Capstone Curriculum

Overview

The MME Capstone curriculum is a three course sequence required of all students in the BSME program. These courses must be taken in a single academic year.

ME 491 Design Process

In ME 491 students are exposed to modern design methodology. Students develop skills in team oriented design process spanning conceptual development to final design and manufacturing. Design methodologies are discussed as a framework for solving broadly defined technology problems. Interdisciplinary organizational principles are presented as tools in the design process and as a foundation for the subsequent project course. Course meetings involve lectures, case studies, and group projects.

At the end of ME 491, students form teams and chose the design projects they will pursue during ME 492 and ME 493.

Current web page: ME 491

ME 492 Conceptual Design Project

Students begin ME 492 with a broadly defined design project. Most of these projects originate from companies and organizations in the Portland metropolitan area.

Students work in groups of three to five under supervision of a faculty advisor and an industrial advisor. The student team develops conceptual design solutions for their project. Using the skills obtained in ME 491, the team evaluates the conceptual designs and choose one to pursue in detail. The design process encompasses engineering analysis and broader factors such as group organization, interdisciplinary interaction, and communcation.

Course meetings involve guest lectures, case studies, and student presentations.

Current web page: ME 492

ME 493 Detailed Design Project

In ME 493 the detailed design for the conceptual design chosen in ME 492 is completed. Students are expected to verify that the final design meets the objectives specified at the beginning of ME 492. Ideally the design is fabricated and tested.

This course is the culmination of the BSME program. Students Course meetings involve guest lectures, case studies, and student presentations. Final presentations of the designs occurs during the last two weeks of the Spring Quarter.

Current web page: ME 493