Manufacturing Commons^™

Cassette Lockring Removal Tool, Kyle Wright

All Undergraduate Projects

Removal of a bicycle cassette requires additional tools to hold the cassette in place while loosening the cassette lockring. Typically a tool called a chain whip is used to stabilize the cassette, but is difficult to quickly and correctly apply to the cassette. Due to the need for an additional tool to hold the cassette, the user is faced with utilizing both hands while still needing to somehow hold the wheel in place. The lockring is torqued relatively tight and the overall combination of force, ergonomics, and number of tools required makes the task difficult to perform quickly. The objective …

H.F. Hauff Pruner Cutting Blades, Wyley Stewart

All Undergraduate Projects

Apple orchards are a critical component of agriculture in the United States, and keeping the apple trees in the best shape for optimum growth and production is hard work. Neil Hauff, an agriculture industry expert, challenged students at CWU to engineer a power assisted tree pruner. Across the country, apple orchards need pruned every season. The pruning of the trees is strenuous manual labor that requires many man hours. The proposed solution is to create a power assisted tree pruner that would minimize the amount of work needed to trim each tree branch. This project has been separated into three …

Stochastic Bi-Level Optimization Models For Efficient Operating Room Planning, Amin Abedini, Wei Li, Honghan Ye

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Within a hospital, the operating room (OR) department has the largest cost and revenue. Because of the aging population, the demand for surgical services has been increasing sharply in recent years. At the other hand, the rate of OR capacity expansion is lower than the rate of increasing demand. As a result, OR managers must leverage their resources by efficient OR planning. OR planning is challenging because of multiple competing\conflicting objectives such cost minimization and throughput maximization. Inherent uncertainty in the surgical procedures and patients arrivals complicate the decision making process. This increases the risk of non-realization of the system …

Damage Characterization Of Aircraft Fuselage Using Vibrothermography Technique-Review And Analysis, Abbasali Saboktakin

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Vibrothermogrphy is a promising non-destructive technique that uses ultrasonic elastic waves to detect damages and is typically applied in the aerospace and automotive industries. This technique allows for defect selective imaging using thermal waves that are generated by ultrasound waves. In this paper, vibrothermography technique was applied to the aircraft fuselage to detect its damage. The influence of the damage on the temperature distribution at the damage region on the aluminum was investigated by finite element technique. Comprehensive understanding in edge crack in fuselage heating caused by local friction between crack surfaces was obtained.

Development Of Ceramic 3d Printer Using Cold-Based Extrusion, Noah Naden

Summer Community of Scholars Posters (RCEU and HCR Combined Programs)

No abstract provided.

Optimal Sintering Temperature Of Ceria-Doped Scandia Stabilized Zirconia For Use In Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, Amanda K. Assuncao

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Carbon emissions are known to cause decay of the Ozone layer in addition to creating pollutant, poisonous air. This has become a growing concern among scientists and engineers across the globe; if this issue is not addressed, it is likely that the Earth will suffer catastrophic consequences. One of the main culprits of these harmful carbon emissions is fuel combustion. Between vehicles, power plants, airplanes, and ships, the world consumes an extraordinary amount of oil and fuel which all contributes to the emissions problem. Therefore, it is crucial to develop alternative energy sources that minimize the impact on the environment. …

Regression Analysis Of Factors Impacting Problem Solving Engagement Within Lean Systems Implementation, David M. Parsley Ii

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Organizations around the world have attempted to implement the concepts of the Toyota Production System (TPS), commonly referred to as Lean, with limited sustainable success. The central principles of TPS, continuous improvement and respect for people, are grounded in the Japanese values of Monozukuri and Hitozukuri. Monozukuri deals with creating or making a product, while Hitozukuri conveys the idea of developing people through learning. In order for organizations to adopt these values they must have a system that engages employees at all levels in applying problem solving to improve their work. This research uses organizational assessments obtained from a variety …

Bayesian-Integrated System Dynamics Modelling For Production Line Risk Assessment, Sudhir Punyamurthula

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Companies, across the globe are concerned with risks that impair their ability to produce quality products at a low cost and deliver them to customers on time. Risk assessment, comprising of both external and internal elements, prepares companies to identify and manage the risks affecting them. Although both external/supply chain and internal/production line risk assessments are necessary, internal risk assessment is often ignored. Internal risk assessment helps companies recognize vulnerable sections of production operations and provide opportunities for risk mitigation.

