EEVblog Electronics Community Forum

General => General Technical Chat => Topic started by: Adhith on December 31, 2015, 03:52:39 pm

Title: project ideas needed
Post by: Adhith on December 31, 2015, 03:52:39 pm
hello everyone... :)
iam a 3rd year mechanical engineering student. Iam looking for some project to do in my college which is related to either electronics &  mechanical or only mechanical. can any one have any suggestions or ideas to share...??
Title: Re: project ideas needed
Post by: Brumby on December 31, 2015, 04:43:05 pm
Give us a bit of help here...

 - What specific area of mech eng interests you?
 - Are there any particular components you would like to measure, monitor and/or control?  Speed, position, stress, etc....
Title: Re: project ideas needed
Post by: German_EE on December 31, 2015, 04:50:05 pm
An elevator controller? It sounds easy until you start to consider all of the safety interlocks that the modern world demand. Or maybe an engine management unit for an older vehicle where it's easier to get at everything.

Don't build a robot, lots of students build those and you need to impress.
Title: Re: project ideas needed
Post by: awallin on December 31, 2015, 04:58:20 pm
direct-drive telescope mount for astrophotography, see e.g. http://www.astrosysteme.at/eng/mounts.html (http://www.astrosysteme.at/eng/mounts.html)
requires two orthogonal mechanically accurate bearings/mechanisms, a very high resolution encoder (how to build this cheaply?), and a very low-rpm high torque brushless motor design+controller.

hexapod 5-axis cnc mill. Lightweight rigid cheap 5-axis has been a promise for a long time (20+ years?) but nobody has really delivered on this. CNC machining centers are still these big heavy ugly cartesian things. Smart mechanics to make it accurately go together in a DIY build, as well as electronics/software to calibrate it needed. see e.g. http://parallelrobots.blogspot.com (http://parallelrobots.blogspot.com)

these challenging enough?  >:D
Title: Re: project ideas needed
Post by: Adhith on December 31, 2015, 04:59:51 pm
Iam more intrested towards automobiles like engine power, suspension, braking... & iam also thinking of any method for waste heat harvesting from the vehicles.
Title: Re: project ideas needed
Post by: rich on December 31, 2015, 05:10:32 pm
It might be worth outlining your time and budget constraints, as that will have a massive impact on choosing a suitable project if it counts towards your qualification.
Title: Re: project ideas needed
Post by: bitslice on December 31, 2015, 06:10:08 pm
Develop a sensor to measure brake pad wear, and to anticipate a date for replacement for the pad based on current usage.
Title: Re: project ideas needed
Post by: Adhith on December 31, 2015, 06:32:01 pm
It might be worth outlining your time and budget constraints, as that will have a massive impact on choosing a suitable project if it counts towards your qualification.
I have one year of time & i dont have high budget (anyway less than 800 dollars). if the college accepts it i will get more funds.
Title: Re: project ideas needed
Post by: NiHaoMike on December 31, 2015, 10:47:17 pm
What about a hybrid bicycle?
Title: Re: project ideas needed
Post by: Richard Crowley on December 31, 2015, 10:51:46 pm
Develop a sensor to measure brake pad wear, and to anticipate a date for replacement for the pad based on current usage.
If you have wheel RPM and brake system pressure, you should be able to accumulate a factor indicating how much brake shoe/pad is being used.

Or a sensor to track contact spacing between the two sides of the brake apparatus.