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1 Product Analysis
Introduction
What is your favorite brand of tennis shoe? Maybe you prefer casual shoes over
tennis shoes. No matter the shoe, the primary design focus is the samewhat
materials should engineers consider when designing the shoe? After all, the shoe
must meet your performance expectations and must be durable enough for everyday
demand.
While materials possess similarities to one another, their differences are equally
important as engineers search for the correct material to create a product. When
selecting materials, engineers must ask the following questions. Will extreme
conditions affect the material? Will these conditions cause the material to fail, and if
not, how safely will the material carry the load? How will the material behave if its
temperature is drastically changed? Will the material remain as strong as it was prior
to being formed? Will the material corrode when exposed to extreme conditions?
When engineers cant find a material that provides the desired traits, they invent new
materials by combining several existing materials.
Material selection for products requires engineers to consider material properties
against anticipated use. Engineers must sometimes find an alternative material for a
part in their design for many reasons, including environmental issues, cost issues, or
safety issues. For example, during World War II, each B-17 Super Fortress Bomber
was built with approximately 1000 pounds of rubber. Scientists were tasked with
finding or developing a suitable rubber alternative in order to lighten the aircrafts
load.
Equipment
Computer
3D modeling software
Engineering notebook
Digital scale
Graduated cylinder, beaker, etc.
Water
Nail
Measuring devicedial caliper, ruler, micrometer, etc.
Procedure
Categorizing materials and identifying their properties is an essential skill in the
everyday life of an engineer.
Part 1 Analysis:
1. Individually brainstorm a list of 10 common products found at home that
consist of at least two parts. These products may be items such as a cell phone,
thumb drive, stapler, backpack, etc. Record your list of products below.
a. cell phone
b. computer
c. bed
d. pencil
e. pen
f. fridge
g. table
h. phone case
i. clothes pin
j. keyboard
2. As a team identify two products from your brainstorming list to bring to the
next class meeting.
Product
#1: clothes pin
#2:pen
Gabe
2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Principles of Engineering Activity 2.2.1 Product Analysis Page 2
Description
Description
Description
8.
Description
Results
Hardness
Weight
metal piece:9.1g
Volume
Mass
wood: 4 ML
metal: 2 ML
wood 9.8
metal 9.1
Density
Wood: 2.24
Metal: 4.55
Surface Area
Hand Flexure Test
No
Description
Results
Mass
Density
Surface Area
Description
Use a multimeter with a built-in
continuity tester or a simple circuit
consisting of a power source and light
to check for the components ability to
conduct electricity.
Pass a magnet over the component.
Mass
Density
Surface Area
Weight
Volume
Results
Description
Use a multimeter with a built-in
continuity tester or a simple circuit
consisting of a power source and light
to check for the components ability to
conduct electricity.
Pass a magnet over the component.
Mass
Density
Surface Area
Weight
Volume
Results
Part 2: Modeling
10. Assign product components to individual team members.
2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Principles of Engineering Activity 2.2.1 Product Analysis Page 7
Product Component
Top wood piece
Metal Spring
Brandon
Ink plastic
Gabe
Outershell
Gabe
Conclusion Questions
1. How does design affect material selection?
4. What is liability? What are the liability issues, if any, related to the
materials for each product that your team selected?