Cantilever Project

Introduction to Engineering

Nov. 2019 - Dec. 2019

Technical Skills: SolidWorks 3D Modeling; SolidWorks Finite Element Analysis

Objective: Design a cantilever which minimizes mass and maximizes strength

About:

This was a team project on which I worked during my first semester at UVA. The assignment was to design a cantilever in SolidWorks with teammates that would mimimize mass (and volume) and maximize strength. The project was competition based and each team was responsible for designing the cantilever, using FEA to estimate the maximum load (fracture strength), 3D printing the part (using ABS), and testing the estimate. The part whose maximum load was the greatest and most accurately estimated would win.

Contributions:

In the preliminary phase, I brainstormed and drew several ideas for how to best design the part. I ran simulations on my designs to test out some of my theories and figured out what worked. I did research on cantilevers and how they are designed and reinforced in the real world.

Once we began collaborating, I worked with my teammates to perfect our design and I ran the FEA on our final part.

I also helped interpret the results from our simulation.

Lessons Learned:

This project taught me about trusses, using SolidWorks, performing analysis on a part, interpreting data, and drawing conclusions. Further, it was one of my first experiences of group work in college and it was a great way to build on my collaboration skills.