Capstone Design

About Capstone Design

Our senior capstone class is designed to give students experience completing real-world projects with industrial partners. The program is deliverable based, where students work with industry to define and meet specifications unique to each project. The students gain experience applying the skills they have learned in school, while industrial partners get to know recent graduates as they complete projects that assist their organization. In this semester-long course, students work in teams of 4-6 to develop practical engineering solutions, presenting a working product or prototype along with associated documentation at the end of the semester.

Project Timeline

• Fall Semester: Mid-August to Mid-December
• Spring Semester: Early January to Early May

At the project’s start, students visit the sponsor’s location to understand the challenges faced, ensuring they are well-prepared to deliver effective solutions. Throughout the semester, weekly meetings between students and sponsors facilitate ongoing communication and collaboration.

Project Management Approach

Students utilize Agile Scrum methodology, providing regular updates and tangible deliverables (e.g., prototypes, test reports) every two weeks. This iterative process allows for customer feedback throughout the design cycle, minimizing surprises and aligning the final outcome with expectations.

Typical Project Types

Students in the mechanical and materials engineering capstone program are trained in various areas, including thermal systems, mechatronics integration, manufacturing processes, 3D modeling, finite element analysis, and instrumentation/control. Potential project ideas span a variety of fields, with some recent examples including:

• Mechatronics
  • Automated band-cutting system
  • Liquid sampler with pneumatic lid closer
  • Embedded sensors on glasses to measure slippage during physical activities
• Hardware Design and Construction
  • Rotary fixture for staging parts inside a sand blaster
  • Ice dispenser drip tray redesign for improved durability
  • Gravel dispenser for a miniature asphalt machine
• Test Fixtures & Manufacturing Jigs
  • Test rig for measuring clamping force and heat dissipation in PCB wedge locks
  • System for detecting leaks in packaged foods
  • Test setup for measuring force on automotive hood struts

Sponsors are encouraged to submit diverse project ideas, even those outside these categories, as students are eager to tackle various challenges.