Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol. 315

Abstract: This paper presents the combination between the simulation analysis of FEM (DFORM 3D) and Taguchi method approach. The Taguchi method was used to find the optimize parameter design contribute to Flank wear. The parameters were evaluated are coated surface treatment, cutting speed and feed rate. The Usuis model carried out to measure the flank wear size. Furthermore, ANOVA analysis was used out to identify the influence factors contribute to tool wear in the signal to noise ratio. The experiments were conducted on AL6061 by using High Speed Steel Tool (HSS) in face milling cutting. It shown that, the coated surface treatment is the most significant parameter which can reduce the tool wear value.

Abstract: This project is focusing on the development of a test unit for the hydraulically driven clamping system, typically used in injection moulding. The objectives of this project are to fabricate the model of clamping unit and to perform structural analysis based on the model design through simulation and by performing actual experiment on the real fabricated model. This actual test was conducted by compressing the load cell in between the two moulds halves in order to get the clamping force value through the data logger. The results obtained from simulation shows that the maximum stress of clamping unit with tie bar can achieve up to 11.2 MPa, with the safety value of 2.5. In the other hand, for the actual test experiment, the result the maximum clamping force produce is 3160N at 52bar of pressure. These values are important to be used as guidance in selecting the suitable injector part. As a conclusion, this clamping system has work properly and efficiently to be used for further research and a tool to understand more about the mechanism and the effects of clamping units in injection moulding process.

Abstract: This research is about an attempt to evaluate the effect of water contents towards the packaging properties of paper made from coconut coir, which was being processed manually through beating times method. The purpose of this investigation is to relate the composition of coconut fibre and water content with the tensile strength and tear factor. The composition starts from sample A, which has 90% of water and 10% of coconut fibre. The sample continues with 10% decreasing content of water and 10% increment of coconut coir. Base on tensile test and tear test results, graphs were plotted and it shows sample D, with 60% of water and 40% of coconut coir has produced the highest tensile strength, breaking length and tensile index, with the value of 1020.6 N/m, 422.8 m and 4.1450 Nm/g respectively. On the other hand, sample A produced the highest tear factor, with the value of 92.7 g/mm². As a conclusion, these packaging properties are good enough to become guidance in paper manufacturing industry, as well as to support the application of coconut coir fibre as an alternative packaging material in the future.

Abstract: In todays highly competitive market, the demand for quality is the single most critical factor for companies to survive in the ever-expanding global marketplace. The concept of total quality management (TQM) has been developed as a result of intense global competition. The purpose of this paper is to propose relationship between TQM practices and business performance based on extensive review of the literature. The main contribution of this paper is to identify comprehensive construct of TQM and business performance for improving previous models. Authors also introduce Business ethics as a new construct for TQM practices, which it has not been seen in previous literature as one of the key of sustainability factor. This proposed research will help the academicians and industry players to have better understanding on the importance of TQM implementation and business performance to the company in terms of financial performance, customer satisfaction, quality and production performance.

Abstract: The objective of this study is to analyze the main parameter setting in injection moulding that influenced the processing of selected thermoplastics components. The test sample used for this project was a hinge made from Polypropylene (PP). This sample was being utilised to analyse the parameters affecting the quality of plastic products, which were warpage and shrinkage. Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) was applied through CadMould 3D-F simulation software. The processing parameters such as filling time, melt temperature, wall temperature and cooling time were selected to determine the quality of the product. By adopting Taguchi Method, the orthogonal array, Signal-to-Noise (S/N) ratio and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used to find the optimum levels as well as to indicate the impact of the process parameters on warpage and shrinkage. The verification test was also performed to prove the effectiveness of Taguchi technique after the optimum levels of process parameters. The ANOVA results show that cooling time and wall temperature are found to be the most significant factors for shrinkage and warpage, with the contribution of 66.96% and 56.82% respectively. The verification test with the optimal settings shows that warpage were improved by about 0.4% and shrinkage with 4.2% improvement. These findings are useful for production engineer to determine optimal parameter during performing injection moulding on hinges products.

