Ryan Villarosa - Individual Reflection

ME250 is my favorite ME course so far. Working on the project was probably similar to working as an actual engineer in design. The class definitely got me more prepared as an engineer. At first, I was dreading this class since the first day. The project intimidated me because of how difficult it sounded and how much time I would need to spend on it. However, making the machine with my teammates was a fun and very valuable experience. I learned many new things in this class.

I was introduced to all sorts of components. Components that I thought were the most important were gears, fasteners, and bearings. Choosing a gear ratio was crucial to the project. We wanted our machine to move at a certain speed, so we had to choose the gear ratio that would’ve supported that speed. Gear ratios also give torque, which is sometimes important to design. Ultimately, we didn’t have to consider torque for our design. The concept of using different fasteners, whether we would use screws or bolts, was important in building our machine. In order for our machine to be stable and robust, all the connected parts were required to be attached with the correct fasteners. I thought bearings were most interesting among all the other components. Bearings made it possible for our machine to move efficiently as intended.

Manufacturing was my favorite part of the course because it was hands-on. The machines at the ME shop, such as the mill and lathe, are frequently used by engineers. I’m glad that I had the opportunity to learn how to use them. I got to learn many tools that I was unfamiliar with, especially the caliper. I also learned how to solder electrical components together. Having experience with these tools and machines will definitely come in handy in the future.

I already have prior experience in working in a team. I thought that Engr100 is the best course in terms of teamwork. But I was able to improve time management while in my ME250 team. This semester, I had a busy schedule including work and my other classes. The manufacturing process of our machine was the most time consuming. My other classes took place in the afternoon. Waking up earlier and spending the entire morning on making our machine was adequate.

There are a few things that I thought this course should improve on. The introduction to the ME shop wasn’t effective. We had to take training sessions two months before we even started building our machine. I think training sessions should take place much later so that remembering everything about the shop is easier. I feel that the exam was long and I didn’t have enough time to finish it. I think that the exam should be a little shorter in length, or maybe add several minutes. Even though my team and I finished the project on time, there should be more time for teams to build and test their machine. It’s probably best to assign the MS assignments earlier, especially the Most Critical Module.

The only thing I could’ve improved my performance in this course is my involvement in the design of our machine. An example of this is not coming up with the dimensions or materials of each part. Having more involvement would’ve resulted in me being a better designer as an individual.

I thought that everyone in my team was hardworking and was determined to do well in the class. I’m glad I was able to work with them all semester. I wish them the best in the future. We managed to finish 2nd in the design expo, and I have to say that I'm very proud of that achievement.