Syllabus

Course Meeting Times

Lectures: 2 sessions / week, 1.5 hours / session

Textbook

Buy at Amazon Whitney, Daniel E. Mechanical Assemblies: Their Design, Manufacture, and Role in Product Development. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2004. ISBN: 9780195157826.

Course Goals

While much is written about the design and manufacture of individual parts, there is surprisingly little information about how those parts go together into a product that actually does something. This course addresses the following question: What is a competently designed assembly, and how would we know one if we saw one? Specific objectives for students include:

  • Understand a systematic approach to analyzing assembly problems.
  • Appreciate the many ways assembly influences product development and manufacturing.
  • See a complete approach that includes technology, systems engineering, and economic analysis.
  • Get a feeling for what is technologically feasible.
  • Practice the systematic process on a semester-long project of your own.

Prerequisites

2.008

Course Mechanics

  • Class lectures and discussions
  • Readings for each class session
  • A project to be done in phases during the term
  • Homework
    • 6 project reports ~ 2 weeks apart
    • 4 problem sets
  • A mid-term and a final project presentation
  • No quizzes or final exam

Grading

ACTIVITIES PERCENTAGES
Homework 1/3
Project Report 1/3
Midterm and Final Presentations 1/3