3D Lego Man

CAD I - AutoDesk Inventor; 3D Lego Man

Students learned advanced techniques in Inventor to create 3D Lego man replicas.  Students also learned how to add facial features, decals and color, as well as other custom enhancements.

Students measured their Lego man with precision using dial calipers

Students learned how to Assemble all Part files in Inventor

Students learned how to make Exploded Views in Inventor

Students created Drawing files of all parts, assembly and exploded view

Wind Turbines in Technology, Design & Innovation

Students studied alternative energy and gear ratios as they designed fully functional wind turbines using a variety of materials.  The challenge was to generate as much voltage as possible.  After students drew their turbine blades on CAD, we used the laser engraver to cut them out.  From here students had to study compound gear boxes and find the best ratio that didn't sacrifice torque.  They were all successful at the extreme challenge of laying out the gearbox, drilling the holes and assembling.  They experimented with blade angles and built self-correcting tail fins.  Students even used a tachometer to measure blade RPM.  The winning team produced 19 volts!

CAD I - Reverse Engineering Small Appliances

Students in CAD I participated in an extensive lesson on Reverse Engineering.  In this activity students will bring something in from home, such as a small appliance, toy or fixture.  With this they will disassemble and dissect each item, learn what it does and conclude how the object works.  They will learn how to use basic hand tools & how and why parts are engineered, while looking at the Principles of Design and learning about a variety of materials used in industry.  Students will also learn how to keep an engineering notebook as they document and describe the parts of their particular appliance. 

Sunbeam Kitchen Mixer

 

Keurig Coffee Maker

Pencil Sharpener

RC Car Dodge Challenger

CAD II - Small Gas Engines; Reverse Engineering

This invaluable experience is always a favorite of all!!  Students in CAD II learned all about hand tools, mechanical fasteners and how engines operate, including understanding the 4-stroke and 2-stroke cycles.  The students applied their knowledge to completely disassemble the engines using basic and specialty tools needed to remove a variety of fasteners they previously learned about.  Students also gained knowledge of the major engine operating systems including lubrication, cooling, electrical, fuel and governing.   Different materials (steel,aluminum, cast iron) were also explored along with troubleshooting and service methods.  

Torque Wrench!!!

Valve Spring Compressor Tool 

 Gapping Spark Plugs

 Testing for Spark

 Learning about carburetors

Laser Cut Holiday Decorations

Students designed snowflakes and other holiday decorations on AutoCAD.  Then we cut them with the laser engraver from wood and acrylic.

TCNJ Design Challenge

On November 19, 6 of my CAD II Engineering students attended TCNJ for a Junior/Senior Design Challenge.  They competed against 16 other schools and placed 2nd by popular vote and 1st by TCNJ Judges!  

Their design challenge was to design and build an arcade game that must be mechanical and physically interactive, using common class materials, Scratch programming software and a Makey Makey controller. 

Our team designed an Asteroids game where they built an actual joystick that controlled the game they programed in the Scratch program... quite impressive!! 

Powered Flight - Tech Design & Innovation Class

Students learned about principles of aerodynamics, airfoils and flight. Then they designed an airfoil, cut it from foam and assembled the remaining plane.  The planes were then tested and problem solved in order to achieve take-off, maintain flight and then successfully land.  Thanks to Steve Richards for hooking me up with this project!

Building Towers in Tech Design & Innovation Class

Students learned about engineering principles of which they applied to building a tower that must withstand as much compressive strength as possible, while being as light as possible.  After using an efficiency formula, our winning group found that their tower held 3,290 lbs at an efficiency ratio of 567.24 lbs per oz.!!  Thanks to Steve Richards for hooking me up with this project.

Congratulations Class of 2019!!!

John Fiorini - Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech

Alicia DeMarchi - Mechanical Engineering at Northeastern University

Emily Perna - Architecture at Univ. of Texas at Austin

David Kim - Mechanical Engineering at Rutgers

Rohan Harish - Electrical and Computer Engineering at NJIT

David Eweka - Aerospace Engineering at Virginia Tech

Andy Kim - Mechanical Engineering at Cooper Union

Lexi Soulias - Mechanical Engineering at Lehigh

Max Kevelson - Mechanical Engineering at Lafayette

Joe Campione - Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech

Anthony Lin - Biomedical Engineering at Northeastern University

Cameron Yeager - Materials Science & Engineering at Arizona State

Mo Rivadeneyra - Mechanical Engineering at NJIT

Scott Layton - Architecture at the University of Cincinnati

Ryan Lindrud - Civil Engineering at Manhattan College

Katie Kisker - Biomedical Engineering at Purdue University

Meredith Regner - Human Systems Engineering & Health Care Innovations at Arizona

Evan Shimoun - Computer Engineering at Michigan
Karthik Iyer - Biomedical Engineering at Pittsburgh 

Technology and Engineering Club

Chris Richardson and Marijn deBie designed and built a remote controlled glider...that works!

TSA - Technology Student Association 2019

A team of students participated in the 2019 state conference at TCNJ in April.  Students competed in Software design and Animatronics.

Robotics II - Space Elevator

An incredible challenge of making a robot to climb a strap to the ceiling and then return back to the floor after a touch sensor is activated to reverse the motors.

Robotics I - Electronics and Arduino

Students are wiring circuits with electronic bread boards and creating programmable robots with Arduino kits.

Robotics I - Cross the Gap Challenge

Students were challenged to create a robot that could cross the longest gap possible.  The best robot crossed a 15" gap!!!