University of Engineering & Technology Lahore (FSD Campus)

Department of Mechanical, Mechatronics & Manufacturing Engineering

Complex Engineering Problem

Attributes:
Range of conflicting requirements, Depth of Knowledge required, Familiarity of issues,
Extent of applicable codes
Hydraulics & Pneumatics (MCT-313) Session 2020, Fall 2022
CLO – 3: PLO – 1 (5), CLO – 4: PLO – 3 (10) Total Marks 15

TARGET SUBMISSION DATE: 10 December, 2022

NAME:

I agree to the assessment as contained in this assignment. I confirm that the work submitted is my own work.

Date Issued: 13 October, 2022

Signature: Date submitted:

This assignment will be used to grade the sections highlighted.

Assessment Criteria for a pass Achieved

CL04 Be able to design and 4.1 design and produce a circuit design diagram for either a
construct the circuits of pneumatic orhydraulic multi-actuator sequential operation
pneumatic and circuit, that includes emergency stop functions
hydraulic systems.
4.2 design and produce a circuit design diagram for either a
pneumatic orhydraulic rotary actuation system that includes
speed control in both directions
4.3 design and produce a circuit design for either a pneumatic or
hydraulic‘fail-safe circuit application

CLO3 Explain the structure

3.1 design and produce a circuit design diagram for either an
and working principles
electro-pneumatic or electro-hydraulic system arrangement
of hydraulic, pneumatic
and electro- 3.2 Conclusions have been arrived at through synthesis of ideas
pneumatic/hydraulic and should be justified
components

Rubrics Achieved
Excellent (12-15) Good (8-11) Satisfactory (4-7) Not-Satisfactory (0-3)
• identify and apply • effective judgments have been made
strategies to find • complex problems with more than one variable have been explored
appropriate • an effective approach to study and research has been applied
solutions (CLO4).

• select/design and • relevant theories and techniques have been applied.

apply appropriate
methods/ • a range of methods and techniques have been applied.
techniques • a range of sources of information has been used.
(CLO4) • the selection of methods and techniques/sources has been justified
• the design of methods/techniques has been justified
• complex information/data has been synthesized and processed
• appropriate learning methods/techniques have been applied
• present and • the appropriate structure and approach has been used
communicate the • coherent, logical development of principles/concepts for intended
appropriate audience
findings (CLO3) • a range of methods of presentation have been used and technical
language has been accurately used
 • communication has taken place in familiar and unfamiliar contexts
• the communication is appropriate for familiar and unfamiliar
audiences and appropriate media have been used

Feedback Comments:

Teacher’s Signature:
Date:
Obtained Marks
GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO ASSESSMENT STRATEGY

Throughout the module you should do the following.

• Study relevant course notes.

• Study the recommended textbooks.

• Use the standards publications available in the library.

• Make use of suitable web sites.

• Make use of journals on fluid power.

• Make use of manufacturers catalogues. (RS, NORGREN, REXROTH and so on).

• Make use of the standard information pack from the British Fluid Power Association.

In the design parts, you should use the computer software “Festo FluidSim”. The context help
contains diagrams, pictures and symbols.

Your assignment should be structured with headings and subheadings. The work must be your own.
Copies of pages from the internet or from any other source should only be added as reference
material. This should be clearly identified and cross-referenced in your text (e.g., diagram numbers
and appendix numbers).

You may use computer packages such as “word” to produce your work and scan in pictures. You
may do the work in handwriting and paste in pictures and diagrams. Whatever method you use,
make sure that the work is identifiable as your own unique style and your research.

Students who address all the issues in full are more likely to obtain a merit or distinction but so long
as the main points are addressed you should obtain a pass grade.

Parts of this assignment may be used as evidence of achievement in the PLC module.

IMPORTANT: Consult with your tutor to ensure that you understand the work to be done before
you commit yourself to any substantial amount of work.

SYSTEMS

At the end of this assignment seven fluid power systems are described. You will be allocated or
asked to select ONE of them in order to complete this assignment.
 DETAILS

PART 1 CIRCUIT DESIGN

You will be allocated or asked to select of the seven systems described in the last section. Design a
pneumatic or hydraulic system to the specification given.

• The machine must use electric control systems.

• Decide whether to use hydraulics or pneumatics. Explain all the points considered in
arriving at your answer.

BASIC HARDWARE CIRCUIT

At this point you should not design the control system, only the basic circuit.

You need not consider the materials, style or quality of the hardware at this stage.

You should produce your drawing to the ISO standard. All the main control valves must be
solenoid operated.

• Using Festo FluidSim, design and test the circuit if possible (e.g., using manual
overrides on the valves)

• Explain in detail the strategy used to arrive at your design.

PART 2 CONTROL AND OPERATION

You should now consider how control of the system is to be produced and automatic operation
achieved. Remember that electric control must be used. If you have already studied the PLC
module, you may use any of the techniques taught there.

• List the sequence of operations and use a suitable graphic aid such as a cycle diagram or
a step sequence diagram.

• Consider whether to use a PLC or a hardwired electric circuit. Discuss the benefits and
disadvantages of both.

• Identify sensors that can be used to make the system work automatically in the correct
sequence.

• Modify your circuit drawing by adding the sensors and/or additional valves.

• Construct a separate circuit diagram (within the same project) showing the electric wiring
diagram and produce a control circuit if require. This will be either a grafset or ladder
diagram. You may need help and advice on this.

• Demonstrate the system working by using the simulation feature.

PART 3 SAFETY ASPECTS

This section concerns the safe design and operation of the machine. Consider the safety legislation
that is appropriate to this installation.

