WILLIAMS MECHANICAL DESIGN COMPETITION
MECHANICAL DESIGN COMPEITITON
The Williams Mechanical Design Competition is an innovative program designed to ignite student interest in STEAM fields while offering hands-on, practical experience in engineering and design. This year, two new components have been added to enhance the program’s impact. The first aims to build greater awareness of career opportunities in STEAM by immersing students in real-world mechanical design challenges. Participants will gain invaluable, practical skills in fluid power and mechanics, fostering a deeper understanding of the role these fields play in various industries. Partners: Penn State Fayette, Williams, Laurel Mountain Midstream.
HOW FLUID POWER WORKS:
WORKSHOP DAY
On Workshop Day, teams learn about the basics of hydraulics and pneumatics– what it is, how it works, and how it is used in everyday life. They also get the chance to learn about what careers in the fluid power industry are like, and how they can start pursuing those. Next, teams build basic lifters using a provided kit and begin developing the skills they’ll be using in the competition. They start working on machines that rotate and lift objects. Workshop Day wraps up by giving the students the challenge scenario – what they are actually tasked with doing at the challenge. Teams are asked to build a machine that can move an object from one location to another and are given all of the tools and a kit of supplies that they will need. In the weeks before the competition, they develop a plan and start building!
CHALLENGE DAY
On Challenge Day, the teams come together again and use the same tools and an identical kit of supplies to recreate their unique machine, which they use in the competition to pick up weighted objects and place them on various level platforms. Teams are judged on their portfolio, design, teamwork and total machine points. They can win in any of these areas! As the teams work during the allotted time, Challenge Judges observe the teams and interview students, asking them about how they came up with their design and how they work together as a team. When the time is up, the teams all gather together and put their machines to the test. The judges keep score as teams use their machines, seeing how many objects they can move in the allowed time.
PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS
Albert Gallatin School District:
• Albert Gallatin North •
• Albert Gallatin South •
• Belle Vernon Middle School •
• Brownsville Middle School •
• Connellsville Middle School •
• Franklin Regional Middle School •
• Greater Latrobe Junior High School •
• Greensburg Salem Jr. High School •
• Laurel Highlands Middle School •
• Leechburg Middle/High School •
•Mt. Pleasant Jr. High School •
• Penn Trafford Middle School •
• Norwin Middle School •
• St. Johns the Evangelist Regional Catholic School •
• Southmoreland Jr. High School •
• Yough Intermediate Middle School •
JOIN FAYETTE BUSINESS EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP
The Fayette Business Education Partnership is a workforce initiative of the Fayette Chamber of Commerce. If you are a workforce provider, business or a part of the education system and you would like more information on FBEP complete the form and we will contact you as soon as possible! There is no cost to participate. For more info email: info@fayettebep.org
Fayette Business Education Partnership
65 W. Main Street
Uniontown, PA 15401
p: 724.437.4571
e: info@fayettebep.org
