MINES STUDENTS TACKLING YOUR ENGINEERING DESIGN PROJECTS WITH CREATIVITY AND INGENUITY
Our students work on different types of open-ended design challenge projects, including:
- Product development (prototype)
- Process improvements (system, flow, traffic)
- Plan conceptualization (layout, sites, buildings)
We work with you to set up a project with a team of Mines students who will develop innovative design solutions and practical recommendations, including for example:
- Basic prototypes for new products
- Site plans
- Engineering drawings
- Operating instructions
- Budgets and financial models
- Implementation plan
- Assembly instructions
- User or stakeholder studies
- Analyses, research summaries, handoff instructions, etc.
Client/Sponsor Benefits
Our clients/sponsors will gain as much as they give to our students: new ideas and fresh solutions to existing challenges; meaningful outreach and mentorship opportunities; additional recruiting opportunities; and enhanced recognition of your organization on campus.
You Choose From Two Programs: Cornerstone or Capstone Design
Both programs are heavily focused on creative open-ended problem-solving. Cornerstone projects can be completed in a single semester and Capstone projects span two full semesters. Projects start in January and August for both programs.
Cornerstone Design
The cornerstone projects are a single semester and staffed with a small team of 4-6 students in the 2nd or 3rd year of their studies.
Characteristics of ideal Cornerstone projects include:
- Can be addressed/solved in a single semester
- Disciplines represented include chemical, civil, environmental, geological, metallurgical, petroleum, mining, engineering physics, integrative design, and humanitarian engineering
- Suitable for a team of 4-6 students led by a faculty member
- Prototype and testing fees not to exceed $200 (unless subsidized by the client/project sponsor)
- No fee is charged to client/project sponsor for Cornerstone projects.
Examples include:
- Materials and Metallurgy, with prior projects spanning material corrosion to detecting artifact fakes
- Re-use and recycling of discarded or used materials/process development for re-use and recycling
- Standard product or process development, covering an enormous array of projects in water pumping, engine vibration sensing, DemoSat, package delivery, assistive and enabling technologies, and smart tech solutions
- GIS (Geographic Information Systems), such as water source analysis, abandoned mine mapping (not available every semester)
Client/Sponsor Responsibilities
We expect our clients to meet with the student team a minimum of three times over the course of each semester, either in person or by video call, and be responsive to regular emails or calls with the team. The involvement of the sponsor throughout the semester is a key factor in the success and relevance of a project. These programs rely on your active engagement with students to get the most out of your time and inputs that enables students to produce excellent results through the full experience of project work.
Capstone (Senior) Design
Capstone projects are completed over two semesters allowing greater depth and longer-term engagement with the client. Small teams of 3-6 students in their senior year will work on complicated, multi-faceted projects that require thorough analysis and design work.
Characteristics of ideal Capstone projects include:
- Can be addressed/solved in a structured, two- semester program (with a break in-between semesters)
- Can engage any of the following in a multi-disciplinary team: civil, environmental, mechanical, electrical and design engineering
- A team of 3-6 students provides approximately 450-900 person-hours dedicated to design study and your project
- Students are guided by teaching faculty, as well as project advisors with industry expertise. Additionally, students have access to state-of-the-art labs and workshops, design equipment and technical specialists.
Our client-driven projects span myriad industries, communities, and continents. Examples include:
- Custom built antennas for a nationally-known aerospace company
- Medium voltage switchgear for a regional power company
- Ankle prosthetics for Paralympic snowboarders
- Safety restraint system for Gilpin County, Colorado EMS
- Solar-powered UV disinfection for Ugandan water sources
- Storm water drainage plan for a Jefferson County Open Space Park
See all of the team projects from the Spring 2020 Project Showcase here.
Client/Sponsor Responsibilities
We expect our clients to meet with the student team a minimum of three times over the course of each semester, either in person or by video call, and be responsive to regular emails or calls with the team. The involvement of the sponsor throughout the semester is a key factor in the success and relevance of a project. These programs rely on your active engagement with students to get the most out of your time and inputs that enables students to produce excellent results through the full experience of project work.
Capstone Client Financial Obligations
Project sponsors support the Mines Capstone Design program through a sponsorship fee of $5,000 per project. Up to half of the fee goes directly to your team for purchasing project materials. Capstone Design uses the remainder to support program facilities and community development projects.
Non-profit / NGO / start-up organizations can request consideration for a reduced sponsorship fee ($1,000) + material costs over $1,000 for prototyping needs.