Mechanical Engineering

Research Aims at Improving Reliability of MEMS Technology

Professor Ken Gall and doctoral student Brian Corff study the reliability of thermally activated micro-actuators. Their research complements work being done by the MEMS design group in the college.

Imagine specially shaped fans so small that hundreds could fit onto a computer chip for active cooling of circuitry. Or actuators the size of a grain of sand that can be used to reflect light at different angles using miniature mirrors.

In the world of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), functioning machines such as these developed at CU-Boulder — with sizes on the order of a human hair — are revolutionizing the concept of mechanical design. More

Students Develop New Shutter Mechanism For Sophisticated X-ray Equipment

Students Jeff Garland, Cody Henderson and Beth Isler work on the shutter mechanism of a high-tech Automated X-ray Inspection System for their senior project.

A half-million-dollar Automated X-ray Inspection System developed by Agilent Technologies has presented a real-world challenge for a group of mechanical engineering students — and they are performing with flying colors.

The highly sophisticated machine is used to test the integrity of solder joints on integrated circuit boards, one of the last steps in the assembly process used by various high-tech manufacturers. The machine employs a shutter assembly with a parallel link mechanism to seal the X-rays inside — a device that has worked well, but which requires regular maintenance during the life of the machine. More