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Student Projects

Oscillating Air Motor

Oscillating Air Motor in Mechanical Engineering Technology Machine Shop at Okanagan College     Oscillating Air Motor v2.0 in Mechanical Engineering Technology at Okanagan College


Attention to detail and focus in machining is demonstrated in the best projects each year.

The Oscillating Air Motor is a major term project in Mech 139 first semester course, which introduces students to machining and fabrication.  The air motor consists of seven individual parts, including:  0.5" diameter brass piston with a 1" stroke;  3.5" diameter, 0.5" thick aluminum flywheel of 200 kg mass (0.44 lb).  The crankplate is made of brass, and mild steel is used for the base and cylinder (which houses the piston).  Components are made with three different milling machines and three different lathes, each set up for specific procedures.  An arbor press is used during assembly.  In order to operate smoothly and under minimum air pressures, tolerances of ± 0.005" (five thousands of an inch) are required between moving parts.

    Fastest air motors:  run over 800 rpm at 90 psi
    Lowest air pressure:  5 psi at about 70 rpm

Wankel Rotary Engine

CNC machining project of Wankel rotary engine    CNC project 2008 - Wankel rotary engine


A moving model of a Wankel Rotary Engine is the major term project in Mech 247 second year course.  It consists of an aluminum body, rotor, offset shaft, and plastic planetary gears (plastic machined using a 0.032" diameter cutter).  Students create parts and develop toolpaths using Mastercam.  The class then produces a working model of the Wankel engine on the Haas CNC Mini Mill.  The offset shaft is machined using the Hardinge CNC Superslant Lathe.

Capstone Design Projects

In the final semester, second year students choose to work on a design problem - one from a variety of applications in mechanical engineering set each year for the Mech 240 Project course.

The first stage for the design team is to generate and develop a number of feasible concepts for the design problem.  The team then evaluates all concepts in an objective manner, and selects one concept with the best potential to meet project objectives and requirements.  Team members work in close collaboration to develop the design into a final proposal for the remainder of the term.



Surprise is the shadow of what's next.

      Design project presentations by students in Mechanical Engineering Technology

The following is a selection of Mech 240 capstone projects which students have designed and prototype built over the last few years.

Sno-Limo prototype testing of mechanical engineering student designs     Loading Sno-Limo prototype on Big White chair

Sno-Limo prototype on Big White chairlift during testing of Mechanical Engineering student designs        Sno-Limo pneumatic lift design team in Mechanical Engineering Technology program

2010 - SnoLimo Design Improvement Project
Making a Good Thing Better



Stamping machine prototype build by students in Mechanical Engineering Technology     Stamping machine crankarm for student design project in Mechanical Engineering Technology

2008 - Automatic Stamping Machine



Redesigned spaghetti bridge load machine in use at 2009 spaghetti bridge competition - successful load testing of record breaking pasta bridge     Performance testing of spaghetti bridge load machine prior to 2009 Spaghetti Bridge Competition

Click for video of  2009 Spaghetti Bridge Competition
Mechanical engineers design-build the accurate delivery machine.  Civil engineers design-build the targets !!

2008 - Load Control System for Spaghetti Bridge Testing Machine



Automated Pneumatic Can Crusher Design Project in Mechanical Engineering Technology at Okanagan College          Pneumatic Can Crusher Prototype Build in Mechanical Engineering Technology at Okanagan College

2007 - Automated Pneumatic Can Crusher

 
News and Events

  • Fall 2012 applications open on Nov 6, 2011 to enter 1st year of our program in Sept 2012.
  • Career Fair 2011 - Sun Nov 6, 2011 from 10:30 - 4 pm at Kelowna campus.  Come out, visit with instructors and students in our labs.  Remember - if you apply at Career Fair, the application fee is waived for this day only.
  • Experience OC - coming in Feb 2012, Kelowna campus.  Build a machine and compete.  "If it moves, it's Mech"


Winter Semester 2012
  • Classes start Tues Jan 3 and end Thurs Apr 5, 2012
  • Final exams run from Wed Apr 11 to Sat Apr 21, 2012
  • End-of-semester courses are held over 2 week period from Mon Apr 23 to Fri May 4, 2012

1st Year Students

Textbook List for Semester Two
Class Schedule for Semester Two

2nd Year Students

Textbook List for Semester Three
Class Schedule for Semester Three