UBCO first-year engineering students competed a recent competition to see who could create the best vehicle gearbox in terms of design, sustainability and meeting client specifications.
One group designed the third-lightest gearbox, which featured three bearings instead of the usual six, earning them first place in the competition.
Team captain Kyle Reid said six bearings seemed like it was too much for the project, so the team designed a gearbox with three, weighing 42.3 grams.
害羞草研究所淔or us, it害羞草研究所檚 more sustainable for our project. We knew it wouldn害羞草研究所檛 be carrying a large load with our gearbox because that害羞草研究所檚 not really what it害羞草研究所檚 designed for, so we decided six bearings were kind of overkill,害羞草研究所� said Reid.
害羞草研究所淲ith less bearings, there害羞草研究所檚 less material, maintenance, and manufacturing cost. Also it害羞草研究所檚 so compact, it害羞草研究所檚 super strong and there害羞草研究所檚 little friction which is ideal in a gearbox,害羞草研究所� said engineering student Stormy Howard.
The students worked on their projects throughout the semester. Overall one of the main challenges for the group involved getting together.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e all on different schedules so it was difficult to set up times for meetings and to do work,害羞草研究所� said Howard.
害羞草研究所淢ore than 60 teams completed their design, which includes a set of engineering calculations, a model of the gearbox (using modelling software) and building a 3-D printed prototype. The prototypes went through vigorous laboratory testing, in which both functionality and engineering sustainability were assessed,害羞草研究所� reads a UBCO release.
害羞草研究所淭he top 30 teams were selected for the final competition and these teams will present their models, as well as several alternative design solutions in the final stages of the competition.害羞草研究所�
Awards were handed out for first, second and third place as well as an innovation award.
Students also completed an environmental impact assessment as the critical component of the design project, said head professor Dimitry Sediako.
