MAE 415 Course Syllabus

MAE 415 – Mechanical Engineering Design I

Section 001
Fall 2022
3 Credit Hours

Course Description
The first course in the sequence of a two-semester capstone senior design project. Teamwork,
independent learning and communication skills are emphasized. Team of students practice
engineering design process through: problem definition, research, brainstorming, optimization, critical
review and analysis. Lectures focus on conceptual design, embodiment design, and quality.
Communication skills are developed through reports and presentations.

Learning Outcomes
After completing this course, the students will be able to:
 Identify an engineering problem, and break down goals and objectives for its solution.
 Devise individual feasible design.
 Demonstrate teamwork through peer reviews.
 Classify analysis techniques.
 Produce design/manufacturing drawings.
 Use state-of-the-art software and electronic tools.
 Budget and schedule a project.
 Communicate technical information.
 Compose an engineering journal.

Course Structure
The students are divided into six different sections, each with its own assigned project. This course
meets twice a week. In the first meeting of the week, lectures focusing in engineering design theories
are explained to all students by the faculty instructor. In the second meeting of the week, lectures on
reports, presentations, and employment of design theories in the assigned project are explained to the
students in each section by its own teaching assistant in separate classrooms.
Out-of-class training in manufacturing operations is scheduled in the early seven weeks of the
semester in senior design lab. All students must be certified by the end of the semester.

Course Policies
Students are not permitted to approach others requesting information on peer evaluation.

Instructors
Dr. Chau M. Tran (cmtran) – Instructor
Email: cmtran@ncsu.edu
Phone: 919-515-3025
Fax: 919-515-7968
Office Location: 3276 Engineering Building III (EB3)
Office Hours: MWTh 10:00am - 11:30am; by appointment

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Course Meetings
Lecture
Days: WF
Time: 1:30pm - 2:45pm
Campus: Centennial
Location: 1103 James B. Hunt
This meeting is required.

Course Materials
Textbooks
Engineering Design - Dieter, George and Schmidt, Linda
Edition: 5th
ISBN: 978-0-07-339814-3
Cost: TBD
This textbook is optional.
Mechanical Engineering Capstone Senior Design - MAE 415 Mechanical Engineering Notebook
- Black
Edition: 1st
Cost: $31.95
This textbook is required.

Expenses
None.

Materials
None.

Requisites & Restrictions

Prerequisites
MAE 315, MAE 316, MAE 302, MAE 308 and MAE 310

Co-requisites
None.

Restrictions
None.

Transportation
Students will be required to provide their own transportation for this class. Non-scheduled class time
for field trips or out-of-class activities is NOT required for this class.

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Safety & Risk Assumptions
All students are trained and certified for manufacturing operations. Safety and security govern all
else. Anyone performing intentionally unsafe activities will be dismissed from the course and given a
failing grade.
 When a student violates safety, his/her certification badge will be marked (a hole punched on the
badge).
 Any student whose certification badge is punched three times will be dismissed from the course
and given a failing grade.

Grading
Grade Components

Component Weight Details

There are three group presentations:

Feasibility Study Review (FSR) - 10%
Group Preliminary Design Review (PDR) - 10%
30% Critical Design Review (CDR) - 10%
presentations
Group presentation grades are assigned according to peer review.
Attendance at the presentation is required (see Attendance Policy).
There are two group reports:
PDR report - 25%
Group report 50% CDR report – 25%
Group report grades are assigned according to peer review.
Engineering notebooks are due twice in the semester.
Midterm notebook - 5%
Engineering Final notebook - 5%
10%
notebooks
Engineering notebook grades are for individual, and not subject to
peer review.
Individual FSR Individual FSR report grade is for individual, and not subject to peer
7%
report review.
Training grade is for individual, and not subject to peer review.
Training 3% Attendance at the allotted training session is required (see
Attendance Policy)

Letter Grades
This course uses standard NCSU letter grading
97 ≤ A+ ≤ 100 67≤ D+ < 70
93 ≤ A < 97 63≤ D < 67
90 ≤ A- < 93 60≤ D- < 63
87 ≤ B+ < 90 0≤ F < 60
83 ≤ B < 87
80 ≤ B- < 83
77 ≤ C+ < 80
73 ≤ C < 77
70 ≤ C- < 73

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 Requirements for Credit-Only (S/U) Grading
In order to receive a grade of S, students are required to take all exams and quizzes, complete all
assignments, and earn a grade of C- or better. Conversion from letter grading to credit only (S/U)
grading is subject to university deadlines. Refer to the Registration and Records calendar for
deadlines related to grading. For more details refer to http://policies.ncsu.edu/regulation/reg-02-
20-15.
Students are not allowed to take this course for credit only.

