MSD210 Project: Mechanism

Assigned: 24 February 2020

Due: 8 April 2020, at 23h59 6 May 2020, at 23h59

Form a group of at most 5 students. Sign up on ClickUP and take note of your group
number.

Note on groupwork in the time of Covid-19

Unfortunately, due to the lockdown and campus shutdown, it will not be possible for your
groups to meet in person to work on this project. You should still be able to complete the
project in a group via remote working tools (Google Hangouts, Zoom, Whatsapp, email).
If that is not possible for you, you can change to complete the project individually. (To
unenroll from a group, please send an email to helen.inglis@up.ac.za and include the
information about which group you are currently enrolled in.) Note that the project is
voluntary – it only counts if it helps you – so if you do not want to complete the project
you will not be penalised. However, if you spend some time on it, the project can improve
your semester mark.

Build a mechanism
Construct a scale model of a planar mechanism (e.g. four bar linkage, slider-crank). Use
materials such as cardboard, hardboard, ice cream sticks, paper clips, thumb tacks or other
available material to construct your mechanism. You will analyse the kinematics of your
chosen mechanism. (Note: you will not measure quantities from your model, you will
calculate them.)

You may choose a mechanism used in practice, for example in vehicles, earth moving
equipment, production lines, control systems, aeroplanes, etc. Alternatively, you may
choose a mechanism from the textbook. The following problems from M&K (8ed)
Chapter 5 are good examples of possible mechanisms: 5-33, 49, 54, 58, 72, 80, 81, 86, 87,
88, 89, 99, 100, 102, 110, 112, 115, 117, 118, 120, 130, 140, 144 and 147.

Please note that it must be a mechanism – other systems such as a planetary gear system,
or a belt and pulley system will not allow you to answer all the questions in the project. If
you are unsure whether your choice of mechanism is appropriate, you are welcome to
discuss this with the lecturers.

Investigation
1. Identify a starting configuration, i.e. lengths and angular positions of all
components of the mechanism. Identify one component as the driven component,
and specify the constant angular velocity and the position of the driven
component.
2. Analyse the velocities, angular velocities, accelerations, and angular accelerations
of the other components (or important points) for the assumed configuration of the
driven component.
3. Repeat step 2 for different positions of the driven component. Determine the track
of the extreme points of the mechanism.
4. Investigate the effect of at least two different geometrical configurations (linkage
lengths for example) on the velocities and accelerations for the angular velocity
 and position of the driven component as used in 2.
5. BONUS MARKS Plot a graph of the magnitude of at least one of the motion
variables (displacements, angles, velocities, angular velocities, accelerations or
angular accelerations) versus time, using a computer package. It is recommended
that you use MSC/Adams, but if you prefer, you may simulate the results of your
calculations using another package (e.g. Python, Matlab, Octave, Excel, C++).

MSC/Adams
For help with MSC/Adams, please consult the teaching assistants via the virtual TA office
hours, which will be advertised on clickUP.

Record the motion of your mechanism

Record a brief (10 sec to 60 sec) video of your mechanism showing the full range of
motion. In the frame, include a card with the group number and the names and student
numbers of all group members written on it. Upload your video (e.g. on Google Drive,
Youtube) and provide a link to the video in your clickUP submission.

Report
1. Explain the working of the mechanism or, if you choose a textbook mechanism,
where such mechanisms are applied in practice.
2. For each calculation step (2, 3, 4) in the investigation:
a. Give the results of the analysis, i.e. show your calculations.
b. Make use of graphs and tables as applicable.
c. Interpret results
3. For step 5, include graphs, and compare the simulation results with your
calculations.
4. The standard anti-plagiarism EBIT cover page for group assignments must be
added to the report. Make sure that the group number, students’ names and student
numbers are clearly indicated on the project as well as on the video of the
mechanism.
5. Upload an electronic copy of your report on ClickUP. You are welcome to scan or
photograph handwritten calculations, it is not necessary to rewrite them. However,
please make sure that the images are clear.

This group assignment will be assessed (using the assessment rubric on the following
page) and will count towards the semester mark as outlined in the Study Guide.

The standard anti-plagiarism EBIT cover page is available on the Mechanical Engineering
Departmental web page: http://www.me.up.ac.za/, then choose “Study” → “Notices”, or
you can access it directly by clicking this link:
https://www.up.ac.za/media/shared/Legacy/sitefiles/file/44/1026/2163/noticeboard/
practicalevaluationsheetandantiplagiarismgroup_2.pdf
MSD 210 Project Mark Sheet 2020

Component Includes Mark

(out of 5)
1. Mechanism • Does it do what it is supposed to?
• Explanation of the working of the
mechanism or practical applications.
2. Chosen angular • Calculated velocities and angular
velocity and position of velocities
driven component. • Calculated accelerations and angular
accelerations
• Interpretation
3. Different positions • Effect on velocities and accelerations
• Interpretation
• Trajectory of extreme points
• If only one position is considered, cannot
be given full marks
4. Different • Effect on velocities and accelerations
geometrical • Interpretation
configurations • If only one configuration is considered,
cannot be given full marks
5. BONUS Graph • Model and results
using computer • Proper labelling of graph
package
Penalty (if any)

TOTAL (out of 20)

Marks for each component of the project are awarded as follows:

Mark Criteria
5/5 Good commentary, interpretation, a special case investigated, enlightening
graphs.
4/5 Above average – some interesting insights or commentary.
3/5 Work just done according to assignment. No additional insights.
2/5 or 1/5 Work not done according to the assignment given, or does not make
sense.

Penalties
1. Groups of more than 5 students will be penalised 10 marks.