsystem will do the trick. Your instructor can advise you on narrowing the focus of your project.
One question commonly asked is, "How much time should I spend on the project?" Typically, students spend around 150 hours on their project. That works out to about 8 hours a week, spread over two quarters. If you think about it, that's not much time, given the amount of work that you have to do. That is why I insist you keep track of your time, and report your progress to me weekly, both in meetings and in one-page progress reports. The goal here is for you to not fall behind in your work.
Most students start their projects the first week of the quarter they take ME 461. THIS IS TOO LATE. I rarely -- if ever -- talk to students about projects the first week of classes. You've probably been thinking about your senior project at least a quarter before you officially begin, so you should ask yourself questions like:1. When should I do my Senior Project?I wouldn't recommend putting off your Senior Project until the Winter and Spring quarters of your last year at Poly. After all, isn't EVERYONE doing their Senior Projects then? Do you really want to fight for time at the machine shop with everyone else? And what if you fall behind schedule? Are you going to delay your future employer because you couldn't finish your project? Let's say you will graduate in Spring 2008. I recommend starting your senior project no earlier than Spring 2007, and no later than Fall 2007. This way you can hopefully schedule fabrication and testing during a quarter with less machine shop traffic, like Summer, Fall, or even Winter quarters. Plus, if you fall behind schedule, you could potentially delay taking ME 462 for a quarter - pending your instructor's approval - to catch up.
2. When should I start working on my senior project?
You should consult with your potential instructor a quarter before you begin ME 461. DON'T PUT IT OFF. Your hoped-for instructor may not be available, and you don't want to have to look desperately for another instructor at the last minute. Once you have an instructor, START THE PROCESS IMMEDIATELY! It is better to be ahead of the game than behind - you never know what kind of obstacles you will run into during your project.
3. Who should I do my Senior Project with?
First, you should choose a professor whose academic and research interests are related to your idea. Look at the department website for a list of faculty and their interests. Typically I prefer projects related to fluid mechanics and heat transfer, because my expertise is in this area, and I can contribute more to your project.
4. What should I do for my senior project?
You may not realize this, but you have a lot of sources for ideas at your disposal:
- Hobbies. Look for ideas in the activities you enjoy. Ever want to try different fin designs for your surfboard? Ever think there must be an easier way to change a tire on your bike?
- Internships and Co-ops. Often project ideas come from the projects you work on during your co-op or internship. I particularly like these because they are directly related to industry - a great way to make points during an interview. Beware: don't try to get ME 461 and ME 462 credit for a project you already started at your internship or co-op. The point of a Senior Project is to experience the design process under the supervision of an instructor. If you think your internship work is feasible for a Senior Project, find yourself an instructor before you get too involved in the project!
- Clubs. A lot of great senior projects come from clubs that build devices for competition. Usually you are designing a component or subsystem for the device, like the transmission for the Mini Baja vehicle. Consider joining such a club.
- Senior Design Courses. Often a group project from a course like ME 329 or ME 429 results in spin-off designs that are ideal for Senior Projects. Consult with your instructors.
- Professors. Sometimes professors have a few projects kicking around that they would be more than willing to discuss with you. In the past I've had students build prototypes for experiments in our laboratory courses. Often professors will advertise current projectsÖ Check outside their offices, or at the bulletin board outside the ME office.
Schedule of Events - What is due, and When?
There are a host of forms and procedures that are necessary to complete your project. This is my list, the list I expect you to follow:
Item When? 1. Purchase Senior Project Instruction Booklet from Second Addition Prior to ME 461 Prior to taking
ME 4612. Complete Senior Project Proposal form and Supervision Contract form (Both available outside ME Office), and deliver to your instructor. Deliver copies of signed forms to ME Department. ME 461 Week 1 3. Obtain schedule code from your instructor. Capture class. 4. Sign up also for ME 240. 5. Project Outline with schedule and conceptual sketch(es). ME 461 Week 1 6. Progress Reports, meetings with instructor. ME 461: weekly
ME 462: bi-weekly7. Preliminary Safety Statement, to be signed by instructor and Laboratory Technician. ME 461 Week 2 8. Complete product and patent search ME 461 Week 3 9. Draft Report: Introduction and Design chapters, with completed design drawings. ME 461 Week 9 10. Rough Draft of Final Report. ME 462 Week 8 11. Submit 2 copies of Final Report. ME 462 Week 10
The format of Senior Project reports vary from project to project, and even from instructor to instructor. A basic format might look something like this:Title PageYour report will almost certainly vary, depending on the nature of your project. For example, the List of Figures, List of Tables, and Nomenclature sections are optional. However, the outline above is a fairly accurate representation of what I expect. I invite you also to look at past Senior Project reports, which are kept in the library on campus. These will give you an idea of the types of projects that have been done in the past, as well as how tp present your work.
