Redesign, Prototyping and Cost Optimization of an Automated Drain Cleaning Machine

自动排水沟清洁机的重新设计、原型制作和成本优化

• 批准号: 561784-2021
• 负责人: Potter, Simon
• 金额: $ 1.82万
• 依托单位: Red River College Polytechnic
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=723957
• 关键词: Redesign; Prototyping; Cost; Optimization; Automated

PE Technologies Inc. is a Manitoba SME and the manufacturer and distributor of the "Drain Commander Pro",an automated drain cleaning machine invented for residential and commercial buildings. The DrainCommander is designed to handle drain cleaning challenges including cutting through blockages, roots, grease,food wastes and other obstruction in the drain. The machine includes sensors for detecting water level rise andcapable of periodic clean-out operations. Drain Commander is equipped with a cutting snake capable of 75 feetreach in pipes, including thin-walled pipes, tubing and sheet metals. This equipment proves to be versatile.However, the current manufacturing processes, materials of construction and the overall design makes theequipment too heavy and expensive for the target market.PE Technologies requests to collaborate with the Technology Access Centre for Aerospace and Manufacturing(TACAM) at Red River College to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the design, manufacturing processesand materials currently used to construct the Drain Commander in order to improve the cost effectiveness ofthe product and the company's competitiveness. The team is confident that a review of the product's currentblueprint, redesign of the components in question, evaluation of alternative materials of construction andselection of more cost-effective manufacturing routes would lead to 30-50% cost savings and some weightsavings in the Drain Commander. In addition, the team will be supporting the company's effort in improvinguser experience by integrating a new water sensor with the electronic systems. This work will require arigorous design iteration, materials selection, fabrication, microcontroller programming and systemsintegration. This project will culminate in the manufacturing of a new cost-effective and lightweight prototypeof the Drain Commander.TACAM team will capitalize on the College's existing capabilities and expertise in design, 3D modeling,mechanical analysis, fabrication techniques, electromechanical systems and systems integration to deliver this.

PE Technologies Inc. 是一家曼尼托巴中小企业，也是“Drain Commander Pro”的制造商和分销商，“Drain Commander Pro”是一种为住宅和商业建筑发明的自动排水沟清洁机。 DrainCommander 旨在应对排水沟清洁挑战，包括清除排水沟中的堵塞物、树根、油脂、食物垃圾和其他障碍物。该机器包括用于检测水位上升的传感器，并能够定期进行清理操作。 Drain Commander 配备了一条切割蛇，能够切割 75 英尺的管道，包括薄壁管道、管材和金属板。该设备被证明是通用的。然而，当前的制造工艺、结构材料和整体设计使得该设备对于目标市场而言过于笨重和昂贵。PE Technologies 请求与航空航天和制造技术访问中心 (TACAM) 合作，网址为：红河学院对目前用于建造Drain Commander的设计、制造工艺和材料进行全面评估，以提高产品的成本效益和公司的竞争力。该团队相信，对产品当前蓝图的审查、对相关组件的重新设计、对替代结构材料的评估以及选择更具成本效益的制造路线将导致 Drain Commander 节省 30-50% 的成本并减轻一些重量。此外，该团队还将通过将新型水传感器与电子系统集成来支持公司改善用户体验的努力。这项工作需要严格的设计迭代、材料选择、制造、微控制器编程和系统集成。该项目最终将制造出一种新型、经济高效且轻量级的 Drain Commander 原型。TACAM 团队将利用学院在设计、3D 建模、机械分析、制造技术、机电系统和系统集成方面的现有能力和专业知识来交付这。