A beautifully designed pen, which was commissioned especially for “The Gathering” event in Donegal and given to their brand ambassadors, was created by three final year students from the BEng (Honours) in Mechanical Engineering at LYIT.

The three students, Emmet Lafferty (Carndonagh), Seamus MacDaibhid (Cloghan) and Jonathon Morrow (Donegal Town), were given the brief as part of their “Computer Aided Manufacturing” assignment in the final year of their degree.  They were asked to design an item, which would be used by the Ambassadors of “The Gathering” and would reflect the unique occasion.  The students choose to design a pen.  The pen with its distinctive brass clip “G” was given to “The Gathering” Ambassadors, many of whom are based around the world.

Rather than go for the easy option, the students decided to design and produce the pen.  They used top of the range industrial technologies - Rapid Prototyping and CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machining to painstakingly test various prototypes to see which would have the best look and feel.

Derek Thornton, Lecturer, explains the process, “The students used SolidWorks software to create virtual prototypes of various pen designs.  These 3D CAD models on the computer then enabled the students to finesse the shape of the pen and investigate how the various parts would fit together.  They then deployed Rapid Prototyping technology to turn the virtual design into a prototype which you could physically hold in your hand.  The students used a Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) rapid prototyping machine for this task.”

Nicola Anderson, Lecturer, continues, “Each student came up with a design and the final pen is a culmination of the best aspects of each one.  The prototype was made on the CNC machines with the aid of a Computer Aided Manufacturing software, AlphaCAM, to optimise the working of the manufacture of the components.  Christopher Roulston, our technician, provided phenomenal support throughout the project.  It was a real group effort and all excelled themselves.”

“It’s not often that students get the opportunity to design a prototype and then see it produced and used.  ‘The Gathering’ pen is an excellent product and everyone was delighted with them.”

The students went along to the “The Gathering” Heros and Legends event at the Villa Rose where they presented the pens to Shay Given, Packie Bonner and Mickey Jo Harte, who thanked them for their excellent contribution.

Nicola adds, “Already these graduates have been able to point to this project in recent interviews.  It’s helped them to show not only their technical ability as mechanical engineers, but also talent and professionalism in undertaking such a project.  The Gathering Pen is there for posterity, a real collectible item.”

Photo caption:
LYIT students who designed “The Gathering “ pen met well-known Donegal personalities at The Gathering Heros & Legends evening. L to R: Packie Bonner; Seamus Mac Daibhid; Mickey Jo Harte; Emmet Lafferty; Christopher Roulston; Jonathon Morrow; Nicola Anderson; and Shay Given.