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Unit outline_

MECH1400: Mechanical Construction

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

Learn about selected historical events, research methods, analysis techniques, application of theory and analysis to real machinery, use of machine and hand tools. This is a project based subject where the students will design, build and test their own designs. Historical developments in the area of the project are researched and applied and research into relevant fields is required to fully understand and analyse the project problem. The unit ties in with workshop component of MECH1560. Skills developed become relevant in MECH2400 Mechanical Design 1

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Steven Armfield, steven.armfield@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Gregory Gardner, greg.gardner@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Steam engine historical research report
Individual written research report
20% Week 03
Due date: 27 Aug 2021 at 23:59
1500-2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO5 LO6
Assignment group assignment Design proposal
Design Proposal report
10% Week 05
Due date: 10 Sep 2021 at 23:59
No more than 15 pages in length
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6 LO8
Assignment group assignment Progress report
Major Project Progress report
15% Week 08
Due date: 08 Oct 2021 at 23:59
No more than 5 pages in length
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO7 LO8
Assignment SPARKPlus - Major Project Progress report
Group contribution self and peer assessments in SPARKPlus
0% Week 09
Due date: 11 Oct 2021 at 23:55
30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO8 LO2 LO7
Assignment group assignment Final report
Final report
15% Week 12
Due date: 05 Nov 2021 at 23:59
No more than 10 pages in length
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO8
Assignment group assignment Project outcome
Project outcome - due timetabled workshop session
10% Week 12
Due date: 04 Nov 2021 at 15:00
Details via Canvas assignment area.
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO4 LO8
Small test Quiz
Quiz
20% Week 13
Due date: 10 Nov 2021 at 23:59
48hour take home quiz.
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO4 LO3
Assignment Reflective learning report
Report
10% Week 13
Due date: 12 Nov 2021 at 23:59
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO7 LO6
Assignment SPARKPlus - Final Report and Project
Group contribution self and peer assessments in SPARKPlus
0% Week 13
Due date: 08 Nov 2021 at 23:55
30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO4 LO5 LO8
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Engine historical report: (Ind) Written report examining and discussing historical development of engines.

Design proposal: (Grp) Written proposal with preliminary design of device including basic energy analysis and basic drawings.

Progress report: (Grp) Written report on progress on design and build to date, detailed drawings required.

Final report: (Grp) Written report recording the research, design, and construction of the completed device, full detailed drawings and assembly drawing required.

Project outcome (Grp): Two pathways:

  – Physical: short talk (2-3mins) and testing of built device

  – Virtual: longer talk (10-12mins) detailing working simulation of device, explanation of how it works and more detailed engineering analysis of device (kinematics, stress/strain, energy, how it would be manufactured)

Reflective learning report: (Ind) Student to critically discuss their learning as related to this unit of study.

Quiz: 48 hour take home exam middle of week 13. Covers any material from lectures, Canvas resources, tutorials.

SPARKPlus: (Ind) SPARKPlus will be used to collect self and peer assessment to both evaluate a team member’s contribution to the final project / report and convert group marks into individual marks.

Detailed information for each assessment will be available on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

5% per day. Any late penalties are applied to all group members. Quiz and project outcomes have 100% late penalty.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 UoS introduction, engineering design process Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO6
Week 02 Materials selection for design Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 03 Design Methods & Machine Dynamics Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 04 Design/Drawing/Review processes Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO6 LO7
Week 05 Working in Teams and Surface finishes and tolerances Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO8
Week 06 Surface Finishes, Report Writing & Drawing Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 07 Mechanical Components and fasteners Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 08 General machining processes and Energy storage and Flywheel design Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 09 Plain and Roller Bearing Design, Assessment Tasks and Advanced Machining Processes Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 10 Pressure Vessels and Advanced Machine Processes Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 11 Formula SAE and Gear Design Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 12 Reflection and Continuous Improvement Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO7
Week 13 Unit Summary & Revision Lecture and tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Weekly Prepare for classes Independent study (13 hr) LO3 LO5
Work on assignments Independent study (100 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO8

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. apply statics, dynamics and thermodynamics analysis methods to real design problems
  • LO2. undertake a simple design and build project from conception to completion
  • LO3. apply theory and analysis to real machinery, use of machine and hand tools
  • LO4. demonstrate basic workshop skills, learning to use machine tools for production of complex parts
  • LO5. undertake research into existing design as part of developing new design
  • LO6. place the mechanical engineering profession in historical context
  • LO7. use self-reflection and critical thinking to improve your learning skills.
  • LO8. Constructively contribute ideas and address team issues through conflict resolution and critically evaluate self and peer contributions in a team based learning scenario

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Altered assessment tasks due to move to online delivery and less focus on workshop component.

Work, health and safety

Students must complete workshop induction during scheduled sessions if participating in physical workshop sessions.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.