Motorized Benchtop Vise
As part of my Mechanical Engineering Design course, I was tasked to design a motorized benchtop vise. Through formal analysis, my project group defined reasonable specifications, selected appropriate power transmissions, and examined primary loads applied to critical components and connection points.
FINAL
The final design boasts safety factors from 4.743 to 4370.99 and a thread efficiency of 0.239 or ~24%. The cost for a single unit was estimated to be around $1,000. While these values are purely theoretical, the practice of designing parts and justifying decisions through calculations was beneficial as future consideration for DFM and DFA.
PLANNING
The group researched existing benchtop and industrial vises, as well as individual mechanisms and technologies. This process gave insight to initial design concepts and specifications. I then modeled the vise in SolidWorks, including each of the individual components as well as the frame and benchtop.
COMPUTATIONAL ANALYSIS
Hand calculations were performed to determine the buckling and static failure mode for the lead screw, moving jaws, and frame of the vise. These calculations were verified by a groupmate using FEA simulations.
The failure modes of the fasteners and welded joints of the vise frame were examined using a similar approach. Load and torque calculations were then used by a groupmate to determine the necessary electronic components.
Extracurricular
I have always enjoyed visual arts, particularly sketching and drawing. I have recently begun to explore digital art, creating commissioned portraits, business logos, and even a children's book. While this type of creative expression has been a long-standing hobby, I have also found it applicable to the engineering design process.
