Reconfigurable Mechanical Vibrations Laboratory Kit

Abstract

Mechanical vibrations appear across a diverse range of applications, but nevertheless are unified by a core set of principles and phenomena. In this article, we describe a reconfigurable laboratory kit that is designed to be used as part of a first undergraduate course in mechanical vibrations. The kit was designed to be low cost and allow for a series of laboratory experiments to be performed remotely. Using a common set of core hardware and software, five laboratory experiments are detailed and can be performed to supplement many of the major topics traditionally encountered in a first vibrations course. This accessible platform will readily enable further technical improvements and expansions, as well as the development of additional experiments and assignments. Metadata Overview Main design files: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5888554 Target group: undergraduate students in engineering, physics. Skills required: 3D printing – easy; laser cutting – easy; metal shear and hole punch – easy. Replication: Kit has been constructed and tested by authors, as well as students at Brown University. See section “Build Details” for more detail.

Keywords

• open-source
• vibration
• resonance
• oscillation
• spring
• laboratory
• remote learning
• teaching
• mechanical engineering