Senior Design Projects Spring 2020

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Michigan Tech Foundry Induction Furnace Ventilation Ring

Team Members

Sam Dix, Hunter Karlen, and Rebecca Bergstrom, Mechanical Engineering Technology

Advisor

Scott Wagner, Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology

Sponsor

ArcelorMittal, Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Project Overview

Design and install a fume ring on the 300-lb. Inductotherm furnace in the Michigan Tech Foundry and connect into the existing ventilation system.

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Ice Resurfacing Machine

Team Members

Kyle Archambeau, Jacob Anderson, and Sean Koster, Mechanical Engineering Technology

Advisor

John Irwin, Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology

Sponsor

ArcelorMittal

Project Overview

Our team designed and built an ice resurfacing machine that can be pulled by hand or behind a lawn tractor and will be used on personal ice rinks.

Extrusion Cut and Drill Automation

Team Members

Skyler VanderBoegh, Melinda Henry, and Avery Yarbrough, Mechanical Engineering Technology

Advisors

Kevin Johnson, Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology; Russell Stein, Materials Science and Engineering

Sponsor

Donald Engineering, ArcelorMittal, Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Project Overview

The MSE department utilizes an extrusion press to extrude aluminum alloy billets through a tool to produce a UP-shaped cross section to create a bottle opener part. The aluminum billet is first extruded into a “log” approximately 36 inches long, which is then heat treated to T6. Currently, the manual process of creating the UP bottle opener is to cut the “log” into one-quarter inch thick pieces, sand the cut faces, drill the key ring mounting hole, and deburr. This process has proven to be tedious and inefficient due to the amount of manual labor required for each individual product. The sponsor would like an automated process of cutting, preferably eliminating the sanding process of the cut surfaces and drilling the key ring mounting hole. The goal of this project is to feed the “log” in one end of the system and have the finished bottle opener parts delivered at the end of the process ready for deburring, anodizing, and engraving. This will save students and faculty a great deal of time when producing large quantities of the bottle openers.

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Aqueous Washer Tank

Team Member

Dakota Lowrance, Mechanical Engineering Technology

Advisor

Scott Wagner, Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology

Sponsor

Selkey Fabricators LLC

Project Overview

I am working with Selkey Fabricators LLC to help design a washer tank for industrial hydraulic cylinders used for heavy equipment. This design must include a heating element to heat up the water and soap solution, and evaporate the water to eradicate the leftover oil and dirty mixture from cleaning the cylinders. Additionally, the design includes a pump that will be used to bring the water/soap solution from the tank to be sprayed on the cylinders. Lastly, the design will need a separate control panel to control all of the devices, as well as an emergency shutdown option. The successful implementation of the design will allow Selkey to acquire additional assets and grow their business.