ME 71 Final Project Guidelines
The goal of the final project is to provide a reasonably complete design experience: from initial concept to final prototype. The final projects will be "free form" in their definition and evaluation rather than competitive. However, given the limited time available, it is necessary to place some reasonable constraints on your freedom to pursue topics of your own choice.
For your final project you may choose one of the "pre-approved" final projects, listed below, or you may devise your own project, subject to some restrictions and instructor approval. Your "design team" should consist of two people unless otherwise approved in advance by the instructor(s). Teaming with someone provides a more realistic design experience and usually results in a broader exploration of the design space. An ideal team consists of members who complement each others skills and capabilities. Design teams of more than two students are allowed with instructor consent; however, the quality of the project is expected to be proportional to the number of students involved. Individuals may undertake a final project provided the project is judged to be within the reach of that individual.
Since the final project follows very tight deadlines, and because the grading and recording of the various submissions takes some time, it is highly desirable that you submit photocopies of your work and keep the originals in your design notebook for reference.
The act of submitting a pre-proposal that outlines a project of your own design does not automatically guarantee approval. Our goal is to notify you (via email) of project acceptance/denial by 5:00 pm on the same day that the preproposals are submitted.
There can be no exceptions to this deadline. Students who do not complete the project by this date will receive a grade based on the portion of the project that is completed at that time. Incompletes may be given for valid reasons, but must be accompanied by a letter from the Dean of Students explaining why you deserve an Incomplete. Students who do not complete the project because of poor planning will not be given the Incomplete option.
To facilitate grading of the final projects, and organization of your
efforts, each design team is required to maintain a "design notebook".
At the bare minimum, this notebook should catalog the essential
information about your project. Preferably, the notebook should also
record the significant evolutionary changes in your design. The final
contents of the design notebook must include:
The main objectives of the design reviews are to provide structured
opportunities for:
Presentation materials for each review will be limited to 3 viewgraphs.
Time allocation for each review presentation will be determined based on
the number of design teams and the available time. It may be necessary
to expand the standard lecture time slots to provide adequate time for
the reviews. The expected contents of the PDR and CDR presentations
are:
The final project grade will be based on:
For each project, a degree-of-difficulty multiplying factor may be
assigned. For pre-approved project subjects, the degree of difficulty
is listed in the
project description (below).
For individually selected project ideas,
the degree of difficulty will be determined by the instructor(s).
Your final project grade will be multiplied by this
factor (which would be 1.0 for an average project, perhaps as high as
1.15 for very ambitious projects, and as low as 0.85 for simple
projects) to arrive at your total final project score. You should
normally assume that the degree of difficulty is 1.0.
Adjustments from this nominal value will only be made when necessary.
For your final project, you may use any scrap materials that are
available in the M.E. Shop.
Some teams will need other items that can be purchased
at the
Central Warehouse
or elsewhere.
However, each team
will have a budget of $7.50 per team member
to buy materials that aren't available in the
M.E. Shop.
The cost of any components above the $7.50 per team member
limit will be the
responsibility of the design team members.
Both the Central Warehouse and the Central Plant Stockroom will
accept charges for ME71.
Simply tell the person there that you want to charge your purchase
to ME71, and mention either Prof. Antonsson or John VanDeusen's name.
Both locations will also check current prices at the time of purchase,
and will accept UID's (for purchases over the $7.50 per team member limit).
The Design Notebook
Design Reviews
This parallels the design assignment presentations done earlier in the
term; however, discussion should include an outline of the expected
difficult aspects of fabricating the device. Content:
At the PDR, each team should submit the following written materials:
This review presentation should focus on the resolutions to difficulties
that were expected from the PDR and other difficulties that were
revealed during the fabrication process. Content:
No written materials are due at the CDR.
Final Project Grading
Final Project Materials