My name is Nathan Hortness and this portfolio was created in fulfillment of the course requirements of MIE397-Design Portfolio, Mechanical Engineering at the University of Toronto.
The purpose of this document is to provide a small sample of some of the skills I have obtained during my studies in the Mechanical Engineering program at the University of Toronto. A secondary purpose is to outline my future goals both within the engineering program and upon graduation.
By necessity engineering is a highly theoretical profession. It is simply not good enough to know "how" to do something, it is vital that an engineer know "how best" to do something. Ultimately this is the greatest tool that my studies have provided me, a solid foundation which allows me to not only understand the current state of the art but to improve upon it going forward.
It is currently my goal to work in design and/or manufacturing capacity once I graduate. To achieve this goal requires proficiencies in many areas but I chose projects which display my creative talents, problem solving skills and technical aptitude because I feel they best represent my abilities in this area.
The projects outlined provide quite different aspects of the skills and experience I have obtained but they by no means represent a complete picture of the knowledge imparted upon engineering students, however, they are areas which are more conducive to a presentation format. Subjects not covered here but no less important include a thorough understand of Calculus, Engineering Mathematics, Material Sciences, Fluid Mechanics & Thermodynamics, Numerical Methods, Statistics, Kinematics and many more.
The first project is a computer program written in C called ‘Add Em Up’. Though computer programming may not be the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of a mechanical engineer it is an important aspect of the profession. As already stated engineering is highly theoretical and as such it involves many calculations. Knowing how to write programs allows me to perform complex calculations quickly and when coupled with numerical methods programming allows me to find solutions to problems that would be close to impossible otherwise. Furthermore, writing a program for processes that must be repeated numerous times saves time and drastically cuts down on the introduction of input errors.
The second project involves a hypothetical scenario where the fuselage of a 737 failed in mid-flight. While the project itself deals with numerous aspects of design including the use of computer aided design (CAD) and finite element analysis (FEA) as well as many theories of Solid Mechanics, it is the group aspect which I found to be most beneficial. For this project I led a 14-person team and in my role as leader I was required to: ensure that deliverables were completed on time, manage any personality differences, and keep the overall project both on task and on schedule. Aside from the technical skills learned, this project taught me valuable lessons in team dynamics, leadership skills and the value of team participation.
The final project is one that I completed during the summer break and even though it was not an assigned project for any particular class it was born as the direct result of the manufacturing, design and finance courses taken the previous semester. It can be a challenge to produce a single product or prototype but mass production brings with it a whole new set of challenges. For this project I set out to produce not 1 but over 150 joystick cases. To accomplish this task required a great deal of planning with regards to material usage, the necessary tools and most importantly how to maximize production time while minimizing setup times. It also required a great deal of product design as I had to be concerned with not only the finished product but the capabilities and limitations of the tools used to complete each piece. Finally this project taught me valuable lessons about finance, especially with regards to supply and demand, the fixed versus variable costs associated with product production and the necessity for effective and targeted marketing.
By necessity engineering is a highly theoretical profession. It is simply not good enough to know "how" to do something, it is vital that an engineer know "how best" to do something. Ultimately this is the greatest tool that my studies have provided me, a solid foundation which allows me to not only understand the current state of the art but to improve upon it going forward.
It is currently my goal to work in design and/or manufacturing capacity once I graduate. To achieve this goal requires proficiencies in many areas but I chose projects which display my creative talents, problem solving skills and technical aptitude because I feel they best represent my abilities in this area.
The projects outlined provide quite different aspects of the skills and experience I have obtained but they by no means represent a complete picture of the knowledge imparted upon engineering students, however, they are areas which are more conducive to a presentation format. Subjects not covered here but no less important include a thorough understand of Calculus, Engineering Mathematics, Material Sciences, Fluid Mechanics & Thermodynamics, Numerical Methods, Statistics, Kinematics and many more.
The first project is a computer program written in C called ‘Add Em Up’. Though computer programming may not be the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of a mechanical engineer it is an important aspect of the profession. As already stated engineering is highly theoretical and as such it involves many calculations. Knowing how to write programs allows me to perform complex calculations quickly and when coupled with numerical methods programming allows me to find solutions to problems that would be close to impossible otherwise. Furthermore, writing a program for processes that must be repeated numerous times saves time and drastically cuts down on the introduction of input errors.
The second project involves a hypothetical scenario where the fuselage of a 737 failed in mid-flight. While the project itself deals with numerous aspects of design including the use of computer aided design (CAD) and finite element analysis (FEA) as well as many theories of Solid Mechanics, it is the group aspect which I found to be most beneficial. For this project I led a 14-person team and in my role as leader I was required to: ensure that deliverables were completed on time, manage any personality differences, and keep the overall project both on task and on schedule. Aside from the technical skills learned, this project taught me valuable lessons in team dynamics, leadership skills and the value of team participation.
The final project is one that I completed during the summer break and even though it was not an assigned project for any particular class it was born as the direct result of the manufacturing, design and finance courses taken the previous semester. It can be a challenge to produce a single product or prototype but mass production brings with it a whole new set of challenges. For this project I set out to produce not 1 but over 150 joystick cases. To accomplish this task required a great deal of planning with regards to material usage, the necessary tools and most importantly how to maximize production time while minimizing setup times. It also required a great deal of product design as I had to be concerned with not only the finished product but the capabilities and limitations of the tools used to complete each piece. Finally this project taught me valuable lessons about finance, especially with regards to supply and demand, the fixed versus variable costs associated with product production and the necessity for effective and targeted marketing.
As I enter my fourth year I hope to gain new and valuable skills which will help me become the best engineer possible. Though my interests are varied I have chosen to specialize in manufacturing and solid mechanics in the hopes that my expertise will allow me to make a meaningful contribution to the manufacturing process. I am confident that my background in mechanical engineering will prove an essential asset in this regard. The leadership skills, technical skills and skills learned through practical application and problem solving will no doubt be of great value as I go forward as a student and as a professional engineer.