Leaving Cert. Engineering Project 2010/2011

villian02

Higher Level: Design a model of a snowmobile.

a) Have the rear propulsion unit controlled by an ON/OFF switch
b) Incorporate front skis with a steering mechanism
c) Have seating capacity for the driver only

Max size 300mm



Ordinary Level: Make a model recovery truck.

a) Electrical drive with ON/OFF switch
b) ONe decorative feature

Max size 250mm

villian02 wrote: »

Use the headings you are given on the pink sheet of your brief as the headings to put in your folder.

Do NOT use any other headings, (eg. Ones in the junior cert metalwork book for the design process). When the examiner marks your project, he works from the 5 headings on the pink sheet.

Analysis of Brief
Investigation of Solutions
Criteria for selection of solution
Production drawings/Plans
Testing and Evaluation

Students seem to think that they get marks for a history of the project/article to be made or a section on investigation full of pictures copied from the net. Stick to the headings given on the pink sheet and you will get simple, easy marks when it is being marked.
Examiners find it much easier to give marks when students stick to the marking scheme given. When students deviate from the marking scheme it much more difficult for the examiner to find the information he is looking for.

And one last thing, do not leave the folder to the last minute!! Do the folder as you go along through the project. Its much easier for the examiner to see your progression through your ideas and it shows through when the folder is done as the project is being made.
Either way, you should be as far as the production drawings before you start making the project anyway.

Higher Level:







Ordinary Level:










So where to from here? Best of luck


P.S.

The ordinary level folder comprises of different headings so make sure you are aware of this if you are taking the ordinary level.

sideways83

do the skis at the front actually have to steer it or can you steer it with the back axles...

villian02

sideways83 wrote: »

do the skis at the front actually have to steer it or can you steer it with the back axles...

I would assume from the wording of the brief the front skis control the steering.

"Incorporate front skis with a steering mechanism"

I'm sure the potential to steer using the front skis would suffice.

sideways83

iam lost...so the skis at the front will have to steer it.??
wud it do to have them steering but not actually controling the steering.just for show..

villian02

I wouldn't be getting too bogged down on the steering details to be honest. At the end of the day the whole point of the project is to make a model of the snowmobile.

You have to remember that there will be no way to test if the steering actually works due to not having snow to test it on :cool:.

As long as the mechanism you choose to aid steering has the potential to work you would be fine. (Basically that the handle bars connect to the skis on the front and that joining process you choose wont loosen as it is used).

Digits

Is this definitively this years project? Any links?

Repeat2011

can anyone put up a scan of the whole brief??

villian02

Digits wrote: »

Is this definitively this years project? Any links?

Yes this is definitely the brief. Came in the post this morning. No links as yet as it hasn't been updated on the SEC website as yet.

Repeat2011 wrote: »

can anyone put up a scan of the whole brief??

I'll get a scan of the whole brief tomorrow. Though there is nothing more on the sheet other than the standard instructions that come on the sheet every year and the marking scheme.

sideways83

villian02 wrote: »

I wouldn't be getting too bogged down on the steering details to be honest. At the end of the day the whole point of the project is to make a model of the snowmobile.

You have to remember that there will be no way to test if the steering actually works due to not having snow to test it on :cool:.

As long as the mechanism you choose to aid steering has the potential to work you would be fine. (Basically that the handle bars connect to the skis on the front and that joining process you choose wont loosen as it is used).

tanks for the help.its clearer nw.

partyatmygaff

Ahhhh.... What a crappy brief. Not impossibly difficult but it's gonna be a purely mechanical project. No opportunity for fancy electronics =/

RonyPonyBah

I'm scanning in the brief and the 6 hour now

villian02

Original post now with fully updated briefs

SevenCarPileUp

Only thing I'm worried about so far is how to go about making a track system from scratch. I'm planning on using rubber as the material, but I don't know where I'm going to get it. On ebay I saw some model tank tracks going for 13 euro from the US, but if I want to get a good grade am I really going to have to put money into it?

kollegeknight

SevenCarPileUp wrote: »

Only thing I'm worried about so far is how to go about making a track system from scratch. I'm planning on using rubber as the material, but I don't know where I'm going to get it. On ebay I saw some model tank tracks going for 13 euro from the US, but if I want to get a good grade am I really going to have to put money into it?

Can you not make it out of 6 mm thick aluminiun in the shape of a quadrilaterial?

