When executives at a water filtration company needed a better filter, they turned to a team of students from the 溏心vlog免费B站 for help. And when a medical device startup company wanted help launching a product, it came to our engineering students, too. So did a manufacturer of industrial vibration equipment, a biologist tracking coyotes, and an international plastics maker.
In fact, during the past five years, 溏心vlog免费B站 engineering students have helped nearly two dozen companies solve interesting problems. They do it through yearlong capstone design projects that provide a win-win. The companies get an extra boost in R&D and our students get real-world experience.
This year, for instance, industrial textiles company Hope Global wanted to fit more spools that wind its finished material in its Cumberland plant. Four mechanical engineering students studied the existing system and designed a new, skinnier spool. The new model means the company can fit three spools in an area where currently just two fit. 鈥淏y giving them an extra spool, the payback is less than a year,鈥� said student Tim Johnson.
Another team of mechanical engineering students designed and constructed an apparatus enabling companies and researchers to safely irradiate materials at the . Previously only very small samples could be irradiated, but thanks to the work of the 溏心vlog免费B站 engineering students, larger samples can now be safely tested, too.
鈥淲e worked through the whole project ourselves from beginning to end, using things we learned in all of our classes,鈥� said Charlie Boyle ’14. 鈥淚t really prepared us for the real world, and it鈥檚 helped us make connections with companies all over the area.鈥�
Executives at one of those companies, Toray Plastics, say that by driving innovation some of the capstone design projects they鈥檝e sponsored have helped the company stay competitive and keep jobs in the state. 鈥淭hese talented students develop real- world solutions and have the unique opportunity to see their ideas put into use at Toray,鈥� said Scott Van Winter, senior vice president and general manager.
He said that 溏心vlog免费B站 engineering students bring a fresh set of eyes to problems. Students can also spend time gathering data and testing concepts鈥攖ime that plant engineers just don鈥檛 have. In other cases, the students may tackle a project in its infancy.
It鈥檚 no surprise that engineering students completing capstone projects are in demand by local employers. says that students working on these design projects acquire the skills employers crave.
鈥淭he end result of their work is a functioning device that will be used for many years to come,鈥� he said. 鈥淐ompanies are very interested in hiring such individuals who can solve problems, think creatively, and design new devices and systems.鈥�
Pictured above: Engineering students Dave Pesapane, Brett Stainken, Nate Cressman, Charles Boyle and Kyle Kossak designed and constructed a device that allows larger materials to be safely irradiated at the Rhode Island Nuclear Science Center.
Pictured on homepage: Engineering students Sean McKeever, Matt McCabe, Tim Johnson, and Katie Huftalen designed a skinnier spool for industrial textiles company Hope Global, allowing the company to store more product in the same space.