Reflection Essay MEE40002 Mechanical Systems Design

MEE40002 Mechanical Systems Design Reflection Essay

Written by: DON KUSHAN HIMANTHA WIJEMANNE

The Mechanical System design project, the motorized wheelbarrow provided a lot of knowledge
and a massive foundation to me, where a lot can be learned on how a wheelbarrow can be motorized.
As an undergraduate engineer, I was able to test the boundaries of different designs and by doing the
mechanical system design project it certainly provided a challenge for me.
If more resources and time were allocated, these projects can be performed alone, but due to the lack
of time, groups were allocated. There are pros and cons working in a group, is not all the group
members work on the same time. This was an issue facing in our group since we all had different
subjects colliding with times when the other members are free. Since there was clashes among the
group members, setting up meetings was a difficult task. However, we all managed to have free time
during the weekends and we all would meet up and discuss about the design project. When the
meetings were held, a lot of information would be discussed and numerous points were recorded in
books. These meetings were eventually recorded as meeting minutes and work was distributed among
the group members. Since work was distributed it helped me to complete most of my design project
tasks for the final report and leave up room for assembling the motorized wheel barrow, as a project
like this is particularly new to me.
The design overall project was successful indeed, however certain aspects of work and activities
among the group could have managed better, if all the equipment was handed to us beforehand. Since
the equipment was given us a bit later to the semester, our team researched on certain equipments to
procure and it also gave us time to do the necessary calculation as to which type of motor and what
type of chain drive to use. However, the lecturer provided us the certain equipments to continue the
wheel barrow project. From the initial calculations performed from our group, the equipment handed
to us from the lecturer satisfies the condition for the assembly of the wheel barrow. By utilizing the
Gant chart, we as a team were able to fulfil each aspect of the design project. The assembling phase of
the project was a bit late as we did not have a proper place and the equipment to do welding and
drilling. The workshop labs in Swinburne university was mainly occupied by the final year research
project students. Our team decided to look elsewhere for the assembling phase. We found a place to
assemble the motorized wheelbarrow outside Swinburne as it will not affect the other students, due to
limitation of equipment
Lessons were surely learnt by doing the design project. The most valuable thing I learnt from this
project is how to weld. It took me few tries on certain other objects to finally master the welding
process. I got to use certain automated cutting machines to cut certain objects for the wheelbarrow,
Such as the casing for the battery pack. The other thing I learnt was how to use drilling machines to
cut certain holes and know how to properly mount them. Taking certain accurate measurement to cut
and bolt the casing of the battery pack and the one way sprocket. I also got to use the Lathe machine
to cut a circle to the wheel of the wheelbarrow. However, it took me a while to actually figure out the
tolerance values to cut the wheel with high accuracy and to finally to fit the one way sprocket to the
wheel. I had to utilize my knowledge of materials and manufacturing to obtain the optimum material
to mount the motor. Other subjects such as Computer Aided Engineering helped us to design the
wheelbarrow and we had a clear idea on where to put the motor and the battery packet. By using this
software it gave me a lot of experience into using the designing softwares. By the knowledge we had
in machine design on designing a gearbox, it helped me and my group mates on what type of chain to
be used which would be attached to the motor.

DON KUSHAN WIJEMANNE

4311019

Reflection Essay MEE40002 Mechanical Systems Design

Designing will always have advantages and disadvantages as designing should be natured and
developed. Can a design be optimised? To extend yes. This is where my design capability is
questioned. Even though I can perfectly design a product in my mind, but it will always be different to
someone elses perspective. He or she may be able to improve the design, given the right allocated
time. The theory which was taught by our lecturer, really helped me understand and identify my
weakness and my strengths. Since our initial idea was consulted by the lecturer and the tutor, our
group prefer improving the initial design so there is a base to work with and altered during the process
of the design.
The notes during lectures, clarified my thoughts on designing and clearly showed how to develop
thoughts towards the ultimate end objective of the project. However, by using theories from lectures I
established a backup design, in case the initial design fails. Since I was learning how to weld and drill
I was skilled to carry on with the rest. However, I seem to have some trouble in the electronic parts of
the motorized wheel barrow. We were given a throttle, DC speed controller, batteries and a couple of
wires from the lecturer. Since I have not dealt with these electronic equipment before, my group
member set up the wiring to the equipment. The absolute beauty of working as a team is that each
group member relates to their strengths, as my weakness on electronic field was my team members
strength. I lack of electronic knowledge is because I wasnt tampered with any electronic equipment
back in high school, as I found interest in the mechanical background. However, I should improve my
skills or knowledge base on the electronic equipments, but I am sure it will improve furthermore in
the future. I also realised that being impatient and rash, nothing will ever be accomplished. Patience is
a virtue, and I need to be stable and analyse all possible situations. I also started to follow a lot of
tools. Mainly situation assessment and breathing.
Therefore this unit, Mechanical system design provided skills, leadership and teamwork towards
being a successful mechanical design engineer. Since this subject has given me the opportunity to
evaluate myself and put my designing skills to use, I would have no problem if I were a given another
project to be designed. Activities such as thinking, voting system and proper brain storming tools
clearly showed me where my greatest strengths are, this will help me improve my design capabilities
in the future.
There was no other group competing with us on the wheel barrow project, as it was only assigned for
one group. However, we received a motorised wheel barrow design from our lecturer. The design
provided from the lecturer was quite similar to our prototype. The only difference was the battery
pack installed in the connecting shaft of the wheelbarrow pan. However, this is quite intelligent in my
opinion, because it could make the wheelbarrow more stable during work. In terms of power system,
they were able to have the dc controller and the throttle fully functional, where as our group failed to
have these equipments fully functional due to throttle not working. The other thing I noticed was
there motor one way sprocket has more teeth than ours, but the gear ratio remained the same. Their
front lift system was also different to our one. They had shafts connecting to the jack support whereas
in our prototype had none. This could be another important point we did not consider, as providing a
front lift system supported to the jack support makes the wheel barrow my stable and more durable
when put in the field. If there were more motorized wheelbarrow projects performed by other groups
it would have been wonderful, because lot of information can be gathered and our group would have
seen more innovative and unique designs for motorized wheel barrow project.

DON KUSHAN WIJEMANNE

4311019

Reflection Essay MEE40002 Mechanical Systems Design

In conclusion, the motorized wheelbarrow project identified my strength and weakness and my ability
to perform as design engineer. The subject has given me a lot of experience of designing a motorized
wheel barrow, it showed me the drawbacks and also showed me the design changes that goes into a
final designing project. In order for our prototype to work successfully adjustments were made. This
reflection also encouraged me and also taught me that I need to improve my weakness and to keep
developing my strengths, this will help me become a professional design engineer.

References

Wagner,K.(2013) Powered Wheelbarrow. Available at:

https://drc.libraries.uc.edu/bitstream/handle/2374.UC/701568/MET2013_Wagner_Ke
vin.pdf?sequence=1 (Accessed: 2 November 2016).

Govender,
C.
(2014) Adult
life
support.
Available
at:
https://www.resus.org.uk/resuscitation-guidelines/abcde-approach/ (Accessed: 2
November 2016).

DON KUSHAN WIJEMANNE

4311019