Product Investigation: Electrical Screwdriver - Assignment Example

? Product Investigation: Electrical Screwdriver Table of Contents Content page Function and Purpose……………………………………………………………………..3 Components……………………………………………………………………………….4 Materials Used…………………………………………………………………………….6 Processes in production……………………………………………………...……………6 Assembling……………………………….………………………………...……………..7 Finishing………………….………….….……………………………….…….…………..7 Controls.........................................................................................................................…...7 Energy Source………………………………………………………………………….….8 Labels……………………………………………………………………………………...8 Use…………………………………………………………………………………………8 Maintenance……………………………………………………………………………......9 Disposal………………………………………………………………………………….....9 References…………………………………………………………………….……………10 i. Functions and Purposes An electrical screwdriver is a general hand-tool that comes in numerous versions that serve different functions. Screwdrivers are used to supplant or restore a mass of objects. Electrical screwdrivers are used in lessening and tightening screws. Screwdriver and screws are imperative factors in the completion of any project. A screwdriver tightens screws used to hold together plastic, wood, metal and other materials. Screwdrivers rotate a screw and drive it into a metal, wood or plastic material (Kinghorn, 2007). The spiral design of the screws adds security and stability to such items. Other than driving screws, screw drivers also serve other purposes according to their design. There are four primary electrical screwdrivers: Flat-head screwdriver, Phillip’s head screwdriver, Allen Wrench screwdrivers and Star screwdrivers. A flat-head electrical screw driver is differentiated by its undeviating metallic edge. It is used to drive in or out screws with a single opening at the top. This screwdriver has magnetic properties that can be used to lift metallic screws from a tin or a hole when stuck. It is also used in small items (Kinghorn, 2007). The Philip’s head screwdriver is a modern screwdriver used in computers, household appliances, calculators, mobile phones and other electronics. It comes in different sizes and is easily stripped. It is used in screwing in and out screws in home appliances, laptops, computers, mobile phones and calculators. Arguably, screwdrivers assist in completing projects by driving screws into a metal, plastic and wood material, and satisfactorily ensure that such items are stable and secure (Kinghorn, 2007). ii. Components Driving a screw into a material has been made one of the easiest operations in homesteads. An electrical screwdriver comprises of the electric motor, rechargeable battery, the switch, a gear system, the chuck, and the screw steel bar, and the handle (Cheng, 2007). The electric motor operates under magnets and magnetism. It utilizes magnetism to generate motion. The like poles in the motor oppose each other, and this creates the motion of the motor that rotates the screwdriver to drive the screw into a material (Miller, 2007). The switch avoids flow of unnecessary electricity to the motor and supplies power to the motor. It is covered to avoid electrocution. The gear system consists of the primary part of the device. It gives the device adequate strength and power to drill into a piece of wood or plastic. The gear system consists of 3 gears, which turn at 56 times compared to one turn of the chuck. The chuck holds the screwdriver and the gears (Strumpher et al, 2009). The handle is the broadest part of a screwdriver that is cylindrical in shape to fit appropriately into the hand of the user. However, some of the screwdriver handles are hexagonal to prevent the screwdriver from slipping. Manufacturers design handles with an appropriate diameter for optimal comfort of use by an individual in order to insert a screw with minimum force or effort. The handle of screwdrivers has significantly changed over time. The purpose, function and manufacturing requirements are factors that affect screwdrivers handle design. Most of the screwdrivers are designed to fit into the user’s fingers others with a soft rubber handle to offer comfort and better grip and more toques (Webster, 2001). The steel screwdriver bar has three primary parts: the handle, shank, tip or blade. The steel shank is connected to the chuck. It is a few inches in length and consists of hardened steel. The shank comes in different lengths. Cheng (2007) denotes that the length of the shank determines the torque to be applied by the user. It is also designed to endure a significant twisting force in relation to its size while its tip is hardened to avoid wearing. The tip of a screwdriver is the head of the shank. This is part of the screwdriver that comes into contact with a screwdriver and fits into the screw’s head. The tip is harder than the shank since it adjoins a hardened surface (Pollack, 2008). iii. Materials used Steel wire, nickel, chromium, and plastic or wood are the principal raw materials employed in the production of electrical screwdrivers. The steel wire is used to manufacture the shank, plastic in manufacturing the handle while chromium or nickel is used to plate the steel shank tip of the screwdriver. The manufacturer uses steel wires of 0.375 inches in diameter delivered in huge coils and aligns them. Steel is used because it is durable, strong, ductile, and hard (Zheng, 2011). Chromium and nickel are used to coat steel to protect it against corrosion or discoloration. Both metals offer a protective coating to steel and offer resistance to rust. However, chromium is preferred to nickel because it has a higher