The Mechanical Capstone Showcase presented innovative technical projects developed by students from Conestoga's School of Engineering & Technology. The event also recognized students for academic excellence, innovation, project quality and peer support.
Loop Automation created a custom LEGO kit sorting and packaging system.
Graduating students from the Mechanical Engineering Technology - Robotics and Automation and Mechanical Engineering Technology - Design and Analysis programs, as well as fourth- and third-year Bachelor of Engineering - Mechanical Systems Engineering students, presented their projects at the college’s Cambridge - Fountain Street campus on August 18.
Fourth-year engineering degree students showcased Aquatic Transfer Lift and Support (A.T.L.A.S), which involved designing a cost-effective marine hoisting vehicle with a 50-ton capacity.
The showcase also featured three projects by Mechanical Engineering Technology students. This was the first time students from the Design and Analysis stream joined Robotics and Automation teams for their final projects. “This was a good learning experience,” said John Tielemans, professor and program co-ordinator. “They have a stronger focus on design compared to the Robotics and Automation students. Collaborating allowed design students to witness the practical limitations first-hand, whereas robotics students got to expand their horizons when it comes to design.”
The Caffeinated Automation Group developed an automated coffee packaging system. Customers can use a touchscreen to select their desired roast and quantity. The system will then fill six cups with the selected roasts, before weighing, capping and transferring them to a shipping container. The finished product is then labelled and tested for metal contamination.
“The biggest challenge was the rotor table. We got most of the components from the storeroom. We had two options, but neither worked, no matter what we tried,” explained one of the project managers, Griffin Herrera. “We used up two weeks to try and fix them, before we had to scrap the design and machine the necessary parts ourselves instead.” Despite the hurdles, Herrera enjoyed collaborating with other team members. “We worked together really well.”
Wood Craft Pens built a wood-pen fabrication and packaging system that manufactures pens with custom laser engravings. Blank dowels are drilled, shaped and sanded, before being engraved and oiled with a protective finish. The system then presses the ink cartridge and cap into place. Lastly, the pen is placed in a protective carrying case and packaged for delivery.
Loop Automation created a custom LEGO kit sorting and packaging system. “Everyone has a bucket of LEGO in their home. We wanted to make something that could be useful and productive,” said team member Luke Kivell. Customers can use a touchscreen to select the kit type and colour for their preferred set. The system separates the required blocks from the random selection fed into the machine, then places them into the delivery capsule. Vision systems check the colour, while load cells check the weight to ensure the correct kit is delivered.
“Issues came up when it came to the parts we had access to. Some parts were spoken for by other teams. We needed to adjust from what we thought we’d have available to what we actually had on hand,” said Kivell.
Many of the projects and awards were supported by industry partners, including Eclipse Automation, ATS, CMP Automation, Trojan Technologies, ProVantage, Futaba Industrial Ontario and more.
Conestoga’s School of Engineering & Technology offers a comprehensive suite of programs with a wide range of credentials in areas that include architecture, civil, construction, mechanical and electronics. Conestoga was the first college in Ontario to offer fully accredited engineering degrees.