Low cost and low voltage AC motor for classroom application
Problem statement
Engineering students graduate college with an abundance of technical knowledge, but they often lack the hands-on experience that may enhance their skillset in preparation for an increasingly competitive industry. The Grainger Teaching Studio aims to provide students within the Electrical and Computer Engineering department this opportunity through the fabrication an AC induction motor. A research study conducted at the University of Colorado at Boulder found that students who opted to take a hands-on structured engineering course in favor of an equivalent non-hands-on course had an average of a 19% higher gain in retention rates [1]. This high-level course would challenge students to optimize machine parameters, which include, but are not limited to, the number of poles, number of winding turns, or a desired torque. We intend to provide the lab with 3 to 5 prototypes for student reference that are inexpensive for classroom use. After speaking with the client, his main concern was the time commitment on behalf of the teaching staff. Simple designs and a detailed fabrication instruction manual will mitigate the hassle that many professors associate with hands-on projects. With variable parameters, the manual will also provide students the tools necessary to create their own optimized designs. The prototypes will allow students in this high-level course the opportunity to round out their college education and gain a competitive edge going into the industry. Reference: [1] D. W. Knight, L. E. Carlson, and J. F. Sullivan, “Staying in engineering: Impact of a hands-on, team-based, first-year projects course on student retention,” ASEE Annu. Conf. Proc., pp. 10037–10047, 2003.
Team members
Steven Gerbers – leader
Anson Chan – communicator
Nathaniel Seibold – accountant
Jon Keller – admin
Client
Kyle Hanson, UW-Madison