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WEEK 13

Operating Principles and Mechanism Designs 

How things work operating principles:

All devices, apparatus and equipment are designed based on working principles that are either mechanical, electrical, chemical or magnetism.

There are many examples such as

  • Brewing coffee involves the leaching of coffee solubles

  • Centrifugal pumps impart energy to the liquid by means of a centrifugal force developed by the rotation of an impeller and etc.

Image by Bill Oxford
Week 13: About

Engineering Mechanism

In chemistry, Mechanism is the fundamental chemical processes involved in or responsible for an action, reaction or another natural phenomenon.


In engineering, a mechanism is a combination of rigid or resistant bodies that are created and connected in such a way that they move with specific relative motions with respect to one another. Simply described, it is something that converts forces and motion into the desired set of output forces and motion.


There is 6 Essential Mechanism in functional prototypes:

  1. Actuators

  2. Cams

  3. Gears

  4. Lever

  5. Ratchets

  6. Springs

Week 13: Text

ACTIVITY

is to design a Ping Pong Ball launcher that can shoot and reload ping pong balls.

  • The device should be able to hold at least 5 balls.

  • The device should propel the ball with stored energy.

  • The mechanism can be fully automatic, semi-automatic or fully manual.

  • Your design should include sketches, short notes and a clear description of the propulsion and reloading mechanisms.

Week 13: Text
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