The optimal design of linear drives is a challenging task as these mechanical power transmissions are built from standard elements. The subjects will be co-supervised by Mr. Pierre Dupont, industrial expert in this field and will focus on different aspects as Screw Driven Systems, Belt Driven Systems, Life Cycle Cost criteria, Availability of Components. These works will pursue the work achieved by Mr Di Caro in 2014 on optimal design of power screws, in order to address more general specifications from the user and to extend the design to bearings and linear guideways. During the academic year 2015-2016, Jaïmé Cubo Soto and Simon Coubeau, both students in Mechanical Engineering, will work on the subject.

The preliminary design of a gearbox implies a reduction of volume or weight under given geometrical, kinematical and strength constraints. Many papers have been published to provide optimization schemes: V. Savsani et al., Mechanism and Machine Theory 45 (2010) 531-541, C. Gologlu et al., Computers & Industrial Engineering 52 (2009) 1043-1051, ... A synthesis is needed and an optimal design software for a double stage speed reducer would be the objective of this work.

Computer aided optimization of the bearings is a wide subject that cannot be restricted to a life calculation. Many other aspects must taken into account as size, rigidity, mounting and dismounting, ... Which criteria and which decision tree algorithm to select the appropriate type and model?

Different forms of statistical tolerancing are available and will be reviewed in this thesis. Nigam; Swani D. and Turner, Joshua U., Computer-Aided Design 27 (1995) 6-15; Pillet, Maurice et al., Weighted Inertial Tolerancing, Quality Engineering 17/4 (2005) 687-693. Some insight with respect to non linear dependent relations arising in tolerance chains will be appreciated.

This work is devoted to a state-of-the-art about rules to improve the maintainability of a mechanical design. Following the principles used for the Design for Assembly approach, a methodology to evaluate the maintainability of a design should be proposed. This opens the road for a quite original research work. During the academic year 2015-2016, Nicolas Potier, student in Mechanical Engineering, will work on the subject.

Origami engineering is at a development stage. Flat materials (paper sheets) can be folded to obtained volumes with structural or even kinematical properties. This work is intended to perform a state-of-the-art about prospectives applications for engineering purposes. Which materials are available ? How fold them? How to assess origami design rules?