Requirements for Auditors (AU)

Information about and requirements for auditing a course can be found at
http://policies.ncsu.edu/regulation/reg-02-20-04.
Students are not allowed to audit this course.

Policies on Incomplete Grades

If an extended deadline is not authorized by the instructor or department, an unfinished
incomplete grade will automatically change to an F after either (a) the end of the next regular
semester in which the student is enrolled (not including summer sessions), or (b) the end of 12
months if the student is not enrolled, whichever is shorter. Incompletes that change to F will
count as an attempted course on transcripts. The burden of fulfilling an incomplete grade is the
responsibility of the student. The university policy on incomplete grades is located at
https://policies.ncsu.edu/regulation/reg-02-50-03/

Policies on Discussing a Graded Assignment

If the grade for an assignment is to be discussed, the discussion must be done no later than two
weeks from the day the assignment is returned.

Late Assignment
Late assignments will not be accepted and a zero will be registered.

Attendance Policy
For complete attendance and excused absence policies, please see
http://policies.ncsu.edu/regulation/reg-02-20-03.
Attendance means attending in-person. Virtual attending is absence.

Attendance Policy
Students absent from class must seek prior approval from their team and the instructor.

Absence Policy
Attendance at presentations is mandatory. Because there is no make-up presentation,
 The absent student who has no university official excuse will be penalized 50% of the
presentation grade.
 The absent student whose university official excuse is accepted by the instructor will be
penalized 10% of the presentation grade.
Attendance at the allotted training session is mandatory.
 For every absence at the allotted training session with no university official excuse, the absent
student will be penalized 50% of the make-up training grade.
 The absent student whose university official excuse is accepted by the supervisor will not be
penalized.

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 Makeup Work Policy
Make-up work must be arranged within one week of the due date if and only if an excuse with
proper documentation is accepted.

Additional Excuse Policy

None.

Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity
Students are required to comply with the university policy on academic integrity found in the Code
of Student Conduct found at http://policies.ncsu.edu/policy/pol-11-35-01.

Academic Honesty
See http://policies.ncsu.edu/policy/pol-11-35-01 for a detailed explanation of academic honesty.

Honor Pledge
Your signature on any test or assignment indicates, "I have neither given nor received
unauthorized aid on this test or assignment."

Digital Course Components

Students may be required to disclose personally identifiable information to other students in the
course, via digital tools, such as email or web-postings, where relevant to the course. Examples
include online discussions of class topics, and posting of student coursework. All students are
expected to respect the privacy of each other by not sharing or using such information outside the
course.

Accommodations for Disabilities

Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with verifiable disabilities. In order to take
advantage of available accommodations, students must register with the Disability Resource Office at
Holmes Hall, Suite 304, Campus Box 7509, 919-515-7653. For more information on NC State’s policy
on working with students with disabilities, please see the Academic Accommodations for Students with
Disabilities Regulation (REG02.20.01) (https://policies.ncsu.edu/regulation/reg-02-20-01/).

Non-Discrimination Policy
NC State provides equal opportunity and affirmative action efforts, and prohibits all forms of unlawful
discrimination, harassment, and retaliation ("Prohibited Conduct") that are based upon a person's
race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, gender
identity, genetic information, sexual orientation, or veteran status (individually and collectively,
"Protected Status"). Additional information as to each Protected Status is included in NCSU REG
04.25.02 (Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation Complaint Procedure). NC State's policies and
regulations covering discrimination, harassment, and retaliation may be accessed at
http://policies.ncsu.edu/policy/pol-04-25-05 or https://oied.ncsu.edu/divweb/. Any person who feels
that he or she has been the subject of prohibited discrimination, harassment, or retaliation should
contact the Office for Equal Opportunity (OEO) at 919-515-3148.

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Course Schedule
NOTE: The course schedule is subject to change.

