Training activity information
Details
Use Computer Aided Design and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to optimise the design of a mechanical part. Including the following:
- Drawings of mechanical part using CAD
- Functional analysis
- FEA analysis
Type
Developmental training activity (DTA)
Evidence requirements
Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee.
Reflection on the activity at one or more time points after the event including learning from the activity and/or areas of the trainees practice for development.
An action plan to implement learning and/or to address skills or knowledge gaps identified.
Considerations
- Selection of CAD and FEA software
- Consultation with users and stakeholders
- Documentation
- User requirements and mechanical specification
- Material-selection constraints
- Functional parameter requirements, including dynamic movements
- Simulated movements
- Verification against specification
- FEA solution techniques
- Design analysis and improvement
Reflective practice guidance
The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.
Before action
- What is the mechanical part you will be designing and optimising?
- What are its functional requirements?
- What CAD software will you be using to create the drawings?
- What is your experience with this software?
- What functional analysis will you perform to understand how the part works and potential areas for optimisation?
- What FEA software will you be using to analyse the mechanical properties of the design?
- What types of analysis will you perform?
- What do you already know about FEA principles?
- What criteria will you use to determine if the design has been optimised?
- What challenges do you anticipate in using CAD and FEA effectively?
In action
- As you create the CAD drawings, are you considering the manufacturing feasibility of the design?
- Are you making adjustments based on this consideration?
- During the functional analysis, are you identifying all critical load-bearing points and potential failure modes?
- How is this influencing your subsequent FEA setup?
- When performing the FEA analysis, are you monitoring the simulation results and looking for areas of stress concentration or weakness?
- Are you adjusting the design or mesh based on these observations?
- As you iterate on the design based on FEA results, are you keeping the original functional requirements in mind?
- Are you ensuring that optimisations in one area don’t negatively impact another?
- Are you documenting the changes you are making to the design and the rationale behind them as you progress?
On action
- Summarise the mechanical part you designed and analysed, the CAD software you used, the functional analysis you performed, and the key findings from your FEA analysis.
- What did you learn about using CAD software for mechanical design?
- Did you improve your understanding of functional analysis and identifying critical design parameters?
- What did you learn about setting up and interpreting FEA simulations to evaluate structural performance?
- How did your iterative design process, influenced by FEA results, lead to the optimised part?
- How does this relate to the design and analysis of medical devices?
- Were there any unexpected stress concentrations or failure modes identified in the FEA?
- What design modifications did you make in response?
- Were there any challenges in using the CAD or FEA software?
- What specific features or capabilities of CAD and FEA software do you want to learn more about?
- How can you improve your ability to translate functional requirements into effective mechanical designs?
- What are your next steps in developing your skills in mechanical design and analysis?
- What resources (e.g., CAD/FEA software documentation, engineering design principles) could be helpful?
Beyond action
- Have you used CAD or FEA software in other design or analysis tasks or encountered different applications of these tools since this DTA?
- How has your understanding of the principles of mechanical design and the capabilities of CAD/FEA software evolved?
- Have you compared your designs and analyses with those produced by more experienced users or industry standards?
- How has this experience influenced your understanding of the design and performance of medical devices with mechanical components?
- Have you applied your knowledge of CAD/FEA in problem-solving or contributing to equipment modifications?
- Has your appreciation for the role of engineering principles in healthcare technology increased?
- What technical skills in mechanical design and analysis did you develop that will be valuable in device development, procurement, or maintenance?
- How has this experience informed your understanding of the product lifecycle for mechanical devices in healthcare?
- What clear actions for continued development in CAD/FEA skills or mechanical engineering principles have been identified?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 4 |
Outcome
Create and evaluate mechanical, electronic and physiological models using a range of methodologies. |