In this research, a novel production line risk assessment methodology is proposed. Traditional simulation techniques fail to capture the complex …

The Kentucky Re-Entry Universal Payload System (Krups): Sub-Orbital Flights, James Devin Sparks

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

The Kentucky Re-entry Universal Payload System (KRUPS) is an adaptable testbed for atmosphere entry science experiments, with an initial application to thermal protection systems (TPS). Because of the uniqueness of atmospheric entry conditions that ground testing is unable to replicate, scientists principally rely on numerical models for predicting entry conditions. The KRUPS spacecraft, developed at the University of Kentucky, provides an inexpensive means of obtaining validation data to verify and improve these models.

To increase the technology readiness level (TRL) of the spacecraft, two sub-orbital missions were developed. The first mission, KUDOS, launched August 13th, 2017 on a Terrier-Improved Malamute …

Capillary-Assisted Enhanced Condensation Heat Transfer For Low Surface Tension Liquids, Gnana Vishnu Durgam

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Extensive research has been carried out over the course of the last few decades to induce dropwise condensation as it offers 5 - 7 times better heat transfer performance compared to filmwise condensation process. A number of methods such as low surface energy hydrophobic coatings, surface modification of hydrophobic surfaces to fabricate micro, nano and hierarchical structures, and the recent incorporation of jumping droplet phenomenon have provided effective means to further enhance the condensation heat transfer. However, existing methods to enhance condensation heat transfer rate fail in the case of low surface tension, highly wetting liquids such as hydrocarbons, cryogens, …

Inspection Process Flow Development For A Warehouse, Pahalawaththage Perera

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The project is based on a medical device outsourcing company in the US. In 2018 the company added a 44,000 sq ft new warehouse. With the scales of growth and market competition, it has come to a need to optimize production capacity to achieve 98% monthly on time delivery target. Optimizing production capacity comes with efficiently managing operations that impact overall product lead time. A primary factor that impacts the overall product lead time is production preparation time. Production preparation time is impacted by lead times of 3 operations managed by the new warehouse - Receiving Inspection, Incoming Inspection, and …

Sustainable Living Factories For Next Generation Manufacturing, Yoram Koren, Xi Gu, Fazleena Badurdeen, Ibrahim S. Jawahir

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

To be profitable and to generate sustainable value for all stakeholders, next generation manufacturers must develop capabilities to rapidly and economically respond to changing market needs while at the same time minimizing adverse impacts on the environment and benefiting society. 6R-based (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover, Redesign and Remanufacturing) sustainable manufacturing practices enable closed-loop and multi-life cycle material flow; they facilitate producing more sustainable products using manufacturing processes and systems that are more sustainable. Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems (RMS) and its characteristics of scalability, convertibility, diagnosability, customization, modularity and integrability have emerged as a basis for living factories for next generation manufacturing …

Towards Developing Sustainable Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems, Aihua Huang, Fazleena Badurdeen, Ibrahim S. Jawahir

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper aims to examine the sustainable manufacturing performance of Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems (RMSs) using existing sustainable manufacturing metrics. RMS has six key characteristics including modularity, integrability, customization, scalability, convertibility, and diagnosability. In this paper, ‘convertibility’ is quantified by considering configuration convertibility, machine convertibility, and material handling device convertibility from the RMS perspective. In addition, the performance of RMSs with different convertibility levels is also evaluated by using sustainable manufacturing metrics. A numerical example is used to demonstrate the computational approach. Results of the analysis are used to show how sustainable manufacturing performance of RMS changes as system convertibility varies. …