• Identify and discuss the main safety legislation applicable to the installation,
commissioning operating and maintaining the machine.

• Identify the main dangers to look out for when commissioning, operating, and
maintaining this particular machine.

• Find out about and explain the reasons for using the following safety features.

o Lock out facility.

o Automatic cut out.
o Emergency stop.
o Fail safe. (e.g. safe parking position).
o System protection.

• Identify which you need to incorporate in your design and give your reasons. You should
consider things such as :

o Prevention of unauthorised tampering.

o Possibility of the machine becoming jammed or clogged.
o Overheating.
o Overpressure.
o Fluid levels.
o Power overloads

• Modify your circuit diagram to include appropriate safety features and add suitable text
notations if required. This must include an emergency stop

PART 4 SPECIFICATION AND COST

• When costing the system, the following should be considered. Explain what each
meansand list what would be included in each for this machine.

o Capital cost.
o Running cost.

PART 5 COMMISSIONING AND MAINTAINING THE SYSTEM

In this section you should consider commissioning and maintenance aspects of the machine.

• Write a brief report outlining the commissioning procedures to be used.

• Write a brief report outlining the maintenance procedures to be used.
SYSTEM 1 HOOK TWISTING MACHINE

A company makes a range of hooks from flat plate for use with climbing gear and safety equipment.
The outline shape fits into a rectangle approximately 100 mm by 150 mm. The last part of the
manufacturing process is to twist the hook by 90o. A single machine is to be custom built to do the
following.

The hooks are manually loaded into a magazine.

The hooks are fed one at a time into a clamp with the hook end sticking out.
A chuck is advances and grips the hook end. This is then twisted.
The clamp releases and the chuck returns pulling the hook out of the clamp and then drops it into a
bin below.
The cycle repeats.
SYSTEM 2 DRILLING MACHINE

The diagram shows an outline design for a proposed machine to be used for drilling a hole in a
work piece. First the work piece is put in position. Next the guard must be lowered, and the work
piece clamped by cylinder C. Three seconds after the guard is lowered, the drilling commences
automatically. The work piece is fed against the drill by cylinder B and this is a double rod type
with the rod fixed at each end. The speed of the feed must be controllable.
SYSTEM 3 TUBE SWAGING MACHINE

A tube is placed on the rests. The start is initiated and the two end cylinders acting at a low pressure
advance and center the tube. This initiates the clamp cylinders operated at high pressures. When the
clamps are in place, the pressure on the end cylinders is increased to force the ends further and
swage the tube at both ends. The stop is initiated, and this makes the end cylinders retract followed
by the release of the clamp cylinders. A rotary actuator then ejects the tube into a box.
SYSTEM 4 FURNACE CONVEYOR

When the start is initiated, the furnace door is opened and the trolley advances 1.5 m from its
normal position. The chuck closes on the object in the furnace and grips it. The trolley moves back
3 m and drops the object into a tank underneath. The door must close as soon as possible to reduce
heat loss. The trolley moves forward 1.5 m to its normal position.

The trolley might be moved by two cylinders as shown in order to achieve the 3 positions required.

The door is operated by a motor and lead screw arrangement.

A second start control is to be situated near the furnace for inspection purposes.
SYSTEM 4 BAR TRIMMING MACHINE

A steel company produces large flat bars of various dimensions ranging from 100 mm x 25 mm to
300 mm x 100 mm. The lengths to be cut are to be done in batches with lengths in any multiple of
meters from 1 to 10 m. A single machine is to be custom built to do the following.

The bar comes along a roller track and hits an end stop.
The bar is clamped tightly.
An acetylene cutter head moves to the correct cutting position for the batch.
The cutter cuts the length in a controlled manner and retracts.
The cut bar must be ejected, and the process repeated.
SYSTEM 5 PRESS TOOL

The press tool is lowered and raised by one complete revolution of the drive shaft. The operator
brings down the guard and when at the bottom, the lock cylinder automatically engages. The press
cycle automatically starts. First the clutch engages but only if the press tool is in the correct up
position. The press tool descends onto the die and then rises automatically. When fully raised, the
clutch must be disengaged, and the guard lock is disengaged. The lock cylinder must not open
unless the press tool is fully raised and stopped at this position. You must select and arrange
appropriate sensors as required.02
SYSTEM 6 RIVETING MACHINE

The machine is based around a pillar drill design. The purpose is to spin rivet two adjacent rivets
one at a time. The machine must not operate unless the guard is down, and the start switch pressed.
The cycle is as follows.

Lower guard
Start
Clamp
Lower riveting head.
Retract riveting head.
Index
Lower riveting head.
Retract riveting head.
Return index to normal position.
Unclamp.

You must select and arrange appropriate sensors to make the cycle work.
SYSTEM7 CONVEYOR SYSTEM

Identical boxes are dropped onto the end of a conveyor from a gravity chute and travel along to a
junction where they may carry on to processing station A or be diverted to station B. Drive motor C
operates the first conveyor. Drive motors A and B operate the conveyors to stations A and B. If the
boxes pile up at A because they cannot be removed quickly enough, the divert cylinder is operated
automatically and the boxes are sent down a second conveyor to station B. If station A clears, boxes
are not diverted.

If both stations become clogged at the same time, the stop cylinder is activated to prevent further
boxes coming out of the gravity chute and the drive motor C is stopped. If either station clears, this
process is reversed.

You will need to devise a sensor system to detect a pile up at each station. This will occur when a
box comes to rest against the box in front of it at a given point on the conveyor.