Sven Matthiesen

Evaluation of the element model "Working surface pairs & channel and support structures"

The total knowledge of mankind doubles in shorter and shorter time, currently about every third year. The quantity of the existing knowledge of mechanical engineering also increases rapidly. The duration of study must not prolongate, so at the Institute for Machine Design and Automotive Engineering (Institut fur Maschinenkonstruktionslehre und Kraftfahrzeugbau mkl) at the University of Karlsruhe the new Karlsruhe education model for industrial product development (Karlsruher Lehrmodell fur Produktentwicklung KaLeP) was introduced in 1999. It is continuously advanced by the experiences that are made at its application.

The Dilemma of Managing Iterations in Time-to-market Development Processes

This paper considers the authors’ experience in industrial practice and reviews it from the point of view of scientific discussion. From scientific point of view there are three major Research questions: Why are iterations conceived differently? What makes an iteration valuable or harmful? What are appropriate strategies to deal with iterations under time pressure? The Papers give answers on this major research question by showing different aspects of time-to-market development processes and the challenge of effectively handling iterations within them. One of the authors was development head of a business unit responsible for various development and innovation projects. The other, in his position as global process manager for research and development, was responsible for the design and improvement of development processes in the same company. Thus both views represent the conflicting aspect of process modelling and iteration, which is a key topic in scientific discussion

Combination of Eye Tracking and Think-Aloud Methods in Engineering Design Research

In order to understand the engineers’ behavior while designing it needs to be revealed how the designer perceives function-shape-relations of a technical system. Eye tracking is a adequate method to observe the proceedings of the human analyzing technical systems. However, further information for concluding on the designer’s perception is needed. Well-established methods in order to elicit further implicit and tacit knowledge are think aloud approaches. The combination think-aloud and eye tracking is not yet observed in detail; especially how think-aloud influences the eye movements and which additional data is gained in the context of engineering design research. This paper presents an eye tracking study, which compares two think-aloud methods, concurrent and retrospective think-aloud, in combination with eye tracking. The results show no significant influence on the eye movements. However, the two think-aloud approaches generate differing contents of verbalizations and complement the recorded gaze data with different scopes.

Neue Ansätze in der Maschinenkonstruktionslehre

Die Maschinenelemente selbst und das industrielle Umfeld, in denen sie entwickelt, produziert und angewandt werden, haben sich in den letzten Jahren drastisch gewandelt. Zum einen steigt die Vielzahl der Maschinenelemente durch neue Werkstoffe und neue Fertigungstechnologien stark an, zum anderen entstehen durch das veranderte industrielle Umfeld mit dem Trend zum Einsatz vorgefertigter Teilsysteme neue Prozesse in der Konstruktion. Im Zuge der Outsourcing-Strategien von Unternehmen werden Maschinenelemente zu einem grosen Anteil als Zulieferkomponenten von hochspezialisierten Zulieferern bezogen und in die eigene Entwicklung neuer Produkte integriert. Neben dem Gestalten von Maschinenelementen in der Zulieferindustrie hat dadurch das Gestalten mit Maschinenelementen bei den Anwendern eine vergleichbare Bedeutung erlangt [5].

Objective usability evaluation of drywall screwdriver under consideration of the user experience

During validation of power tools, one objective is to determine the usability of the device for several applications. A common way to gain this user knowledge is to carry out tests under laboratory conditions with non-professional craftsmen, whereby a non-professional user does not work and evaluate a power tool similarly to a professional. Therefore an experimental study was conducted to investigate the possibility of training non-professionals in the professional working methods and evaluation of relevant key criteria for drywall screwdrivers. 39 subjects were divided into three groups and trained in the professional use of a drywall screwdriver. Results indicate that targeted training significantly improves the professional way of working (professional hand position p = 0.000, β = -0.764) and evaluation (testing of mass distribution p = 0.000, β = -0.731) of a drywall screwdriver. The gained knowledge can be used for the implementation of objective usability test-environments to derive specific and differentiated user-centered development potentials under laboratory conditions.

IPEK-XiL-Approach and IPEK-XiL-Framework for Power Tools

The IPEK-X-in-the-Loop (IPEK-XiL) approach for power tools describes the basic understanding of validating a subsystem to integrate it into the overall system, the environment and possibly other interacting systems such as the user [1]. The IPEK-XiL approach for power tools is based on the generalized IPEK-X-in-the-Loop (IPEK-XiL) approach in [1] and [2] and is adapted to power tools. Rest-Power-Tool X-in-the-Loop

Universitäre Ausbildung zum Konstrukteur im Kontext des industriellen Wandels

Die seit vielen Jahren immer starker werdende Verflechtung von Maschinenbau, Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik in Maschinen und Produkten und deren zusatzliche Vernetzung uber IT Systeme wird heute mit dem Label „Industrie 4.0“ belegt. Die vierte industrielle Revolution wird damit im Gegensatz zu den letzten drei industriellen Revolutionen bereits im Voraus angekundigt.

Zielgerichtete und kundenorientierte Produktentwicklung – von der Anwendungsanalyse zur Validierung

In der Elektrowerkzeugindustrie bieten kleine und mittlere Unternehmen (KMU)- mit Sitz in Deutschland – ein groses Produktportfolio fur verschiedenste Anwendungen mit unterschiedlichen Funktionsprinzipien an. Das Kundenprofil, welches bei der kundenorientierten Entwicklung berucksichtigt werden sollte, reicht vom unbedarften Laien bis hin zum professionellen Handwerker. Diese unterschiedlichen Anwender stehen bei handgehaltenen Geraten meist im direkten Leistungsfluss mit dem Gerat und sind masgeblich an der Leistungserfullung des Gerats beteiligt. Zusatzlich sorgen verschiedene Anwendungen und Arbeitshaltungen fur variierende Wechselwirkungen zwischen Mensch, Untergrund und Gerat. Auf Grund dieser vielschichtigen Anforderungen, stellt die Entwicklung und Validierung von handgehaltenen Geraten Entwicklungsingenieure vor komplexe Herausforderungen. Um das mogliche Risiko von Fehlentwicklungen zu senken und eine zielgerichtete Produktentwicklung mit fruher Validierung von kritischen Funktionen zu ermoglichen, bietet sich der X-in-the-Loop (XiL) Ansatz an. In diesem Beitrag wird ein auf die Geratebranche angepasster XiL-Ansatz am Beispiel eines Akku-Kombihammers vorgestellt.

A Cooperative and Competitive Workshop in Mechatronics Engineering

This paper presents a new mechatronics laboratory for students in the 5th semester of the mechatronics degree course at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. It is the aim of this teaching event to sharpen the appreciation of synergy effects in the development of mechatronic systems among the students. Despite of the great freedom in the development process, a concept has been evolved, which causes low running costs due to the combination of a model kit with rapid prototyping methods. A first pilot study of the laboratory starting in the winter term 2014 has shown that the students approach the task despite of the high level of difficulty with fun and dedication, especially because of the wide solution space which was unknown for them from previous lectures.

Die Experten-Workshops

Ziel der Experten-Workshops war es, Vorschlage fur Masnahmen zur Verbesserung des Berufsimages des Konstrukteurs und fur eine zeitgemase und zukunftsweisende Hochschulausbildung und Weiterbildung zu erarbeiten, die den Erwartungen der Industrie Rechnung tragt. In zwei Workshops arbeiteten die Experten zunachst Problemfelder und Ursachen heraus, bevor sie Losungsansatze ableiteten.