resistance than nickel. Plastic is used to make the handle of a screw driver. A plastic handle consists of a soft rubber handle to offer comfort and better grip and more toques (Hoffman, 2004). Therefore, in a screwdriver, a manufacturer can use either nickel or chromium in coating the steel to protect it from corrosion. iv. Processes used in the manufacture of a screwdriver The production of screwdrivers involves four processes or stages. First, the manufacturing company receives huge coils of steel wire. The wire often has a di9ameter of 0.375 inches. The wire is then resized to the diameter size preferred by the company for different screwdrivers. Secondly, the resized wire is treated through heat (732oC) in order to acquire the appropriate tensile strength in the metal. Thirdly, the wire is straightened and cut to the appropriate length. The bars are then heated again (846oC) to harden, and the tip shaped. Lastly, the steel bars are covered with either nickel or chromium. The shank is polished and goes through a nickel bath and electrically chrome coated (Yeaple, 2000). The plastic handles are produced by blending a plasticizer with cellulose acetate and shaped. The plastic cover and handle are fitted with a small D.C motor and the gear system. Wiring is done to ensure appropriate functioning of the tool. v. Assembling The assembly of screwdrivers is contingent of its quality. Professional models of screwdrivers are put together independently on a level assembly machine that hydraulically fixes the gear system and the motor into the plastic case. The handles are trademarked through a hot stamp (Miller, 2007). vi. Finish Applied to the screwdriver Before the screwdrivers are packaged, they are fixed with a handle cover. For instance, rubber cap may be fitted to increase the user’s comfort (Webster, 2001). vii. Controls fitted on the screwdriver Hand tools have evolved to include the user’s comfort. Manufacturers of screwdrivers ensure the comfort of the user through certain controls put in the production process. The new developments in the manufacture of plastic handle offer comfort to the user. Additionally, the use of rubber covers offers extra comfort to the user. They are also fitted with cost efficient and energy saving batteries (Strumpher et al, 2009). viii. Energy source Electrical screwdrivers are primarily powered by D.C batteries. It can also be powered directly through its charging system. ix. Labels Applied When assembling the screwdriver, the company’s logo is labeled on the product through a hot stamp before heading to the assembly machine. x. How a screwdriver is used To use a screwdriver to drive a screw, first an individual should twist the screw into its hole for some time with his or her fingers. Then, the individual should grasp the handle of the screwdriver steadfastly and contentedly in the palm of the hand. The thumb and the forefinger should grip the plastic handle. Additionally, the other hand should grip the chuck slightly in order to guide the head of the screwdriver onto the screw’s slot and keep it from slipping. According to Webster (2001), the user should ensure that the screw and the screwdriver are in the same straight line with the hole and sporadically twist the handle as he or she repositions hers grasp. The user can increase the effort applied on the screw as the screw advances into the screw hole. When fixing screws into a piece of wood or plastic, correctly proportioned shank holes will guarantee that the screw threads fit into them without unnecessary force on the screw head. However, the user should apply sufficient pressure to ensure that the tip of the screw is firmly locked into the hole. Needless to say, it is essential to ensure that the screwdriver corresponds to the head of the screw or the screw hole. When driving countersunk flat head screws, a head broader than the head of the screw will damage the plastic or wood material around the head. On the other hand, a small tip will not offer maximal drilling force and may slip out as the user drives the screw (Zheng, 2011). Manufacturers provide users with manuals on how they can use screwdrivers. In the manuals, they provide the user with details on proper care and use of screwdrivers. xi. Maintenance The manufacturer recommends that the users keep the equipment clean free from grease and dirt. Once the screwdriver’s handle is broken, the user should replace it can cause electrocution. The user should ensure that the tip is always sharp and does not have a bend (Kinghorn, 2007). xii. Disposal Electrical screwdrivers are made of renewable materials such as plastic and a steel shank. These materials should not be disposed, but recycled. Poor disposal of the screwdriver may cause physical harm on an individual if him or her steps on it unknowingly (Webster, 2001). On the other hand, plastic is a non-biodegradable and may pose an environmental threat. References Cheng, C. 2007. Electrical screwdriver. United Sates Patents office. Hoffman, E. 2004. Fundamentals of Tool Design. T/C Publications. Kinghorn, B. 2007. The New Age of Screwdriving: Family Handyman. Miller, W. L. 2007. Battery powered Screwdriver. United States Patent Office. Pollack, H. W. 2008. Tool Design. Prentice Hall. Stru?mpher, S. P., Ingram, C., & Abrahams, A. 2009. Engineering technology. Cape Town: Pearson Education South Africa. Webster, J. 2001. Outdoor power equipment. Albany, NY: Delmar Thomson Learning. Zheng, D. 2011. Advances in electrical engineering and electrical machines. Berlin: Springer. Yeaple, Frank. Jan, 2000. "Zinc's Properties Enhance Hand Tool's Producibility," Design News. Read More