Title: Hydrostatic Drive Test Bench
Advisor : Dr. Samuel W. Coates, Mechanical Engineering Technology
Team Members: Lynn Kase, Robert J. Tomac, Jared A. Wagoner
Project summary
Our senior design project challenge was to come up with a design that would demonstrate the principals of a hydraulic drive system as well as measuring its efficiency. The hydrostatic drive bench would be used for the MTU School of Technology fluid power labs. The main focus of the project was to develop a hydrostatic system that would be able to fully demonstrate the total performance of the system yet be light weight, durable, and portable.

Title: Small Aircraft Flight Controls Redesigned for Paraplegic Pilots
Department: School of Technology
Advisors: Dr. Samuel Coates, Mechanical Engineering Technology-School of Technology
Sponsor: Bay Electric, R.C. Mechanical
Team Members: Matthew Fifield, Patrick McLean, Nolan Osborne, Andrew Zingler
Project summary
In order to allow people with disabilities—specifically lower body paralysis—the opportunity to pilot a small aircraft, we have designed hand-operated controls for the three operations that normally require the mobility of the pilot’s legs. These operations include: differential braking between the two wheels on the main landing gear, nose gear steering while performing ground operations, and yaw control during flight via the rudder. Important considerations in the design of this system included: light weight, space restrictions, ease of flyability, and pilot considerations i.e. strength, range of motion, and accessibility into the aircraft.

Title: Extreme Suspension Roll Cage
Advisor: Dr. John Irwin, School of Technology
Sponsor: C-ideas Rapid Prototyping Solutions
Team Member: Matt Wagg, Travis Archer, Matt Altobelli, John McGovern
Project summary      
The extreme suspension roll cage is an exiting new design that utilizes suspension elements between two frames to reduce the impact forces and double the protection of the driver. When combined with a standard racing frame these features will allow large trucks and or other large exhibition vehicles to endure huge jumps and massive crashes without proving fatal to the driver.

Title: Mobile V-Twin Engine Dynamometer
Advisor: Sam Coates, MET
Sponsor: Harley Davidson Motor Company
Team Members: Erik Hansen, Phil DeVries, Husain Alhazeim
Project summary      
Our goal is to design and build a dynamometer that accepts V-Twin motorcycle engines and can be easily moved to different locations. Primary uses are exhaust noise testing, emissions and power. Dynamometer must be able to accept multiple engines all within the designated allowed Hp. However, we focused on the Harley Davidson 88 cubic inch V-Twin engine coupled with a 5 speed transmission. We have chosen to use the inertial style dynamometer because it is the most versatile technique to monitor characteristics of the engine. This will be built into a mobile cart that will allow testing in multiple environments to accurately represent real world simulations. must be capable of handling 100 Hp.

Title: 2500 Ton Press Brake
Department: Mechanical Engineering Technology
Advisor : Dr. Mark Johnson, MET
Team Members: Mike Graff, Adam Kaylor, Chris Navarro, Spencer Vickerman
Project summary
Our goal was to completely design a 2500 ton, 60 foot long press brake that will bend one inch thick plate steel for shipyards. Included in the press brake design are the frame and hydraulic cylinder pieces with tolerances as well as the finite element analyses of the press frame and hydraulic cylinder. Our team has also written the PLC code to safely run the press according to OSHA standards.

Title: Front Mount Snow Blower Gear Box
Advisor: Dr. Mark Johnson, Mechanical Engineering Technology
Team Members: Jered Wills, Jack Joliat, Kyle Rupnow
Project summary
Our challenge was to design a gear box that mounts to a rear PTO on a large agricultural tractor that will be used to transmit power to a front mounted snow blower.

Title: Floating Rear Disc Brake for a Mountain bike
Advisor: Dr. Sam Coates, Mechanical Engineering Technology
Team Leader: Jack Joliat
Project summary      
This project is intended to design a four bar linkage for the rear swingarm of a long travel (6-8 inches) mountain bike. the current design allows torque developed during braking to compress the suspension. This is especially troubling during cornering and steep sections. this new design will eliminate those torques