Ireland’s green energy needs will be well served by the next generation of mechanical engineers being taught at IT Sligo.
That’s the clear message from a range of intricate and innovative ‘design and build’ projects that Mechanical Engineering students have been showcasing at the Institute of Technology as part of their final year degree studies.
Renewable energy is an unmistakable theme in them. And, like many of her classmates, undergraduate Aoife Hegarty is looking forward to working in the sector.
‘After graduation, I would like a career in ocean energy’, says Aoife, who is from Mullaghmore, Co Sligo.
Twenty-three students, working in seven teams, designed, built and tested innovative machines and products – some of which may be further researched and turned into commercial products in the future.
The exhibits included a pioneering Wave Energy Converter, a Compactor which makes briquettes from waste paper, and a Portable Power System which utilises the combined benefits of a wind and solar energy.
One group designed and built an industrial standard CNC Plasma Cutter, for use in metal fabrication industries, at a fraction of the price of those currently commercial available. Another team automated the assembly and testing of a car light bulb unit.
Two hydraulically operated projects were built, one which solves a problem encountered when trying to repair tractor PTO shafts, along with a very efficient, large scale Log Splitter.
Undergraduates Stephen Gibbons, David Healy and Aoife Hegarty worked on the Wave Energy Convertor project.
Aoife says: ‘There is quite an amount of research going on at the moment into wave energy because of the need for renewable energy resources. After all, we have the ‘raw material’ here in abundance – our whole west coast lends itself to wave energy possibilities.’
All students said that, in addition to the opportunity to put into practice skills they had acquired at IT Sligo, each had seen in action the key workplace importance of strategically managing projects and working together as a team.
Lecturer Michael Moffatt, who chairs the Mechanical Engineering programme at IT Sligo, says: ‘On their course here, the students study design, analysis, materials and mechanical systems, while also undertaking a significant amount of practical project work. These applied projects are essential elements that ensure our graduates are equipped with the core skills required in modern advanced engineering companies in industry.’
‘In each of the past three years, students from the Mechanical Programme at IT Sligo have been finalists in the Engineers Ireland ‘Innovative Student Engineer Awards’ competition, based on final year projects, and won the competition outright in 2010.’
‘The class of 2013 has certainly lived up to the high standards set in previous years with the high calibre projects on display at this year’s Showcase.’
Caption for photo above:
Pulp Compactor: Declan Davey, Ballymote Co. Sligo; David Callanan, Sligo; Alan Cawley, Enniscrone, Co. Sligo; David Duffy, Sligo.
Photos of all other teams below:
 Bulb Assembly & Test Device: Owen McGinley, Glencolmcille Co. Donegal; Cathal Philbin, Barnatra Co. Mayo; Courage Okundia, Sligo and Joey Tuffy, Enniscrone Co. Sligo. |
 Portable Power System: Peter Conlon, Woodtown Lodge, Sligo; Colm Byrne, Tuam, Co. Galway; David Dolan, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway; Robert Cregg, Ballinlough, Co. Roscommon. |
 Wave Energy Converter: Stephen Gibbons, Claremorris, Co. Mayo; Aoife Hegarty, Mullaghmore, Co. Sligo; David Healy, Templeboy, Co. Sligo. |
 CNC Plasma Cutter: Conrad Sullivan, Shercock, Co. Cavan; Christian McLeod, Grange Co. Sligo; Patrick Lawrence, Coolaney, Co. Sligo; Niall Rooney, Glencar, Co. Leitrim |
 Log Splitter: Feargal Coyle, Arva, Co. Cavan; Stephen Kilroy, Ballinagh, Co. Cavan; Shane Gordon, Dromore West, Co.Sligo; Michael Feeney, Easkey, Co. Sligo. |
 PTO Shaft Splitter: Declan Davey, Ballymote, Co. Sligo; David Callanan, Sligo; Alan Cawley, Ennicrone, Co. Sligo and David Duffy, Sligo. |