Cranes are machines that play a vital role in the various engineering applications and construction industry because they have enough power to move materials of various weights upward, downward and horizontally. Come explore mechanical engineering through the use of cranes at the Summer Springboard program at Cal Poly.
Mechanical engineering is the largest department at Cal Poly with more than 1,250 undergraduates and is ranked as the second-best undergraduate focused mechanical engineering program in the country by U.S. News and World Reports. The state-of-the-art laboratories and machine shops are integral parts of our curriculum and give students unique Learn by Doing opportunities to become successful and resourceful professionals in their fields.
Hands-On Learning
In this workshop, the students study and know the different types of cranes, how to get the center of gravity of the crane, the moment of inertia and the stability conditions of the crane. Each group of students will design and build a crane with maximum dimensions using coffee stirrer sticks, two small DC motors, small pulleys, string, small wax gun, etc.
Career Exploration
Mechanical engineering is an exciting field, offering jobs in almost every industry. Some of the top industries hiring mechanical engineers today include engineering services, R&D and manufacturing. This hands-on course will provide exposure to mechanical engineers who can share their personal academic and career paths.
Instructor
Ashraf Elbarbary
Dr. Ashraf Elbarbary received his Masters degree in Aerospace Engineering and a PhD in Mechanical Design Engineering. His studies have focused on the field of control of mechanical vibrations of rotating shafts by using magnetic bearing. Dr. Elbarbary has worked on research projects in the following fields: propulsion systems for satellites, seawater desalination, and design of recycling machines for nonhazardous waste. He is currently a Scholar Visitor and Lecturer at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
This program is run in partnership with Cal Poly Extended Education. Instructors are Cal Poly faculty and provide access to the same facilities that Cal Poly students enjoy.
