Abstract
This paper discusses the development, implementation and assessment of a drilling, tapping and thread stripping exercise used in an introduction to engineering course. The exercise was designed to be a time efficient way to improve hands-on skills that exposed students to various mechanical engineering concepts such as moments, yield strength, safety factor and fastener strength. The thread stripping apparatus involved a lever arm used to pull eyebolts out of the students’ tapped holes in aluminum and ABS while measuring the force applied. Yield strength results from this simple apparatus compared favorably with results from a hydraulic tensile tester. Surveys of first year engineering students revealed that upon coming into the program only 28% of the students had experience with tapping a hole and the average student judged their comfort with hand tools as 7.1/10. End of course surveys revealed that average student comfort with hand tools was raised to 8.6/10 and 94% of students were confident in their ability to drill and tap a hole on their own. The exercise has been iteratively improved over two semesters and the details of the curriculum, lab exercise and physical thread stripping apparatus are provided as well as major lessons learned and suggestions for improvement.