MTE 322Electromechanical Machine Design
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Engineering
- Subject
- Mechatronics Engineering
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 5 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Integrated design of mechanical motion transmission systems: gearing, couplings, bearings, power screws, fasteners, and their integration; sensing and measurement of mechanical motion; specification and selection of motors and electromechanical actuators; analysis and design of controllers for motion transmission systems; case studies.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Must have completed the following:
- Students must be in level 3B or higher
- Enrolled in H-Mechatronics Engineering
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 4912 | 114 / 120 | TTh 15:00–16:20 |
| TUT 101 | 4927 | 114 / 120 | W 16:30–17:20 |
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 4500 | 0 / 110 | MW 13:30–14:50 |
| LEC 701 | 1816 | 93 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
| TUT 101 | 4501 | 0 / 110 | W 09:30–10:20 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
35% liked it42% easy33% useful
From 63 ratings and 9 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
First half of the course felt like an easier version of MTE 321. Exams allowed a custom crib sheet. Midterm was quite simple and similar to lecture problems. Project 1 was pretty much just a more advanced version of problem set questions. Project 2 was difficult and required a lot of time with analysis and Solidworks, but the grading was generous. Final was brutal.
Dec 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Super boring. It's the third course on shafts and gears.
Jan 2023 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
I think the professor's organisation needlessly made the course more difficult. Useful for any knowledgeable application of gears, bearings, motors, etc.
May 2022 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
The course is riddled with mistakes and common errors. Projects given are vague and unclear, with arbitrary marking schemes and rubrics that are not given to the class prior to marking.
Nov 2020 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Course was just a review of previous topics
May 2018 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
12 posts and comments in 9 threads mention MTE 322, May 2012 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Winter 2020
[Serious] What should I expect from TRON? 36 points, 34 comments
“Hi all, I recently accepted my offer for Mechatronics Engineering at Waterloo (yay). However, as I keep reading about people's experiences with the program on this subreddit, I'm not really sure what …”
u/SixLingScout: “… In general, the mechanical courses aren't really well received by the class (particularly MTE 321/322). …”
u/ApatheticPost: “… - ME 321, MTE 322 - Machines: Didn't like these. Gear, shaft, and power transmission design basically. Final project for 322 was to design a worm-gear power transmission system, select components to purchase (motor, gears, bearings), design the housing, and draw it all in CAD. …”
Fall 2019
How is 3B Tron going? 11 points, 9 comments
u/3btron: “Is it fun? Is Mechatronics a mistake? How is it? ME 351 Fluid Mechanics MTE 322 Electromechanical Machine Design MTE 360 Automatic Control Systems MTE 380 Mechatronics Engineering Design Workshop MSCI 261 Engineering Economics: Financial Management for Engineers”
Winter 2019
Is Tron really as bad as all upper years make it out to be? 22 points, 16 comments
“I'm currently in 2nd year Tron and all I ever hear from upper year trons is "switch out before it is too late". Is it really that bad? …”
u/Tron_Saltshaker: “… We have had some courses which were pretty darn poor, like the infamous SYDE 531, MTE 322, or MTE 220. …”
Fall 2018
Love it when the ENTIRE class needs to pull an all nighter 262 points, 25 comments
u/afuture22: “This isn’t even FYFP project time. What were you all doing so late”
u/Tron_Saltshaker: “And yet we have to take MTE 322”
Spring 2018
MTE 322 vs ME 322 AND Fav Mech courses 3 points, 4 comments
u/anon_student1: “… Which would be better to take, MTE 322 or ME 322 (I have approved overrides for both)? I think ME 322 offers more in terms of mechanical design, but I am hesitant to take it because in SYDE we don't take MODs 2 (only MODs 1). Also, MTE 322 sounds more interesting. …”
u/eagle23_7: “4th year who has worked 5 mechanical design coops. The best way to learn design would be through coop placements by far. It’s a lot more real world design of metal and plastic injection parts. …”
u/anon_student1: “… of MODs 2 knowledge before approving the override, hence my hesitation to taking it over MTE 322. Overall, how difficult was the course, midterm and final? Also, are there any other courses you would recommend taking? …”
u/anon_student1: “… Your response was super helpful, I think I will take ME 322 instead of MTE 322 :)”
Fall 2017
Any way to disable UWCourseLinker from posting? 16 points, 26 comments
“posting a reply to my comment I find the bot annoying.”
u/Jackhofmann: “PSYCH 483 PSYCH 484 PSYCH 485 PSYCH 486 PSYCH 490R PSYCH 499A PSYCH 499B PSYCH 499C PSYCH 621 PSYCH 630 PSYCH 677A PSYCH 704A PSYCH 704B PSYCH 707 PSYCH 710 PSYCH 714 PSYCH 717 PSYCH 720A PSYCH 721A …”
u/Jackhofmann: “… MTE 200A MTE 200B MTE 201 MTE 202 MTE 203 MTE 204 MTE 219 MTE 220 MTE 241 MTE 262 MTE 300B MTE 322 MTE 360 MTE 380 MTE 400A MTE 420 MTE 481 MTE 544 MTE 545 MTHEL 131 MTHEL 300 MUSIC 100 MUSIC 110 MUSIC 111 MUSIC 116 MUSIC 117 MUSIC 121W MUSIC 140 MUSIC 181AW MUSIC 216 MUSIC 217 …”
Spring 2017
What courses are you taking this fall? 28 points, 129 comments
“With course selection and add/drop happening this week I figured this would be a cool discussion post. …”
u/SometimesICryAtNight: “3B Tron MTE322 - Electromechanical machine design MTE360 - Control Systems MTE380 - Project Course ME351 - Fluid Dynamics MSCI261 - Engineering Economics MUSIC140 - pop music it's gonna be a fun term! …”
Fall 2015
Transferring from Mechatronics to Systems (1A) 6 points, 10 comments
“Contemplating transferring from mechatronics to systems design. Love the electrical and programming components of mechatronics, but the mechanical design portion (especially mte100) is something I …”
u/annihilatron: “they're not that mechanically based. About 1/4 of your courses will be grounded in mechanics/kinematics only, 1/4 will be pure electrical/controlsystems, 1/4 will be motors and the mix of …”
u/annihilatron: “everyone has to take a thermodynamics course. Trons get this condensed version which is two courses in one. actually a programming course for hardware. …”
Spring 2012
Exchange student, Subject guides? 5 points, 10 comments
u/blue_mustang65: “… Me360 Me250&354 Me269 Me380 Me531 Msci261 Mte322 If I could get any of these subject guides it would be great. …”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them