Option A - Case Study (Subject to change)
A commercial product will be selected (the chosen product must be approved by the course instructor) by a team of students (4 is reasonable). The project will be an existing product that is disassembled, and examined. In detail, all methods for automated production will be suggested, including some changes to the product to make it easier to manufacture. After this is complete, a manufacturing facility will be proposed by the team, including equipment selection, layout, connections, estimates for cycle time, testing/inspection, etc.
The form of the case study will be left up to the students, and the evaluation will be based on a final report, and a presentation. Creativity and completeness are a must, mediocre work will receive mediocre marks. Detailed drawings, specific equipment to be ordered, reasons and justification for the design are some of the elements required.
Option B - Project (Subject to change)
This section will allow for students to gain NEW exposure to some aspect of manufacturing technology. The projects should be related to some aspect of automated manufacturing. The list of topics below suggests some possible ideas,
- Investigate some manufacturing software critically
- Write a program for some manufacturing task
- Use Ideas for design of a product.(cate)
The nature of this project is arbitrary, and any topic suggested should be discussed with the course instructor, and a short (1 paragraph) description should be given to the course instructor for the benefit of the student. The project will culminate with a report, and presentation, and demonstrations where applicable.
Special Notes: Students are expected to declare their intentions by Sept., 23, 1993. This includes topics, teams, and a tentative deadline schedule. The outline should be less than1page. (no marks are assigned for this)
MEC 732 Project Summaries (Final) - October 17th, 1995
NOTE: Any deviations from the project details printed here are the full responsibilities of the students.
Alex Wong “Hole in Sphere Project”
Ahmed Nensey Description: A mechanism will be designed and built for orienting spherical balls with small through holes. This will be done with a mechanism that uses three rollers for orientation, and an optical pair to detect the hole. An electromechanical control system will be used.
Deliverables: Working model and detailed report describing design.
Constantine Roumanis “Drink Mixer”
Dan Dellosa Description: A system will be designed and built to mix various drinks. This will include a conveyor, sensors, actuators, and drink dispensers. The system will be controlled with a PLC. Note: This project will have a number of design complications that must be identified early in the term.
Deliverables: Working model and detailed report describing design.
Lev Mordichaev “Automated Robot Arm”
Elaine Rodrigues Description: A robot arm will be designed and built that can move up/down, left/right, and has a gripper that will open/close. The robot will be controlled via a computer program, and electrical connections to the robot.
Deliverables: Working model and detailed report describing design.
Nima Jahangir “Automated Impression Stamper”
Shahram Binesh Description: Parts will be transported to a stamping station in the workcell. Once there they will be fixed in a jig, and a rubber stamp will be used to make an ink impression. The part will then be ejected from the jig, and travel down another path.
Deliverables: Working model and detailed report describing design.
Keith Lou “A Manually Controlled Robot”
Tarius Makmur Description: To build a manually controlled robot to perform a certain task using a joystick for control. This small scale robot will be capable of picking up an object, and positioning it in another location. And, for proof of concept, a set of fixtures, jigs or feeders will be constructed for a simple robotic task. Note: This project has too many people for construction of a robot only.
Deliverables: Working model and detailed report describing design.
Zulfiqar Rajper “A Wedding Video Cassette Holder”
S. Ahmad Majidi Tehrani Description: Development of a design, and selection and design of an automated facility for manufacture of a video cassette holder specifically for wedding videos. Note: The final design should focus on detailed drawings, selection of specific machines, plans for implementation, etc.
Deliverables: Report, Quotations, Drawings, Implementation Plans, Layout, etc.
Dave Tufts Tentative: “Automation of Office Partition Production”
Michael Nicola Description: A line will be examined for the production of office dividers. These partitions are currently assembled in a manual process, but this should be automated for quantities of 400-600. Note: The final design should focus on detailed drawings, selection of specific machines, plans for implementation, etc.
Deliverables: Report, Quotations, Drawings, Implementation Plans, Layout, etc.
Joey Aprile “A Box Sorting System”
Mike Poczo Description: A conveyor based system will be designed and built for sorting boxes by a switched conveyor path. This will include construction of the conveyor, sensors, actuators, and control system.
Deliverables: Working model and detailed report describing design.
Brad Southon “Automated Paint Line”
Robert Pound Description: A current design for a ceiling fan will be examined for assembly efficiency, and a new automated assembly line will be designed. Note: The final design should focus on detailed drawings, selection of specific machines, plans for implementation, etc.
Deliverables: Report, Quotations, Drawings, Implementation Plans, Layout, etc.
Lee Wright “A New Clipping System at NR”
Mike Cecchini Description: At NR they currently use workers to manually insert clips one at a time, by hand, into a flat rubber part. This procedure is slow and has created a couple of Repetitive Motion Injuries. There have been unsatisfactory attempts by NR to resolve the problem. This groups will examine possible solutions (with NR’s permission) including, a clipping gun or tool, a cartridge loading system, a bowl feeder based reloader.
Deliverables: Report, Quotations, Drawings, Implementation Plans, Layout, etc.
Keith German “Automated Drink Dispenser”
Michael Staples Description: Glasses on a conveyor belt (?) will be transported to/from a dispensing station where they will be filled by an automated mechanism. The system will be designed and built, possibly using a PLC, or a PC for control.
Deliverables: Working model and detailed report describing design.
Romeo Calibuso “Flush Valve Automation System”
Chinh N. Huynh Description: A flush valve system for use in porcelain toilets will be examined, redesigned, and a partially automated assembly line will be designed. Note: The final design should focus on detailed drawings, selection of specific machines, plans for implementation, etc.
Deliverables: Report, Quotations, Drawings, Implementation Plans, Layout, etc.
Gerard Biasutto “Self Leveling Platform”
John Yuem Description: An actuated system will be designed and built to level a platform under tilting conditions. This will involve actuators positioned at four corners. A control system will be constructed to drive the actuating cylinders.
Deliverables: Working model and detailed report describing design.
Tomer Shahaf “Medical Film Lamination Machine”
Description: A pressure adjustment mechanism will be added to reduce waste, and coating of rollers.
Deliverables: Report, Quotations, Drawings, Implementation Plans, Layout, etc.
Joel Ramos “IBM Robot Simulation To Support Simulation”
Description: The IBM Robot simulators (for the AML language) will be used to simulate an assembly process, with the objective of optimizing layout of the assembly stations. Note: the assembly task should be specified.
Deliverables: AML programs, A Detailed Report including well justified conclusions.
1. All teams constructing equipment have been advised to start early.
2. Students have been advised that topics that have been listed here are of adequate scope, if other topic choices are made, it is at the discretion (and risk) of the individual students.