I wouldnt worry too much about the tracks, miko metals in cork will prob have something when they send out lists to the metalwork teacher for material

Repeat2011

just picked up engineering this year, never done metal work, does anyone have any tips for making this project, don't no where to start?!!!!!

kollegeknight

Repeat2011 wrote: »

just picked up engineering this year, never done metal work, does anyone have any tips for making this project, don't no where to start?!!!!!

Have you done woodwork before? pm me and send you some stuff on it.

sideways83

are most ppl makin the tracks/wheels move ya??

partyatmygaff

Do you actually have to make the track yourself or can it be recycled?

shaunak101

does any1 know of any of those design programmes that i can use ?? preferably for free??

About the steering system it needs to be a working system... for instant imagine a steering wheel of a car but instead of it being attached to wheels its attached to skies.:D

sideways83

recycled id say.sur if you had to make them its would take you ageess.
its a projcts on snowmobile not track making jano.
dats what i tink anyway.

partyatmygaff

Mmm... Suppose we'll see as it progresses anyway.

citizen_p

stopped doing engineering at after 4th year due to it conflicting with another choice but...
i designed one for my mate today, basically an upscaled quad (the project in 3rd year, only around 150 by guesstimate so up to around 300) with tracks and skis. alot of minor changes, but same basic layout of parts, especially the front and top section of the project.

the track would be the only major change.

small changes would be suspension on the front skis and relocation of battry pack and switch and a led light at the front hooked to the same power as the tracks etc...

loverboy

What are ye going to do for da steering??

MadMattDog

loverboy wrote: »

What are ye going to do for da steering??

I dont think its wise to ask that. Thats the personal part of it.

As for the quad idea, genious, but you don't need the LEDs.

Wondering what are people making the mockup out of, and what would be suitable materials to make it out of?

loverboy

MadMattDog wrote: »

Wondering what are people making the mockup out of, and what would be suitable materials to make it out of?

I wouldn't ask that..thats a personal part of it

partyatmygaff

You can make it out of whatever you have at hand. Cardboard, paper anything really. Hell, you could even use sheets of 24 carat gold if you were inclined too.

partyatmygaff

Having done technology for JC, we needed more than one design and then we chose from them in the portfolio. Is it the same for Engineering or do you need only to discuss the one design that you find the best?

0987654321

partyatmygaff wrote: »

Having done technology for JC, we needed more than one design and then we chose from them in the portfolio. Is it the same for Engineering or do you need only to discuss the one design that you find the best?

As far as I know you have to discuss more than one design.



Do you have to submit the mock up??

kollegeknight

either submit the mock up or have plenty of photos of it.

kieranb1

sideways83 wrote: »

iam lost...so the skis at the front will have to steer it.??
wud it do to have them steering but not actually controling the steering.just for show..

i think that would do because they wont be testing it out like.. as long as it looks like it has potential

villian02

0987654321 wrote: »

As far as I know you have to discuss more than one design.



Do you have to submit the mock up??

It is necessary to include 3 possible solutions as part of your investigation, yes. And for the criteria for selection of solution chapter include the advantages and disadvantages for chosing each of your solutions.

You dont necessarily have to make a mockup as such. Your teacher may want you to make one to help you visualise the size better but it not absolutely necessary.

partyatmygaff

villian02 wrote: »

It is necessary to include 3 possible solutions as part of your investigation, yes. And for the criteria for selection of solution chapter include the advantages and disadvantages for chosing each of your solutions.

You dont necessarily have to make a mockup as such. Your teacher may want you to make one to help you visualise the size better but it not absolutely necessary.

Three solutions as in three full snowmobile designs or three solutions as in three mechanisms?

villian02

partyatmygaff wrote: »

Three solutions as in three full snowmobile designs or three solutions as in three mechanisms?

Yes, 3 full solutions of snowmobiles should be included. This may seem like a lot of work, but it you complete the analysis of the brief correctly and carry out the investigation methodically, 3 solutions should come about quite easily.
You could decide to include 3 solutions of mechanisms that may fulfil the brief also, but if you do this, you should really include 3 solutions of all of the other specifications you are asked to include on the project also.

In the long run, including 3 full solutions will make it easier for you to complete the criteria for selection of solution chapter, as you can provide advantages and disadvantages to each solution on each seperate sketch.

Power_10

What sub headings should you use when doing your analysis of brief.?

villian02

Power_10 wrote: »

What sub headings should you use when doing your analysis of brief.?