Battery Test Chamber, Olivia Cole, Noah Purdy, Jacob Happ

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

A battery test chamber was designed for temperature-controlled experiments on batteries. The apparatus is a standalone desktop unit capable of testing a battery of maximum size 2.25” x 2.25” x 2”. There are two separate chambers divided by a rotating, 90° door. The chamber halves are used for heating and cooling the battery, respectively. An adjustable mount for the battery allows for variation in sample size and securely holds the battery throughout the experiment. The operator can twist a knob on top of the box to spin the battery between the hot and cold chambers. The hot side is equipped …

Guardian Condor, Kevin Bayonnet

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Our group has teamed up with Dr. Williams from Discovery Lab Global to research the capabilities of 3D printed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The goal of our project is to deliver a 3D printed glider prototype which can later be fitted with electronics for controlled flight. The glider must also carry a payload of 2 to 3 pounds in addition to the electronics. These requirements must be met all while using a basic 3D printer with low cost plastic

Throughout the Fall 2017 semester, our group made a significant amount of progress by completing the conceptual design portion of the …

Human Powered Vehicle Design Team: Speed Variable Steering Stabilizer, Eric Miller, Matt Kraml

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The Human Powered Vehicle Competition (HPVC) is held annually by ASME at a few locations. The University of Akron has competed in the ASME-East and ASME-West competitions over the past handful of years against universities from all over the world. Objectives of each team for the competition are three-fold: vehicle design, racing performance, and innovation. Our senior design project involved working on the innovation concept for ASME-East 2018 held at Penn State University during the weekend of 4/13. Speed variable steering was decided upon by the entire HPVC team early in the design process as the innovation choice for this …

Indicator-Supporting Fixture Based On A Time And Motion Study, James Anthony

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The design goal of this project was proposed by the sponsor company, Jay-Em Aerospace in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. I was tasked with observing a process carried out in the Assembly department by multiple people and charged with coming up with a fixture to improve safety, speed, and accuracy of this task. To determine how to make the process safer, interviews were conducted with the people who would usually be carrying out this process and determined their top concerns and issues with how it is carried out currently. To improve the speed and accuracy of the process, a "time and motion …

Human Powered Vehicle Frame Design, Analysis, Manufacturing, And Testing, Christopher Reed, Kole W. Williams

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The University of Akron Human Powered Vehicle Design Team began this academic year with a mission to create a practical, lightweight, safe, and efficient human powered vehicle. The main objectives of ZC18 were inspired by competition in the 2018 Human Powered Vehicle Challenge at ASME E-Fest East. In addition to adhering to the rules of this competition, scoring high on the submitted reports, and competing well in the racing events, the team set a goal to assist in furthering knowledge related to the topic of human powered vehicles.

ZC18 was constructed nearly completely in the University of Akron’s Design Center …

Swagelok Adjustable Check Valve Setting Device, Brandon Sours, Paul Olson, David Race, Nick Rimpf

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Check valves are used to control the amount of flow through a valve and only open when a certain pressure is reached. The path of the fluid is strictly in one direction, which allows the valve to prevent any back flow within a system. They are also one of few self-automated piping system components that do not require assistance to open or close. Some check valves use a combination spring-and-nut compression assembly to set an opening pressure. As the nut is used to set the spring compression, and by extension the opening pressure, problems tend to arise when adjusting the …

Mht Assembly Line, Sean Lundholm

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this report is to record the process followed and steps taken to design and implement a new product assembly line. While the implementation of the line required more than what is in this report, the projects outlined are those I was personally involved in and responsible for. This report will outline why the project was required, the steps taken to complete the project, and the challenges faced. Throughout the progression of the project, many different parts and areas were considered. As each of these was brought into focus, new challenges presented themselves and were dealt with accordingly. …