Troy Stull of Brighton, Mo., a senior in mechanical engineering at UMR, recently won second place in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers’ Student Manufacturing Engineering Design Competition for his virtual die-casting work cell project.

Stull worked with Briggs & Stratton engineers to automate the company’s die-casting work cell in its Rolla, Mo., engine manufacturing plant for his entry. Titled "Virtual Robotic Die-Casting Work Cell," Stull’s project was one of six presented at the 2003 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and RD&D Expo, held Nov. 15-21 in Washington, D.C. Dr. Ming Leu, the Keith and Pat Bailey Missouri Distinguished Professor of Integrated Product Manufacturing in the department of mechanical and aerospace engineering, served as Stull’s advisor.

The Student Manufacturing Engineering Design Competition, sponsored by the ASME Manufacturing Design Division, is designed to foster student projects that promote the art, science and practice of manufacturing engineering.