Mousetrap Powered Elevator Device Project - Report Example

Mousetrap Powered Elevator Device Student University Design specification The different design parameters of our project include; performance, reliability, safety, service life and ergonomics. The design is to meet the parameters as described below; Performance and reliability Minimum effort should get used in raising up the load. In this connection, the energy generated should be utilized efficiently. The applied force should be sufficient to move the load conveniently without the need for extra tools. The mouse trap system should withstand all external disturbances that may cause disruption to the applied force as well as its proper operation. Service life The mouse trap system should last for long and with minimum maintenance or wears. The energy used during its operation should be transmitted for as extended periods of operation as possible. The design should be free of unexpected failures for a long period from the date of manufacture. Ergonomics The design should have a minimum or no wastage of energy. All the energy generated should be utilized in driving the mouse trap elevator for productive work. The design will offer comfort to its operator. No much physical or mental interference with its operator. The design will be light enough for easier transport. The design will be compatible with other available and existing spare parts and elevators. Safety Behind the operation of any machine, safety is key. Safety is determined by the way the machine interacts with the operator as well as the environment. In this respect; the project design will avoid sharp edges that may injure its operator or even cause accidents. The design will transmit enough energy just to move the payload to the required point without the extra kinetic energy that may cause it run out of the predicted path into space. In addition to the design transmitting just but enough energy to the payload, the mouse trap elevator will also be designed to transmit forces in the appropriate direction to eliminate chances of injury to the operator or the observer just in case the payload moves in the wrong direction. Manufacturing processes and techniques This is the process through which the mousetrap elevator will be manufactured from the primary raw materials. Manufacturing is the art of converting the raw material through the application of different tools machines and equipment. The system of manufacturing adopted will depend on the number of products to be produced, either unit production, batch manufacturing and or mass production. Mass production tools and equipment are different from those of unit production because, mass production involves repetitive activities and procedure that than be greatly simplified by application of jigs and fixture for instance. The manufacturing technique and processes adopted for any product will depend on the level of product information. The information may include; material type and sizes, material form and tolerances. In the manufacturing process, the primary manufacturing processes like metal casting, forging, molding and machining will be used. Besides this, appropriate manufacturing resources should be incorporated, these are physical and human resources. The resources include machines, tools, and human skills. The manufacturing process and technique adopted should not compromise with the basic aims of the design, i.e., design specifications. The manufacturing process and techniques meets the following criteria. The process or technique allows for the design to meet its performance requirements. The manufacturing process should be cost friendly so as to produce an affordable product. It should allow for consistency in quality in case of mass production. It should also allow for homogeneity of material properties throughout the manufactured products. Various manufacturing techniques and processes to be utilized when conducting the project design are discussed below. Primary shaping means; forging and rolling From an amorphous material, the blank or sheet of metal ought to be reduced and formed into the required shape. The metal blank would require recasting the shape into a different one. Forging which is a process in which a work-piece is squeezed and formed to the desired shape between two dies would be used in the making of the Aluminium rod on which the fishing rod is wounded. This method would be most applicable as it increases the strength of the work-piece as the metal particle are squeezed together to form a solid part. The U nails would be manufactured by rolling off a metal sheet into a straight nail that would then be folded into a U-shape for purposes of holding the Aluminium rod in place. Machining Several components may require secondary processes after bulk deformation so as to offer surface finish or to install the required dimensions and tolerances. To achieve this, the components are subjected to one or the other machining operation. These processes impart the required dimensional accuracy, surface finish as well as thoroughly shaping and smoothening rough surfaces. The secondary or machining processes may include turning, milling a metal blank, drilling, boring and reaming of holes, shaping, sawing, and flattening among others. For smooth operation, the nails, the frame to the assembly, the disc and the Aluminium rod would be machined and cut to the respective sizes awaiting construction. Joining processes Machine or machine component are made by a collection of several parts that are compatible and which coordinate correctly with each other. Most products including the mouse trap elevator cannot be manufactured as a unit and thus different components will require means of assembling then into one unit component that performs the task of raising a payload up the elevator. After the sizes have been cut into their required sizes, joining process that may include welding, riveting, screwing, coupling and nut and bolt joint would be used to lay down the mousetrap elevator project. Mass production The manufacturing processes and techniques would not be totally similar to those applied in mass production. In mass production, machine automation would be more pronounced. It is usually done to reduce human labor as well as the human error applied to a machine operation. Other than saving human labor, automation of manufacturing process for mass production would accrue the following benefits; i. Increased productivity as they there is no tool change during production. ii. Improved quality as human errors is minimized or eliminated. iii. Increased safety to humans as there is reduced operator-machine interaction. iv. There is a reduction in dependence on the operator skills as the machines run by themselves. Process planning Process planning is imperative in a production process. Planning involves selecting the appropriate means of production be it a machine tool, cutting tools, jigs and fixtures and presses, establishing a sequence in which manufacturing operations run most efficiently, and determination of the variations in the size, form and finish of the tools. When determining the sequence, i.e., how production facilities will be laid, manufacturing steps comes into play so as to reduce material handling that on the other hand reduces the labor cost. All these aspects of process planning depend on the arrangement of machining operations. When planning, the operation time is of the essence. Operation time will include calculation of the time required to carry out an individual machining process and the require skills level for the operator. The operation time will be very necessary when determining the most appropriate sequence of operation. Planning determines how production will flow and where a given product will be produced. The table below illustrates the cost breakdown of the different parts of the mousetrap powered elevator. Item size may be changes as appropriate depending on the size or amount required. SERIAL NO ITEM QUANTITY UNIT UNIT COST (us dollars) TOTAL COST(dollars) 1 Aluminium rod 1 4 feet 8 8 2 Fishing line 1 3m 1.5 4.5 3 U-nails 2 3 inch 0.2 0.4 4 Mousetrap spring 1 3 3 5 Wood block 1 2 2 6 Aluminium base plate 1 150 150mm 12 12 7 Tying cables 4 2m 0.5 2 Total 31.9 Reference Job Service North Dakota. (2010). Manufacturing, Bismarck, N.D.: Job Service North Dakota (Job Service North Dakota, 2010) Read More