Shop orientation to enhance design for manufacturing in capstone projects

The traditional undergraduate engineering curriculum provides methods of analyzing and creating paper designs, but does much less in teaching design for manufacture and production. The Capstone experience at the University of Idaho uses a mentor-based design process that takes projects from the conceptual stage through creation of functional prototypes. Graduate student mentors in the Idaho Engineering Works (IEWorks) have created a three-session orientation that teaches fundamentals of machining associated with the construction of a small multi-tool. Student feedback recorded in their design journals underscores the benefits of this shop orientation in promoting machine design skills that result in high quality prototypes delivered to industry customers at the end of the course and in fostering a close relationship between mentors and students.