Design and Implementation of Open Source Testing Equipment in Engineering Education and Research

Laboratory work teaches students how technical knowledge is applied in practice and has long been recognized as a crucial component of a complete undergraduate engineering experience. The deployment of new laboratory activities is challenging for several reasons, particularly due to resource constraints. Providing students with meaningful hands-on experience became even more challenging in the remote learning environment during the COVID-19 global pandemic. In the work presented, two low-cost, open-source mechanical testing machines were designed, and implemented in engineering education and research. The Universal Mechanical Testing Kit was launched as lab activities in a first-year introduction to materials science class. The Miniature Mechanical Testing Kit was designed as a remote learning tool and used as a lab kit in a third-year engineering design class during the pandemic to provide students with meaningful hands-on experience while learning from home. Other design variations were also implemented in engineering education and research.M.A.S