Reverse Engineering Project
May 2020 - Jul. 2020
Project Description
Each student was tasked with producing a detailed reverse engineering report for a disposable syringe and luer lock adaptor assembly. The goal of the project was for each student to demonstrate critical engineering skills, which include the ability to reason through problems without clear-cut answers and properly justify technical conclusions. Students were put in groups to assist one another; however, each student needed to produce an individual report with the following requirements: a detailed literature, patents, and standards review, discussion of product functionality, discussion of material selection, discussion on determination of materials, identification of manufacturing methods, three engineering analyses relating to fluid mechanics, mechanics of materials and dynamics (total of nine analyses, three for each), an engineering failure analysis, dimensional analyses to determine tolerances, and a complete CAD model with engineering drawings that reflect the tolerances found. The professor mailed each student a syringe, luer lock adaptor, and a digital caliper to help with creating the report.
Shortcomings & Lessons Learned
When approaching this project, my mentality was to generate a great, high-quality report, going above and beyond what was required. This entailed providing incredible attention to detail, especially during the 3D modeling portion, and performing in-depth research, explaining my findings as explicitly as possible in my report. The price I had to pay in exchange for a high-quality report was not only time but several days of frustration and loss of patience. However, it was this resistance and attitude that helped me cultivate grit. I learned how to work through a project despite how I felt, focusing on the goal I wanted to achieve rather than my mood for the day. This project was an opportunity to put my skills to the test and have a report to document it, and I wanted it to be well done. I wanted this report to reflect my work ethic and how I strive to generate quality work. This drove me, and the grit I cultivated throughout this project is something I want to continue applying to other aspects of my life.
Overall Experience & Skills Attained
This project taught me how to research effectively since I had to visit various websites and cross-reference them to ensure I was finding accurate information. There was plenty of reading as I searched through different websites for information, and this process taught me how to filter information and take efficient notes that would serve for the report. Through the research process, I gained a fundamental understanding of the underlying physics behind a syringe, discovered the various design iterations the syringe underwent throughout the centuries, learned about the various manufacturing methods associated with plastics, and I learned how to experimentally differentiate plastics from one another via material testing. Furthermore, I improved upon my 3D modeling and drawing fabrication skills through SOLIDWORKS, and I learned how to perform engineering analyses, solve for tolerances relating to functional surfaces, and write a professional report with appropriate formatting. Below is a PDF of the final report.