There are no set sub-headings to use as such. It all depends how you decide to tackle the brief. If i was doing it i would be breaking a standard snowmobile down to its basic components and identifying what is needed to make a snowmobile work. With all the necessary components identified i would use the investigation section of the brief to further research these and then identify mechanisms which you could use within your project to fulfil the given brief.

kollegeknight

Does a bar like this count as a mechanism? or does it have to be rack and pinion?

partyatmygaff

If you're using CAD for all of your drawings do you need to include mechanisms and circuitry in the CAD drawing? I don't fancy making motors and switches all in Solidworks (Particularly since I only started using it last Friday :eek: )

kollegeknight

i'd just make the individual parts like the junior cert project and list the mechanisms

desertstorm

Having done LC Engineering and gotten an A1, I just want to make the note that in your project report, have all the sections in it titled exactly as they are on the marking scheme breakdown for the folio (section 4 of the design brief).

It's how the examiner is viewing your report and makes it easier for them to allocate marks since it's clear what sections in your report are relevant to the marking scheme.

With regard the snowmobiles tracks, I know my year just used bought wheels for our project, and it would be time consuming and somewhat difficult to make an functional set of tracks, so I'd say you'd be ok to use a prefabbed rubber model track such as from an rc tank or similar as mentioned before.

If you want to throw in a bit of electronics, other than forward/back on/off, you could have front and rear led's, with the Led's coming on depending on which direction you're moving.

Also whatever you do about you're design, elaborate or not, just make sure you get the three features stated in the design brief into your model, otherwise you're throwing out marks

And one last thing, keep it simple and don't go making stuff without a clear idea of how it's all going to fit and work together or else you'll have a nightmare at the end trying to iron out the kinks

Chuchoter

I never knew this subject existed..it looks like so much fun! Wish my school did it.

0987654321

desertstorm wrote: »

Having done LC Engineering and gotten an A1, I just want to make the note that in your project report, have all the sections in it titled exactly as they are on the marking scheme breakdown for the folio (section 4 of the design brief).

It's how the examiner is viewing your report and makes it easier for them to allocate marks since it's clear what sections in your report are relevant to the marking scheme.

With regard the snowmobiles tracks, I know my year just used bought wheels for our project, and it would be time consuming and somewhat difficult to make an functional set of tracks, so I'd say you'd be ok to use a prefabbed rubber model track such as from an rc tank or similar as mentioned before.

If you want to throw in a bit of electronics, other than forward/back on/off, you could have front and rear led's, with the Led's coming on depending on which direction you're moving.

Also whatever you do about you're design, elaborate or not, just make sure you get the three features stated in the design brief into your model, otherwise you're throwing out marks

And one last thing, keep it simple and don't go making stuff without a clear idea of how it's all going to fit and work together or else you'll have a nightmare at the end trying to iron out the kinks

How long was your folio?

mikey11

just wonder there do any off ye hav designs for it??

mikey11

for the snowmobile ive kno idea what 2 do:(

lukeo17

Yea im the same will someone put up a good link to show how to design the model? ? ? havent a clue were to start

desertstorm

0987654321 wrote: »

How long was your folio?

32 Pages in total with pictures and stuff

Just noticed a lot of what I said is already in the first post had been up 36 hours pretty much so was in an odd place haha

As for the design lads, just try you're best to break the 3 requirements into the bare essentials, don't go over complicating it and try get a good mental image of it, rough sketch a few ideas out before trying to set something in stone. You won't be able to get this design spoon fed to you I'm afraid, but as for ideas, google is your friend.

Devro93

Im new to it also this year and have no ideas for the project .

sideways83

anybody any ideas on the steering or suspension

partyatmygaff

sideways83 wrote: »

anybody any ideas on the steering or suspension

There's no need for suspension. They can't give you marks for something not on the brief and marking scheme.

Remember everyone

KISS (Keep it simple, stupid)

villian02

partyatmygaff wrote: »

There's no need for suspension. They can't give you marks for something not on the brief and marking scheme.

Remember everyone

KISS (Keep it simple, stupid)

That isn't necessarily fully correct. It is possible to get marks if you add something into your project which is not required but does enhance the design or overall look of the project. BUT, if at all possible KISS! More often than not a student will add in something that is not required and the workmanship will be poor which may actually loose them marks. Do what is asked in the brief first of all and if you have the time or inclination enhance it afterwards.

0987654321

sideways83 wrote: »

anybody any ideas on the steering or suspension

Do steering mechanism similar to a go-kart, except with skis instead of wheels.

Saggateron

As for the quad idea, genious, but you don't need the LEDs.

Wondering what are people making the mockup out of, and what would be suitable materials to make it out of?[/QUOTE]


hey

just use hangers or paperclips to make a wireframe model i've used it for other mock ups its a bit tricy but it looks awesome if you pull it off