Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Design and Engineering

Mechanical and Electromechanical Sensors

These sensors detect physical properties like displacement, pressure, acceleration, and force.

• Strain gauges: Used for measuring deformation or strain in materials.
• Accelerometers: Designed for measuring acceleration.
• Pressure sensors: Utilized for measuring fluid or gas pressure.

Thermal Sensors

Thermal sensors measure temperature variations through changes in electrical properties, thermal expansion, or thermal radiation.

• Thermocouples: These generate a voltage proportional to temperature difference.
• Resistance temperature detectors (RTDs): These measure resistance changes with temperature.
• Infrared sensors: These detect thermal radiation to measure temperature without contact.

Magnetic Sensors

Magnetic sensors... Continue reading "Essential Sensor Technologies and Their Applications" »

Influence Lines and Structural Analysis

Influence lines (IL) and their use in structural analysis. Methods of IL construction.
Internal forces and bending moments caused by moving loads can be solved with the help of influence lines. Influence line S graphs the variation of a quantity S at a specific point x on a beam or truss caused by a unit load F=1 placed at any point u along the structure.
Methods for constructing the influence line:

• Analytical method (creating equations using equilibrium conditions)
• Kinematic method (Müller-Breslau Principle; using principal of virtual work)
• Combination of above-mentioned methods
• Numerically (based on definition, i.e. tabulation of the influence values for multiple points along the structure)

Virtual Work and

Introduction to Industrial Control Systems

Control systems are fundamental to industrial automation, with a primary focus on Distributed Control Systems (DCS). This document covers the core components, variables, and applications of these systems.

Learning Outcomes

• Describe the components of a control system.
• Define the three types of variables associated with a control system.
• Provide examples of common control systems.
• Explain distributed control systems and their industrial applications.
• List and define components of DCS, including SCADA, communication, and alarms.

Components of an Automation System

A modern automation system is composed of several interconnected components:

• Control System: The brain of the operation, processing inputs and making

Robot Kinematics

Euler’s Rotation Theorem

Any rigid body motion that leaves one point fixed can be represented by a single rotation about an axis through the fixed point.

Chasles’ Theorem

Any rigid body motion is the translation of a designated point & a rotation of the whole body about that point.

Kinematic Parameters

These parameters are associated with the kinematic configuration of each link and joint of the robot arm. There are four main kinematic parameters:

Joint Parameters

The relative position and orientation of two successive links can be specified by two joint parameters:

• Joint Angle (θk): The amount of rotation about zk-1 so that Xk-1 is parallel to Xk.
• Joint Distance (dk): The amount of translation along the Zk-1 needed to make

This document provides a detailed, exam-ready note sheet covering essential topics in digital electronics, including key points, formulas, comparisons, and revision tips. The content is structured for quick and effective study.

R-2R Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC)

Definition:
A digital-to-analog converter that converts a binary input to an analog voltage using only R and 2R resistors. This design is common in ICs due to its simplicity and accuracy.

Operation:

• Each bit controls a switch connecting to Vref (1) or GND (0).
• The ladder network ensures each bit contributes a weighted current.
• Output voltage formula:

V_{out} = V_{ref} \times \frac{D}{2^n} \quad (D = \text{decimal equivalent of input})

Advantages:

• Only two resistor values, simplifying IC fabrication.

Plastic Part Specifications

Material Requirements for Plastic Parts

• Material specifications must align with flammability requirements and include details like density and regrind percentages.
• Parts in contact with potable water require specific materials and color specifications.
• Flammability ratings must be UL recognized unless approved by a safety engineer.

Plastic Part Thickness & Tolerances

• Material thickness must be dimensioned in models with tolerances noted as "TYP MATL THK."
• Existing material thickness notes should be revised as necessary.

Plastic Part Finish Standards

• Finish specifications must adhere to GE Appliances standards for painted or coated parts.

Plastic Part Color Matching

• Color matching must follow GE Appliances color standards,

 simply supported beam is a structural element supported at both ends, typically resting on supports that allow notation but prevent vertical olisplacement. It is is free to bend under applied loads and is commonly used in bridges and buildings///continuas beam is a structural element that extends over multiple supports, with more than two supports along its length. It distributes loads. Mare evenly, reducing bending moments and deflection compared.//////Overhanging beam An overhanging beam is a beam that extends beyond one or both of its supports, creating a cantilevered section. This type of beam combines characteristics of both simply supported and cantilever beams, experiencing bending moments and shear forced in the overhanging portion.... Continue reading "Understanding Beams, Poisson's Ratio, and Hooke's Law" »

Inventory Management

Safety Stock: The amount of inventory carried in addition to the expected demand.

Stock Keeping Unit (SKU): A common term used to identify an inventory item.

Material Requirements Planning (MRP)

Available to Promise: A feature of MRP systems that identifies the difference between the number of units currently included in the master schedule and actual (firm) customer orders.

Bill of Materials (BOM): A computer file that contains the complete product description, listing the materials, parts, and components, and the sequence in which the product is created.

Closed-loop MRP: The use of actual data from the production system to continually update the MRP system. This feedback is provided so that planning can be kept valid at all... Continue reading "Key Terms in Production and Inventory Management" »

Git Commands and Concepts

Git key commands and concepts:

• add (stage changes)
• commit (with a message)
• head (most recent commit)
• branch (alternative history)
• checkout (enter/exit branch)
• merge (combine into master)
• stash (save without commit, -u for untracked files; latest stashes (0) at the top)
• pop (retrieve a stash)
• fork (copy code from the source into a repository)
• pull (pull remote changes and merge into master)
• revert (undo commits and create a new commit)
• log (history with most recent commits first, -p for patch details)
• rm (--cached to remove from staging)
• fetch (get changes from a remote repository to a local repository without merging them; useful for reviewing changes)
• pull (fetch + merge)
• rebase (create a clean/linear commit history by moving commits