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FAQ from “foggiest point” survey and other sources

Schedule

• Q: How far along should we be by the end of the semester?
  • A: The team will have completed gathering and documenting customer requirements, translating these into specifications and documenting them, and completing their CFP. Other design activities are likely to be going on in parallel with these activities, however, this will vary by project and a suitable end-target for the semester should be discussed with your advisor, your team’s class TA, or in office hours with Dr. P. Also refer to the next question.

• Q: Is there some kind of guidance as to how to run our project (and what should the pace be)?
  • A: Yes. You will follow the design process laid out in class and the text. Hence you will start by defining your project and its outcome, make a draft schedule and budget, gather customer requirements, turn these into specifications… As for the pace at which you address items on your project, it is suggested that you follow the pace of the lectures (see the syllabus) and assignments?. You may wish to \”work ahead\” in some areas, and this is OK too. Ulitimately, you should work at a pace that will allow you to complete your assignments (especially the CFP) and have a completed final prototype of your design on Design Day at the end of April.

• Q: What should our schedule be?
  • A: This is really up to the team. However, the schedule should permit the team to complete their project by April 15th and complete all of the assignments listed on the Assignments page and/or the Syllabus. Also refer to the next Question related to ME 4010.

• Q: What types of class-room activities should we plan around for ME 4010?
  • A: Extrapolating from what was done last year and the discussions Dr. Provancher and Dr. Bamberg have had, it is likely that teams will simply come to class to present ~3 times in a \”design review\” like format. That is, it is likely that 2 teams will present per class period with a focus on presenting work on current designs. The focus will be mainly on a technical review of student’s work.

• Q: What will we be doing for the 2nd 1/2 of class after fall break?
  • A: There will be some optional lecture topics presented for the 2 weeks after fall break. During the next weeks teams will take turns presenting their CFP. Teams can use the time between Oct. 29 and Dec. 5 to: work on their CFP, work on their final report, work on various aspects of their project. Each team will only need to come to class during the 2nd 1/2 of the course when their team is presenting their CFP.

Memos

• Q: Where can I get more information about what is expected for the memos for class?
  • A: General information on expectations for memos can be found in Tina’s presentation on Aug. 27 posted on the ME documents page and the Memos page.

• Q: How are the memos graded?
  • A: The comm. TA (Tina) will assign a grade based on the syntax and structure of your memo. The class TAs will also provide comments on a separate copy of your team’s memo. In rare cases the communications TA’s assigned grade will be bumped up or down depending on whether the technical content exceeded the evaluation of the syntax or vice versa. Memo grades will be check plus, check, check minus, check minus minus, and zero (125, 100, 75, 60, 0, respectively). The individual(s) that authors a memo will receive this grade. Everyone must author at least one memo. Memo authoring opportunities include the deliverables memo, CFP & key analyses memo, Sections 2–4 of the final report, and the one \”regular update memo\” in November.

Class participation

• Q: What is my class participation grade based on?
• A: It is mainly based on whether you come to class and participate in brief in-class discussions/assignments. I.e., if you come to class and you write your name on a piece of paper along with a requested discussion quiz topic, you will do quite well for your participation grade. This grade can be bolstered by presenting at your team’s CFP presentation or the final presentation.

Readings in the Text

• Q: How will we know what to read?
  • A: See the chapters of the text that are listed on the right side of the schedule listed on the last page of the Syllabus.

• Q: Are we responsible to know the content from these chapters?
  • A: While it is not necessary to memorize everything from the reading, quizes will periodically be given on the main points of the reading. These are not meant to be difficult, but to make sure students are getting the big picture of the design process.

• Q: Why do I need to purchase a textbook?
  • A: Since you will only get a very brief overview of the design process, the text provides more detailed information that will be valuable to reference.

TA FAQ

• Q: Who is our group’s class TA?
  • A: The TAs are being assigned over the weekend of Aug. 25. Your TA’s name should be written on your team’s project folder. For contact info for your TA, see the main ME 4000 page

• Q: Can we use the class TA as a resource to ask questions
  • A: Absolutely. TAs will be choosing their office hours soon. You can also email to ask questions or arrange other times to meet.

Advisor FAQ

• Q: Should we be meeting with our faculty advisor?
  • A: Absolutely. You should be meeting weekly with your advisor and discussing your project.

• Q: What is the role of our advisor?
  • A: Your advisor’s role is multifold. He/she can/will:
    • Provide guidance in forming project definition and scope
    • Help set reasonable milestones and deliverables to keep on track (sanity check to help your team finish on time).
    • Provide technical guidance
    • Sign your Executive Summary, and Deliverables & CFP Memos (Plan to coordinate with your advisor in advance to get his/her signature. They may not be available 5 minutes before your deadline).
    • Play devil’s advocate for your design ideas

• Q: Why hasn’t my advisor contacted our team?
  • A: Because it is your senior design project, it is up to your team to drive the interaction between your team and your advisor.

• Q: How will my advisor grade me?
  • A: There are several factors that will go into how your advisor grades you, but mostly it will depend on how well your project is going as a whole and how well you have communicated with your advisor so that know what you have contributed. Explicitely, your advisor will contribute to your team grade in the form of a CFP and final report grade, and will also provide a final \”advisor grade\” for each individual.

• Q: How will Dr. Provancher adjust my advisor’s grade
  • A: Dr. Provancher will not change most grades assigned by factulty project advisors. However, if a particular team’s grades seem particularly low or high relative to similarly performing teams, Dr. Provancher reserves the right to adjust the Advisor’s assigned grade.

Design Notebooks

• Q: Should we keep individual design notebooks
  • A: Yes.

• Q: What should we put in our design notebooks.
  • A: Everything you do related to your project. Lists of tasks, ideas, vendors… Sketches, contact information, team meeting notes, brain storming, CAD image outputs (as your designs evolve)…

CFP

• See the CFP page

Solid Works

• Q: What version of Solid Works will we be using in M E4000? in fall 2007?
  • A: You can use any version that your entire team has access to; however, the version we have installed in the Engman lab and available for laptop install and license checkout is the academic version 2007/2008. (see Solid Works Install for install instructions).

• Q: What is the cost of using Solid Works?
  • A: Free if you use the version we have in the Engman lab that the CADE opers will have install disks for soon (expected mid-Sept. 2007).