Lecture WF 1:30pm - 2:45pm — Introduction — 08/22/2022 -

08/26/2022
 Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Design
 Introduction to projects

Lecture WF 1:30pm - 2:45pm — Preparation — 08/29/2022 -

09/02/2022
 Section assignments; Team structure, Syllabus, Preparing for problem introduction by
sponsor; Team behavior and tools (D&S 4.2-4.5, 4.8)
 Syllabus, Lab notebooks, Report Format (PDR, CDR, DDR), Presentation Guidelines;
Background, Literature Review, Personnel, References; Allocate manufacturing positions

Lecture WF 1:30pm - 2:45pm — Feasibility Study (Conceptual

Design) — 09/05/2022 - 09/09/2022
 Engineering Design (D&S 1.1, 1.2, 1.4)
 Problem Introduction by sponsor representatives (09/09/2022). Attendance is
required
 Labor Day (M)

Lecture WF 1:30pm - 2:45pm — Feasibility Study (Conceptual

Design) — 09/12/2022 - 09/16/2022
 Gathering Information (D&S 5.1, 5.4, 5.6, 5.9); Design Principles and Inspiration (B&K 4.1,
4.2)
 Problem Statement - Brainstorm (Instructor/Students)

Lecture WF 1:30pm - 2:45pm — Feasibility Study (Conceptual

Design) — 09/19/2022 - 09/23/2022
 Concept Generation (D&S 6.5-6.7)
 Team Assignments; Description of Design, Simulation; Design Methodology, Schedule
 Training begins 09/19/2022

Lecture WF 1:30pm - 2:45pm — Feasibility Study (Conceptual

Design) — 09/26/2022 - 09/30/2022
 Decision Making and Concept Selection (D&S 7.3, 7.5, 7.6)
 Feasibility Study, Optimization Method; Deliverables, Safety, Impact on Society, Ethics
 Individual Feasibility Study Review reports due (09/30/2022)

Lecture WF 1:30pm - 2:45pm — Feasibility Study (Conceptual

Design) — 10/03/2022 - 10/07/2022
 Rough draft of Feasibility Study Review presentation submitted to sponsor
(10/05/2022)
 Decision Making and Concept Selection (D&S 7.6, 7.7)
 Group Feasibility Study Review presentation (10/07/2022) - Sponsor
representatives attend. Attendance is required (see Attendance Policy)

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Lecture WF 1:30pm - 2:45pm — Preliminary/Critical Design
(Embodiment Design) — 10/10/2022 - 10/14/2022
 Embodiment Design (D&S 8.2, 8.3)
 Assembly Details, Material Selections, Mechanisms, Design for Manufacturing
 Fall Break (M, Tu)

Lecture WF 1:30pm - 2:45pm — Preliminary/Critical Design

(Embodiment Design) — 10/17/2022 - 10/21/2022
 Embodiment Design (D&S 8.4, 8.5)
 General Economics, Costs
 Group Preliminary Design Review report due (10/21/2022)

Lecture WF 1:30pm - 2:45pm — Preliminary/Critical Design

(Embodiment Design) — 10/24/2022 - 10/28/2022
 Embodiment Design (D&S 8.5, 8.6)
 Analysis; Preliminary Design Review Presentation Guidelines
 Lab journal, peer review due (10/28/2022)

Lecture WF 1:30pm - 2:45pm — Preliminary/Critical Design

(Embodiment Design) — 10/31/2022 - 11/04/2022
 Embodiment Design (D&S 8.7)
 Group Preliminary Design Review presentation (11/04/2022) - Sponsor
representatives attend. Attendance is required (see Attendance Policy)
 Training ends. All students must be certified by 11/04/2022

Lecture WF 1:30pm - 2:45pm — Preliminary/Critical Design

(Embodiment Design) — 11/07/2022 - 11/11/2022
 Embodiment Design (D&S 8.8, 8.9)
 Discussion of analysis with teams; Discussion of the graded PDR report with teams

Lecture WF 1:30pm - 2:45pm — Preliminary/Critical Design

(Embodiment Design) — 11/14/2022 - 11/18/2022
 Materials Selection (D&S 11.3-11.5, 11.7-11.9)
 Group Critical Design Review presentation (11/18/2022). Sponsor representatives
attend if so desired. Attendance is required (see Attendance Policy)

Lecture WF 1:30pm - 2:45pm — Preliminary/Critical Design

(Embodiment Design) — 11/21/2022 - 11/25/2022
 Thanksgiving (W-F)

Lecture WF 1:30pm - 2:45pm — Preliminary/Critical Design

(Embodiment Design) — 11/28/2022 - 12/02/2022
 Design for Manufacturing (D&S 13.5, 13.6); Quality (D&S 15.2, 15.3, 15.5)
 Test Design, Statistical Analysis of Data; Appendices; Preparation for Mock-up Model
presentation in the Spring
 Group Critical Design Review report, lab journal, peer review due (12/02/2022)
 Last week of classes

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