This is a course that helps students understand the field of engineering/engineering technology. Exploring various technology systems and manufacturing processes help students learn how engineers and technicians use math, science and technology in an engineering problem solving process to benefit people. The course also includes concerns about social and political consequences of technological change.

Course Outline

Syllabus

Ms. Elliott's Home Page

Engineering fields, as with most other fields, offers opportunities for all types of personalities and interests. Those who enjoy working on computers to examine complex problems can be designers; those who like to work with their hands can be involved with manufacturing; those with strong people skills can move into management, sales, or customer support; those who want to be involved in helping people directly can work side by side with doctors to develop major new technologies.

A simple machine is a mechanical device that changes the direction or magnitude of a force. In general, they can be defined as the simplest mechanisms that use Mechanical Advantage  (also called leverage) to multiply force. A simple machine uses a single applied force to do work against a single load force. Ignoring friction losses, the work done on the load is equal to the work done by the applied force. They can be used to increase the amount of the output force, at the cost of a proportional decrease in the distance moved by the load. The ratio of the output to the input force is called the mechanical advantage.

Safety First - Safety Statements and Safety Test:
SEPT. 23

SMET² (Using Science, Math, Engineering, and Technology to create a Simple Machine Energy Transformation Device)

In teams of two, students will use their knowledge of simple machines to design, construct and test sections of a device which will transfer energy from the first section to the last without human intervention.

First fitting: OCTOBER 11. Your SMET section does not have to be working yet, but its exit point and the entry point of the two bordering sections must be lined up.

Dry run testing will be held on OCTOBER 17. YOU AND YOUR PARTNER MUST HAVE YOUR SMET SECTION BUILT AND FUNCTIONAL ON THIS DATE!!!!!!

FINAL RUN (GRADED) WILL BE DURING SECOND HALF OF PERIOD ON OCTOBER 21st.

Engineer's Report: October 24th.

Oct. 31 - Dec. 2: Control Systems

• Introduction to FischerTechnics Basic Programming with RoboPro
• Open Loop and Closed Loop Controls
• Rotary Table
• Conveyor
• Machine-Tool Model
• Temperature-Controlled Fan

All of these tutorials will assist you in the final design of your Marble Sorter.

THANKSGIVING BREAK!!!!!  Enjoy a safe, relaxing, and fun week off!

HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MARBLES??

Today’s consumer pays a steep price (both long and short term) for products made from virgin materials. Most often, these products find their final resting-place in the local landfill. As a post-industrial society, we have a need as well as a responsibility to view our used products as a resource; to reuse, remanufacture, or recycle these products back into the manufacturing cycle. As recycling centers become a more common sight in our community, we must try to make them as efficient and cost effective as possible. Sorting the various components of trash is a time consuming process. Any effort made at trying to automate this task would increase the cost effectiveness of this operation.

When you begin to write your program, get a pencil/pen and a piece of paper WRITE them, in words, BEFORE YOU TRY TO WRITE THE PROGRAM IN THE COMPUTER!!!!  What do you want to happen when, and how is it going to happen?

When you do begin to program, remember to ANNOTATE your programs as you write them, and when you get ready to print, make sure it is large enough that it can be read.

Have You Lost Your Marbles Design Brief

Marble Sorters testing day is
Thursday, January 19th

Engineer's Report due January 23