Abstract: Quality, reliability, and safety of products are the most important requirement of manufacturer in order to maintain their product competitiveness in market. Customers needs related to quality product in the market therefore drive the design and process activities to a high quantity of analysis. One possibility to reduce the number of activities is to integrate FMEA (i-FMEA) to merge Design FMEA (DFMEA) and Process (PFMEA) through DAIREC methodology. In this paper, a regression analysis between critical dimensional decided during design stage and key process factor in current process control is analyzed using MINITAB software. A judgment on a new ranking has been decided based on process performance indices (Ppk) for improvement lot.

Abstract: Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a well known tool to solve the fluid flow problems. In CFD analysis, the models use various types of Partial Differential Equation (PDE). The most common is hyperbolic equation. In order to solve the equation, high-order scheme is very reasonable to be applied due to the accuracy of result. So that, this study use modified Runge Kutta with Total Variation Diminishing (TVD) scheme and the model is half body airfoil (symmetrical airfoil NACA 0012). Firstly, parametric study over the size of suitable flow domain was carried out. If the length of airfoil chord is denoted by c, investigation effects on the size of flow domain is carried over the flow domain in x-direction which is 5c while in y-direction is 6c. Another two size flow domains had been used in this study are 5c×3c and 9c×3c respectively. The result shows a strong influence to the flow field solution occurred if the distance between airfoil surfaces to the outer boundary is relatively small. Through this parametric study, it had been suggested that the best way to solve the aerodynamics problem for the flow past through symmetrical airfoil by using the size of flow domain is 5c×6c. Using the same size of flow domain, it had been found that the developed computer code able to produce the result in a good agreement with ANSYS CFD-FLUENT software.

Abstract: Membrane technology has received increasing attention for the treatment of wastewaters lately. The use of membrane system showed high demand in industries. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) will be used to evaluate the environmental impacts of membrane system from raw materials, continues with product development and manufacturing, and finally ends when all materials are returned to earth. This paper presents a review of researchers on LCA, membrane manufacture and application to suggest corresponding further research direction. A methodology for sustainable assessment will be developed for membrane system for wastewater treatment for small and medium enterprise (SME).

Abstract: The pendulum driven spherical robot exhibit unique dynamic behavior which designed for reconnaissance and unstructured hostile environment exploration. Unfortunately spherical type robot maneuvering is nonlinear to get the desired part, internal propulsion mechanism and motion control need to be reconciled. This is a mechanical challenge to get in balancing and weight distribution. The robot has three DOFs and single inputs, of which the nature is a nonlinear and under actuated system with non-holonomic dynamic constraints. The enhanced construction of two sections on pendulums joint offers novel motion principle of spherical robot, which is moving simultaneously actuated by eccentric moment and inertial moment generated by this pendulum. Meanwhile the mobility is enhanced when the robot behaves dynamically. The dynamic model of linear motion is formulated on the basis of Lagrange equation, and a smooth trajectory planning method is proposed for linear motion. A feedback controller is build to ensure the accurate trajectory planning. Turning in place motion is an indispensable element of omni directional locomotion which can enhance the mobility of spherical robots. The dynamic model is derived using the theory of moment of momentum, and a stick-slip principle is analyzed. The two motion control methods are validated by both simulations and prototype experiments.

Abstract: Decision making for machine tool selection is intractable work of managers due to the factors involving the vague and imprecise information. The degree of hesitation is considered in the experts judgment. In this paper, an integration of the intuitionistic fuzzy (IF) Entropy and TOPSIS method are utilized to solve the vague information for decision-making process in machine tool selection. In particular, the weights of criteria are calculated by the IF Entropy and the TOPSIS is employed to determine the priority of alternative. The results of the numerical example show this integration is practical and easy to use for engineers and managers in the companies.