Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol. 786

Abstract: Most of Napier grass industry in Malaysia is labored in small and medium scale. Therefore, the harvesting works are done manually by man power using conventional equipment such as sickle and machete. However, there are some efforts made to design the low cost equipment in assisting this Napier grass harvesting works. The aim of this study is to compare the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) performance in order to evaluate the certain body parts condition during harvesting works by using conventional equipment and innovation machine assisted. Based on survey, conventional harvesting method might increase the risk of low back pain (LBP) due to repetitive stooping posture. Furthermore, the back biomechanical load and force impact were also not handling wisely. The objective of this study is to prove that the usage of machine during harvesting works might improve the body posture especially on stoop level condition. Based on results, the overall RULA and REBA score are excellently improved as well as trunk position which is depicts the stooped level condition. Hence, the innovation of harvest machine could contribute to the Napier grass industry especially on small and medium entrepreneur.

Abstract: Oil palm evacuation are still labour dependent and room for mechanisation may still exist. With the importance of this industry as one of nation’s economic contribution the efforts are still considered viable. In order to reduce, improve and empower labours a new concept design was developed. A mock-up interaction was done in virtual environment in order to assess the ergonomic aspect of the design in order to determine the pros and cons of the concept design. The findings had led to a conclusion for a requirement of a more thorough assessment to assess human machine interaction in terms of biomechanical effects.

Abstract: This paper presents a study to redesign the hand and wrist support device with improved ergonomics and comfort to the patient by using Reverse Engineering (RE) methods And Additive Manufacturing (AM) process. An initial survey was conducted through a questionnaire for early response on hand and wrist support device. CAD software to facilitate data and redesign the hand and wrist support device was used. For the scanning process, a digitiser was used to obtain the hand shapes using fake statue and hand shape made ​​of wax. Then the CAD model of the hand and wrist support device was build with the Fused Deposition Modeling machine to produce the prototype. The results of the simulation analysis indicates that the design pressure of the hand and wrist support produced with the FDM machine are safe to use based on the safety factor which is higher than 1. The study also shows that by using RE and AM, product development cycle time and manufacturing cost of hand and wrist support device can be significantly reduced.

Abstract: Disabled Persons are one who has either legs or hands and it is duty of every individual to safeguard them. Government is helping through various schemes by supplying wheel chair etc. there is need for sophisticated vehicle for them to work in the factory by moving inside the factory premises, moving inside the house premises and office premises. The primary objective of this project is to develop a vehicle for Disabled Persons especially for people without legs. Hence extensive research was carried out to come out with this idea and its methodology by Voice of Customer and Quality Functional Deployment (QFD) analysis. Here handle bar is used with accelerator and brake incorporated. The Permanent Magnet Direct Circuit (PMDC) Motor is used in the brake drum driven by battery / solar current since this is a vehicle primarily designed for Disabled Persons, the vehicle is designed considering their disability in mind and much importance is given regarding the safety of the passenger after. Hence driver ergonomics plays a key role in the designing of vehicle for legless persons. Handle bar designed to suit both manual steering and electric steering. Chassis design and center of Gravity is calculated and the Brake is kept in the Handle Bar.

Abstract: This research redesigned and manufactured the archery recurve bow riser using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) system to improve its design, weight and strength. Available design of bow riser was surveyed to get inspiration for new design. Final design of the bow riser design was developed with a CAD software. Prototype of the final design of the bow riser was produced by FDM system with ABS material. Coating the prototype with carbon fibre was made. Vacuum bagging process and mechanical compression process was applied to bond the multiple layers of carbon fibre composite material. The multiple layers were tested using Universal Testing Machine to test the flexural property of the redesigned carbon fibre composite coated bow riser prototype. It is found that the multiple layer of composite can withstand up to 0.1 KN of load. Thus, the study shows that reinforcing the redesigned bow riser prototype using carbon fibre composite is suitable for it is light, easy to shape and strong properties.

Abstract: Direct modelling is a new CAD technology that enables model geometry construction by pushing, pulling or twisting which emphasis to solve the constraint issues made by the current technology. Ideally it is more efficient and productive in accomplishing a part of product design process. This study is about comparing productivity and efficiency of both modelling by mean of counting mouse button clicks as representing speed for accomplishing the task. Parametric modelling is set as the benchmark. The review also taking into account several qualitative aspects during the process. Accordingly, direct modelling is proven better from the parametric modelling for this scenario.

Abstract: An importance of material handling is the movement of materials at the minimum cost and also an effective material handling system reduces the manufacturing cost. The objective of this paper is to reduce the material handling cost by placing the production equipments within the cell in the given fixed area layout. Few relative factors are considered while designing the layout. These factors help in improving the layout design. While designing the layout some higher cost assigned for some important moves. A benchmark problem has solved by using Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithms. The results are tabulated, compared, and analyzed. Based on that analysis the PSO algorithm performed well and given better placement of machines with minimum material handling cost.

Abstract: 3-D packaging is a technology that offers high density packaging and high performance. It enables chips to be stack in a single package and widely adopted in multi-media products. Thermosetting material is used for their encapsulation, is flowed through their thin space and wide filling area during package encapsulation process has become vital concern i.e. void formation. In this paper, such issue has been numerical studied due to the effect of transfer speed of the plunger head during encapsulation process. There are five transfer speeds of 1.6, 2.0, 3.4, 6.8, 9.04 mm/s have been chosen in order to investigate the quality of air entrapped (hereafter namely as void), where it degraded the package’s reliability. It is found that the longest transfer speed delivered to the best encapsulation process, which had lowest volume of air trap or void formation in the package.Keywords: Encapsulation, Transfer speed, Vent arrangement, Void Formation

Abstract: This paper presents a research on experimental and response surface methodology (RSM) approach in evaluating the damage factor of the drilled holes in high speed drilling of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP). From the experiment, the influences of drilling parameters toward damage factor are more prominent in thicker GFRP; where high speed drilling using high speed steel twist drill bit produces lower damage factor in thicker GFRP. Lastly an optimized set of drilling parameters was generated for the use of high speed steel twist drill bit in high speed drilling.

Abstract: Coconut is inseparable part of life of people of southern India particularly in the states of Kerala and Tamilnadu. Coconut as tender coconut water, coconut gratings, coconut milk, coconut oil etc. find its way in at least one food item cooked daily the people of this southern part of India. Due to extreme shortage in people to climb the coconut trees and pluck the coconuts, the cost of coconuts is increasing steeply. One solution to this problem is to have a robotic coconut tree climber with an arm to cut the coconuts. In this research work, we present the design, implementation and testing of robotic arms to be used in these robotic coconut tree climbers, to cut the coconuts. Different robotic arm designs are presented with proper analysis and results.