Syringes and Circuits and Pumps, Oh My!

Fluid Power Team Projects

Flint Hills Technical College

Industrial Engineering Technology

Hydraulics and Pneumatic Class

Chris Wilson

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY Technical Certificate

Industrial Electricity

Industrial Wiring

Motor Controls

Electrical Troubleshooting

Hydraulics and Pneumatics

Residential Wiring

Mechanical Principles

Mechatronics

Associates Degree

Programmable Logic Controllers

Engineering Energy Applications

Troubleshooting

Instrumentation

General Education Requirements

When? After basic concepts are learned and practiced in lab and

classroom.

Where? Classroom, computer lab, offsite parts acquisition, and lab.

Why? To integrate hands-on, textbook concepts, and soft skills

combined into one project. Increased learning and retention of information.

How? That’s the fun part. Stay tuned……

Fluid Power Team Projects

Steps in the Process

Instruction Teams Research Planning Parts List Parts Acquisition Assembly Testing Demonstration Presentation

Introduce the project

Lay out the plan

Research a hydraulic or pneumatic “machine”

Limited budget ($50 per team)

Limited class time (9 hrs)

Doesn’t need to perform a “useful” function.

Instruction

Draw numbers for teams (develops respect for diversity).

Let them name their own team.

Teams of 2 or 3 at the most.

4 or more, it is easy for someone to disappear and not contribute much work.

Also depends on class size.

Go Team Go

Research

Good ol’ Google Past projects Usually a crane, hand, or

clamping mechanism Encourage them to dig

deeper Willing to increase budget

to try something new Linear projects are

abundant, rotary not so much

What do we need?

Can we get it all at Bluestem Farm and Ranch?

How long will it take to assemble?

How will we teach fluid power concepts?

What are the main concepts we will be reinforcing/demonstrating with this project?

Planning

Have to procure EVERYTHING from Bluestem Farm and Ranch Supply.

This levels the playing field. Can’t bring items from home, or from dad’s shop for example.

Buy, beg, borrow, but please don’t steal.

Parts List

Field Trip!!!

Arrive on time and together.

Don’t start shopping until instructor checks everyone off his list.

Time limit of 30-45 minutes.

Must be under budget.

Instructor must approve budget overages, and may still incur a points penalty.

Parts Acquisition

Assembly

Testing

The project should function properly.

But if it doesn’t, it’s not the end of the world.

During testing phase, continue to push for proper function.

In the presentation, use the faults, imperfections, and malfunctions to help teach.

Demonstration

Presentation

Usually a Powerpoint

Ask for 10-15 minutes

Usually get about 5

Focus on talking to the audience, not reading off of the board.

How well do the really understand fluid power principles?

What Goes Right

Hands-on activity

Students get to work together on a team

Fully functioning hydraulic/pneumatic circuits are created.

Components of fluid power system can be effectively identified.

What Goes Wrong

Projects don’t always function perfectly.

Way under budget? Not always a good thing.

Presentations are often lacking. Project demonstrations and descriptions are good, but explanation of fluid power concepts comes up short quite often.

May need to do a “sample presentation” for them so they know what to expect.

Focus on main fluid power concepts: Path of least resistance

F=P x A

Increased flow = increased speed

Decreased flow = decreased speed

Transmission of force

Parts of a hydraulic system

Pumps create flow

Valves to direct flow

Course Content Integration

Learn from Mistakes

An example of F = P x A can easily be turned into “Path of Least Resistance”

Having to put a nozzle on a hose end in order to direct fluid flow can be used to teach the effects of increased fluid velocity.

Perfection Not Required

Learn from mistakes.

If it doesn’t work exactly right, tell why.

This can still be used to explain a fluid power concept.

Sometimes this can actually be a better way to drive the point home on a particular concept.

Teamwork

Public Speaking

Conflict Resolution

Work Ethic

Critical Thinking

Technical Literacy

Communications

Professionalism Skills/Core Abilities

1. Identify and define components in the pneumatics and hydraulic trainers.

2. Apply the basic laws of pneumatics and hydraulics through demonstration.

3. Draw and install circuits that utilize fluid pressure measurement and control.

Technical Competencies

Safety

Relevance

Professionalism

Attempts

Budget

Teaching

Concepts

Assessment All Categories Worth 10 Points Each

Assessment

Chris Wilson

Flint Hills Technical College – Emporia, KS

Industrial Engineering Technology Instructor

chwilson@fhtc.edu

620-341-1360

Contact Information