Track: Design and Analysis

Abstract

The use of automated machines proves that they give a higher production rate than the manual production rate. The background of this study showed that the use of PVC pipes is very broad, varying from small scale residential use to large scale industrial use in water treatment plants. Subsequently, many ways of cutting PVC pipes are employed, with many of them being manual operations. These have proved to be laborious, time consuming and inaccurate.  The designed machine to be used will ultimately reduce the total time required for the entire cutting operation and increase the production rate. The researcher and supervisor visited Pro-Plastics (a giant in the Plastics Industry in Zimbabwe) to better understand high technology PVC pipe manufacture and cutting mechanics. Three concepts were generated for the proposed solution to this project. This study was conducted with the use of SolidWorks for generating and developing the assembly of the chosen concept. SMT Client was used to automate the feeding, clamping and cutting processes according to a batch requirement. The generated model was within the required specifications for a machine to be used by small-medium scale entrepreneurs because of its size and low cost. The study showed that this machine will reduce the amount of chips formed during the process when comparing to manual methods without compromising the quality and precision of the cut. The PLC that was programmed has timers to control the feeding, clamping and cutting processes. The research was concluded with recommendations on how the safety of this machine may be increased.