Mechanics Desktop Lab Equipment

This paper overviews the design, implementation and testing of a senior project designed to fix the issue of there being no lab equipment or space for content pertaining to mechanic of materials topics. This is of concern as Cal Poly is reorganizing content as it switches to the semester system and is in need of labs for this material. The solution found was to create a portable miniature universal test machine that could be carted into non-lab classrooms. The goal was to create a device that was low-cost, modifiable, durable, easy to manufacture and repair as these were the qualities that would allow it to compete with other similar products in the market. The report focuses on the manufacturing and verification of this prototype along with a discussion of what was learned. Recommendations are given to those that aim to follow up this project so that the device can better achieve the goals of the project. A final overview of what was and was not achieved is reflected on at the end along with the usefulness of this project’s outcomes