Engineering Undergraduate Theses

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Browsing Engineering Undergraduate Theses by Subject "automated"

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    Automated truss stacking : final report
    (2012-02-24) Foord, Stephen; Johnston, Kristin; Iancu, Adrian; Krawchuk, Neil
    Team 16 was tasked by All-Fabrications Incorporated (All-Fab) in Winnipeg to solve their truss stacking problem. Currently, All-Fab is using manual labor to vertically stack the trusses. The use of manual labor creates health and safety issues for the workers and reduces overall productivity. Current procedures require production to be shut down when extremely large trusses come off the assembly line, in order to reassign extra hands to help stack the truss. All-Fab asked our team to design an automated system that horizontally stacks trusses up to 60 feet long. Although All-fab creates trusses up to 80 feet in length, these trusses cannot be stacked horizontally as they cannot withstand being lifted by a forklift in the horizontal position. Due to time constraints, our team has decided (with approval from the customer) to leave the existing vertical stacking system in place for when longer trusses come off the assembly line. Our client has given us a budget of $ 30 000, however, after speaking with Professor Balakrishnan (November 8, 2010), an expert in the field of robotics, we saw that complete automation could not be achieved with the existing budget. During the design phase we tried to minimize cost as much as possible. Despite our best efforts, staying within the given budget proved to be impossible. Our final design is a horizontal truss stacking system that was modified from an existing design created by Clark Industries [1]. Our design uses lead screws in order to raise and lower the trusses, as well as a removable I-beam that nests within a CChannel beam allowing the trusses to be moved left and right. In order to move the trusses, we have decided to use a roller system. Our entire project is electrically powered and designed to work outdoors in Winnipeg’s extreme climate. The stacking system on the ground is a simple system that uses railway ties and gusseted steel poles. Although our project was unable to be achieved within the original budget, we felt that this system is a viable option for solving the horizontal stacking problem at All- Fabrications Incorporated.
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    Design of an automated radiator panel rotating machine : final design report
    (2012-06-11) Gagnon, Denis; Machungwa, Makumba; McKay, Brendan; Stewart, Gavin; Labossiere, Paul (Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering); Labossiere, Paul (Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering)
    Micro Tool and Machine Ltd. (MTM) required our team to conceptualize and design a machine assembly process capable of moving and orientating transformer radiator cooling panels between two machine operations and in so doing expand the client’s current product line. The team’s proposed machine design is intended to address all of MTM’s design challenges. The proposed machine design consists of a steel support structure, similar to a crane, onto which purchased pre-manufactured components and drive systems are mounted. All drives are multi-axis modular systems designed to perform the required panel handling operations. The components and multi-axis modular systems are operated with the use of pneumatics, and have basic connecting and mounting assembly arrangements. All the modular drive systems proposed as part of the machine design are combined with similar interface systems. Solutions to required stroke, load and position specifications were met by selecting appropriate multi-axis drive systems. The use of modular drive systems offered numerous advantages and included the following: a simplified and time-saving design and project planning process, a rapid system assembly, a high mechanical rigidity and the availability of existing CAD drawings for standardized design. Three main pneumatic driven modular systems are proposed within the team’s design. Two linear gantries allow for horizontal and vertical translation of the panels, two actuated swivel drive systems perform the 180° panel rotations and two gripper jaws serve to secure the panels during all handling operations. All of the machine design features are detailed within this report and include the following sections:  a description and drawing of the support structure features.  all design drawings for the modular drive systems and attachments.  a description of how the machine design is intended to operate.  a strength and performance technical analysis of all components.  a description of all assembly and manufacturing principles.  a detailed cost analysis of all parts, components and structures. By evaluating costs, benefits and performances against the stated criteria, the team was able to demonstrate that MTM’s proposed design challenge could be met and while meeting all client expectations and project requirements.