Disclaimer Page
Table of Contents
List of Tables
List of Figures
Nomenclature
Abstract
Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 Survey of State of the Art
Chapter 3 Design Development
3.1 Design Alternatives
3.2 Analysis
3.3 Material Selection
Chapter 4 Description of Final Design
Chapter 5 (Testing) Results
Chapter 6 Conclusions and Recommendations
Appendix A Final Drawings and Parts Lists
Appendix B Component Specifications
Appendix C Supporting Derivations
References
What to turn in at the end
At the end of ME 462, Week 10, you will submit two copies of the final report to your instructor. One copy is for the library, while the other is for the ME department. Each copy has slightly different forms that must be included:Library Copy - unbound, with no holes:
1. White copy of the cashier's receipt (available at the State Cashier's Office, Admin. Bldg.) which confirms that you have paid for the cost of microfilming your report.Department Copy - 3-hole punched and bound in a semi-rigid folder:2. Completed and signed Senior Project Requirement Form (available outside the ME office)
3. Body of report, with the first two pages being the Title Page and Statement of Disclaimer (typed by student)
You will submit this copy in a 9x12 or 10x13 clasp envelope addressed "Library - Senior Projects"
1. Evaluation and Grade Page (typed by student)2. Approval Page (typed by student)
3. Body of Report, with the first two pages being the Title Page and Statement of Disclaimer (typed by student)
Place a label on the front cover of the folder with project title and your name as illustrated below:
Title of Project by
Student Name
To be announced.
Sample Pages You Can Download (Word Format)
I've prepared some sample files you can use for your report. They contain the basic text, heading, margin, and numbering format that you will need to write your report. Note that these files sre written in Word format; if you have any problems downloading these files, please see me.1. Evaluation & Grade Page, Approval Page, Title page, and Disclaimer page. Each page is labeled in RED. Simply download the Word file, erase the red text, and edit.2. Sample Body of Report. I've included comments on formatting in the body of the text.
1. Do you have to invent something new for a senior project?2. What if my problem has already been solved before? (You can develop an original device to solve an already-solved problem. It's still a learning experience.)
3. Does it have to be a complicated project? (NO! Even the simplest-SOUNDING projects are really quite complex. Example: An automatic dog-ball thrower.)
4. Can developing a computer program suffice for a senior project?
(No. But it can be developed in addition to something you build.)5. Can an experiment count as a senior project? (Yes, if you design, build, and test it.)6. Can I just build that hovercraft I've seen advertised in the back of Popular Mechanics? (NO. Building is not sufficient. You must DESIGN. Now, if you want to design a hovercraft, that's a different story. But don't bite off more than you can chew! Keep your focus narrow!)
7. How much work constitutes a project? Can I design and build a bicycle, for example, or should I narrow the focus to just the suspension or what-not?
8. I have a project I'm working on under a co-op or internship, and it's almost done. Can I just sign up the next quarter with a professor and take 461 and 462 together, and be done with it?
(Generally no. You're not supposed to start your project without having already teamed up with your professor. That defeats the purpose of the senior project -- to be mentored by a professor!)9. Can you work on a senior project as a team? (Generally, no. But for example, if you are in a club, say, the Formula One Racer, you might be designing a suspension while another member designs a transmission.)10. Should I carry a full load of classes when I'm taking 461/462?
11. Can I have a machine shop build by design?
12. Do I have to buy the material for my design? (Generally, yes. If you're in a club, the club will be raising the money for the parts. If you are designing something exclusively for the department, like an experiment for a laboratory, the department may pick up the tab.)
13. What if my design doesn't work? (That's okay, as long as it was a learning experience)
14. What if I don't finish in time?