Activity 2.2.

1 Product Analysis
Introduction
What is your favorite brand of tennis shoe? Maybe you prefer casual shoes over
tennis shoes. No matter the shoe, the primary design focus is the samewhat
materials should engineers consider when designing the shoe? After all, the shoe
must meet your performance expectations and must be durable enough for everyday
demand.
While materials possess similarities to one another, their differences are equally
important as engineers search for the correct material to create a product. When
selecting materials, engineers must ask the following questions. Will extreme
conditions affect the material? Will these conditions cause the material to fail, and if
not, how safely will the material carry the load? How will the material behave if its
temperature is drastically changed? Will the material remain as strong as it was prior
to being formed? Will the material corrode when exposed to extreme conditions?
When engineers cant find a material that provides the desired traits, they invent new
materials by combining several existing materials.
Material selection for products requires engineers to consider material properties
against anticipated use. Engineers must sometimes find an alternative material for a
part in their design for many reasons, including environmental issues, cost issues, or
safety issues. For example, during World War II, each B-17 Super Fortress Bomber
was built with approximately 1000 pounds of rubber. Scientists were tasked with
finding or developing a suitable rubber alternative in order to lighten the aircrafts
load.

Equipment

Computer
3D modeling software
Engineering notebook
Digital scale
Graduated cylinder, beaker, etc.
Water
Nail
Measuring devicedial caliper, ruler, micrometer, etc.

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Procedure
Categorizing materials and identifying their properties is an essential skill in the
everyday life of an engineer.
Part 1 Analysis:
1. Individually brainstorm a list of 10 common products found at home that consist
of at least two parts. These products may be items such as a cell phone, thumb
drive, stapler, backpack, etc. Record your list of products below.
a. Pen
b. Pencil
c. Nail clipper
d. Mechanical pencil
e. Bobby pin
f. stapler
g. thumb tack
h. marker
i. colored pencil
j. scissors
2. As a team identify two products from your brainstorming list to bring to the next
class meeting.
Product

Team member responsible for bringing

product to class

#1: thumb tack

3. Examine and discuss as a team the functions and properties of both product #1
and product #2.
4. Illustrate and describe product #1. Include detailed information relating to
function, operating procedure, operating environment, cost, manufacturing origin,
and product life cycle.
Illustration

Description
F: A small pin used to fasten items to a board or
wall etc.
OP: Push it through an item onto a platform.
OE: Classroom, bed room, office, construction etc.
C: $2.29
MO: Edwin Moore invented the push pin
(thumbtack) in 1990.
PLC: Can be recycled

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5. It may be necessary to disassemble your product in order to proceed with this

activity. See instructor before proceeding.
6. Sketch and describe all product components. Include detailed information
relating to component interaction and function within the product.
Illustration

Description

7. Select two components from each product to investigate further.

Product #1 Components
1. The head (plastic)
2. The body (Steel)

8. Further Component Investigation:

Product #1 Component #1 ______________________________
Test
Continuity Test

Description
Use a multimeter with a built-in
continuity tester or a simple circuit
consisting of a power source and light

Results
conductor

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Ferrous Metal Test

Hardness

to check for the components ability to

conduct electricity.
Pass a magnet over the component.

magnetic
hard

Mass

Use a nail to attempt to scratch the

surface of the component.
Use a digital scale to weigh the
component.
Submerge the component in a
container with a predetermined
measurable amount of water
(graduated cylinder, beaker, etc.). If
the component is buoyant, use a
paperclip to keep the object
submerged during testing. Measure
the increased volume of the water due
to the component being submerged in
the container.
Mass = weight / gravity

Density

Density = mass / volume

.3 g/l

Surface Area

Use a measuring device and calculator 1cm

to sum all of the areas that cover the
surface of the component.
Use only your hands and attempt to
no
bend the component. Does the
component permanently deform?

Weight
Volume

Hand Flexure Test

8g
7.5 l

8g

Conclusion Questions
1 How does design affect material selection?
Because you want to get material that is worth the cost and that will hold up and be
useful.
2 What other factors affect material selection other than design?
Weight, cost, durability

3 What properties of materials are important to understand before selecting

materials for production?
Is the product worth getting and will it benefit in the long run?

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9. What is liability? What are the liability issues, if any, related to the materials for
each product that your team selected?
The state of being responsible for something.

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