Readying Yourself for a Pioneering Role in Aeronautics and Space Technology Careers
Aerospace engineers faced with time constraints to develop a crucial rocket engine component encountered a predicament when the outsourced parts didn't match the design specifications. Issues such as incorrect impeller blade angles and larger diameters led to unexpected costs and malfunctions. Such challenges, seldom encountered during undergraduate curriculum, are being addressed by a newly introduced course, Advanced Manufacturing for Aerospace Engineers (16.811).
Juniors and seniors enrolled in this communication-oriented laboratory course are given the opportunity to oversee a comprehensive engineering cycle, replicating the challenges that await them in their professional careers. In a span of 13 weeks, students are charged with designing, manufacturing, and testing a scaled electric turbopump, a component commonly used in liquid rocket propulsion systems to high-pressure deliver fuel and oxidizer to the combustion chamber. Students collaborate in teams of two or three, managing expenses, documenting, and conducting tests throughout the production process.
The course, developed and taught by Zachary Cordero, Esther and Harold E. Edgerton Associate Professor, and Zoltán Spakovszky, the T. Wilson Professor in Aeronautics, along with a team of teaching assistants, technical instructors, and communication experts, made its debut last fall. To accommodate the high demand upon announcement, student spots were allocated through a lottery system for students who had successfully completed the foundational Course 16 curriculum, Unified Engineering.
According to Cordero, hands-on experience is not always guaranteed through extracurricular activities. Students in this course, however, are provided with the exposure to cutting-edge design and manufacturing tools, including metal 3D printing, which enables them to overcome typical engineering challenges beyond solving problem set concerns.
The course encompasses understanding the principles and applications of advanced manufacturing techniques in the aerospace industry. It covers core competencies like materials selection, process optimization, and quality control, along with the application of computational tools and simulation methods to predict and analyze manufacturing processes. Techniques covered include 3D printing, CNC machining, composite materials fabrication, and hybrid manufacturing methods.
Upon completion, students will have developed the ability to design and implement advanced manufacturing processes and gained knowledge in materials science relevant to aerospace applications. Their soft skills, such as teamwork and communication, will have been honed through project work and presentations. Strategic thinking, understanding the impact of manufacturing choices on product performance and cost, and the ability to evaluate and select appropriate manufacturing methods will also have been fostered.
The course aims to prepare aerospace engineers to innovate and improve manufacturing processes in the field, opening opportunities in aerospace industry roles like manufacturing engineer, research and development engineer, and quality control specialist. Additionally, the transferable skills acquired will be applicable to other industries involving advanced manufacturing such as automotive, biomedical, and energy sectors.
- Aerospace engineers, encountering predicaments with design specifications during their professional careers, are being prepared for such challenges through a course called Advanced Manufacturing for Aerospace Engineers (16.811).
- In this course, students are tasked with designing, manufacturing, and testing a scaled electric turbopump, a component commonly used in liquid rocket propulsion systems, thereby replicating the challenges they might face in their future professions.
- The course, under the guidance of professors Zachary Cordero and Zoltán Spakovszky, along with a team of teaching assistants, technical instructors, and communication experts, focuses on understanding the principles and applications of advanced manufacturing techniques in the aerospace industry.
- Upon completion of the course, students will have developed the ability to design and implement advanced manufacturing processes, gained knowledge in materials science relevant to aerospace applications, and honed their soft skills like teamwork and communication.
- The course aims to equip students with skills applicable to various industries, not just the aerospace industry, including roles in manufacturing engineer, research and development engineer, and quality control specialist in fields like automotive, biomedical, and energy sectors.
