ME445/446 Course Page
ME445/ME446 is a required two-course Capstone Design sequence (often referred to as "Integraded Design"). In this sequence, mechanical engineering majors first learn about the mechanical design process and then use this process in a team design project experience. This project includes the production of a prototype physical mechanical device and its evaluation.
Grading in ME445 is based evenly on two measures: Students take quizzes associated with about 20 reading assignments in a design method textbook. The 18 or so
highest quiz grades contribute to a quiz average.
Students also prepare for, and then execute, a set of Mechanical Engineering Design Laboratories, that are due approximately once a week. These labs help bring students to an understanding of the effective use of engineering science in the design process. As a part of these laboratories, in the second half of the semester, students pick their design project topics, form design teams, and perform a set of preliminary design tasks. These task deliverables are graded and contribute to a design lab grade average. These two averages contribute to a student's final grade.
Grading in ME446 is also based upon two measures. An individual student's effort to each team design task is identified and graded. These graded contributions contribute to an overall individual student grade average. The collective team is also graded on each team design task. These grades also contribute to a collective team average. These two averages contribute to a student's final grade.