PROJECT TYpE: University group project
Automated Scissor Lift Skip-Loading System
Project Impact
Transformed an industrial design brief into a fully analysed, production-ready skip loader, meeting all cycle time and structural safety targets while staying under a £1,000 manufacturing budget. Earned a First Class grade and demonstrating a complete engineering workflow from CAD modelling to BS 8888 drafting.
THE CHALLENGE
Maintaining safety & efficiency under strict a budget.
In this Integrated Design Project, our 7-person engineering team was tasked with designing an automated, stationary skip loader. The device needed to safely accept 90-litre waste payloads from standard wheelbarrows and deposit them into an industrial refuse skip (3.2m x 1.75m x 1.22m). The key design constraints required an electric motor drive, a fast 30-second cycle time, high structural safety, and a strict manufacturing budget cap of £1,000.
THE SOLUTION
Strategic time optimisation & team-based collaboration.
To create a safe, efficient, and effective product whilst meeting time and budget constraints, our team focused on mechanical efficiency and cross-functional collaboration. We emphasised ongoing detailed team meetings, as we believe that communication can prevent mistakes, delays, and misunderstandings within a team project. Through rigorous project tacking, we synchronised our workflow to deliver a high standard of work - receiving a First Class grade for the project.
Lead CAD Designer
Modeled the complete 3D scissor lift system in Fusion 360, designing each component and interface to ensure geometric compatibility and smooth mechanical motion. Authored official BS 8888-compliant General Assembly drawings including isometric views, third-angle projections, and tolerancing to produce a production-ready documentation package suitable for manufacturing.
Project Manager
Co-managed a 7-person multidisciplinary engineering team through every phase of the design life cycle, establishing structured project timelines, task assignments, and regular meeting schedules. Kept the team aligned on key deliverables, resolved workflow bottlenecks, and ensured all structural and functional requirements were met on time to secure a First Class grade.
Financial Planning
Led the financial and material resource planning for the project, establishing cost-estimation models to evaluate raw materials, standard hardware, and manufactured components. Balanced performance requirements against cost tradeoffs throughout the iterative design process, ensuring the final machine design remained strictly under the £1,000 target budget.
My Role & Responsibilities
How I contributed to the project...
Project Impact.
90L
30 sec
£1000
Load Capacity
Cycle Time
Budget
Optimized load distribution achieved through advanced carbon fiber composite integration.
Significant reduction in heat soak utilizing custom aerodynamic cooling channels.
Increase in operational lifespan compared to previous generation alloy components.
Technical Gallery.
Visualizing the engineering precision through technical diagrams, high-resolution renders, and detailed schematic layouts of the final project outcome.
