Students and faculty from the Mechanical Engineering Technology (MCT) and Veterinary Technology (VET) programs collaborated on a unique project to assist with dental care for animals. Veterinary Technology Department Chair, Dr. Darlene Jones, along with lab assistant, Nick Raimondi, met with MCT students, Vishnu Harnarine and Taylor Badessa, whose task was to design a mock dental x-ray machine. It will be used by the VET students to practice the positioning of and the taking of animal dental x-rays.
First, Taylor and Vishnu studied existing veterinarian x-ray machines and similar devices. Next they documented the x-ray machines features and developed concept drawings and project charts. The design phase included 3D designing and modeling, structure engineering analysis, material selection analysis, and prototyping. The x-ray camera head was produced on New England Tech’s 3D printer. The support mechanism/arms and dolly were fabricated in the MCT laboratory. Finally, the prototype was assembled, adjusted, and tested. As part of their final project, Taylor and Vishnu demonstrated the x-ray machine to the very appreciative Vet Tech students and faculty.
Dean Plowman, Mechanical Engineering Department Chair, stated, “This was a great interdisciplinary project between Mechanical Engineering and Veterinary Technology students using MCT and 3D printing techniques. It was great to see students working together from very different programs to achieve a common goal. We are all so very pleased with the outcome.”