The majority of U.S. drivers do not consistently monitor the tire pressures in their vehicles. The 2000 TREAD Act, which requires automakers to gradually provide tire pressure monitoring systems for vehicles sold in the U.S. will correct this problem for new vehicles. This law does not impact the problem in previously deployed vehicles, which have a turnover time of 20 years. A solution is provided here to address under-inflated tires on the current 220 million vehicles and the concomitant wa...
The technological evolution of the 3-D printer, widespread internet access and inexpensive computing has made a new means of open design capable of accelerating self-directed sustainable development. This study critically examines how open source 3-D printers, such as the RepRap and Fab@home, enable the use of designs in the public domain to fabricate open source appropriate technology (OSAT), which are easily and economically made from readily available resources by local communities to meet...
The research was undertaken to ascertain the level and ingress of corrosion in carbon steel C-1040.
For the first time, low-cost open-source 3-D printing provides the potential for distributed manufacturing at the household scale of customized, high-value, and complex products. To explore the potential of this type of ultra-distributed manufacturing, which has been shown to reduce environmental impact compared to conventional manufacturing, this paper presents a case study of a 3-D printable parametric design for recreational vehicle (RV) solar photovoltaic (PV) racking systems. The design ...
The purpose of this paper is to provide a technical and economic evaluation of the value of the RepRap as an entry-level 3-D printer in the developing world and provide a cost effective solar photovoltaic (PV) racking solution to better serve the developing world and aid in the acceleration of their economic and socioeconomic growth. A customizable open-source PV racking concept is designed, prototyped for three types of modules, constructed into systems, and outdoor tested under extreme cond...
Through reduced 3-D printer cost, increased usability, and greater material selection, additive manufacturing has transitioned from business manufacturing to the average prosumer. This study serves as a representative model for the potential future of 3-D printing in the average American household by employing a printer operator who was relatively unfamiliar with 3-D printing and the 3-D design files of common items normally purchased by the average consumer. Twenty-six items were printed in ...
An open-source 3-D printable laboratory sample rotator mixer is developed here in two variants that allow users to opt for the level of functionality, cost saving and associated complexity needed in their laboratories. First, a laboratory sample rotator is designed and demonstrated that can be used for tumbling as well as gentle mixing of samples in a variety of tube sizes by mixing them horizontally, vertically, or any position in between. Changing the mixing angle is fast and convenient and...
Recent advancements in open-source self-replicating rapid prototypers (RepRap) have radically reduced costs of 3-D printing. The cost of additive manufacturing enables distributed manufacturing of open source appropriate technologies (OSAT) to assist in sustainable development. In order to investigate the potential this study makes a careful investigation of the use of RepRap 3-D printers to fabricate widely used Black Mamba bicycle components in the developing world. Specifically, this study...
Lowcost gas metal arc welding (GMAW)based 3D printing has proven effective at additive manufacturing steel and aluminum parts. Early success, however, was based on handwriting Gcode, which is inadequate for the majority of potential users. To enable automated slicing a 3D model and generating Gcode for an acceptable path for GMAW 3D printing, this paper reports on upgrading of the free and open source CuraEngine. The new slicer, MOSTMetalCura, provides the following novel abil...
Some inventions are glamorous and very sophisticated – microchips embedded system technology –and more while some others are quieter, yet not less relevant in easing the work that man has to do with his own energy. Pumps do fall in the latter category (Mario, 2001). This project is intended to model a portable solar powered suction pump. Pumps are devices that transfer fluids (liquid or gas) from one point to another through some mechanical means. Pumps generally have being in use for cen...
Solar powered systems have been built for various applications ranging from public lighting to water supply units but robust efforts have not been made in the development of pumping systems that can effectively replace the manually operated pumps used in field applications. Designing a machine that can pump the fluid without the need of so much energy on the part of the operator as well as boycott the use of direct electricity will hence be a reasonable contribution to field of maintenance an...
Analysis of Longitudinal Aerodynamic Characteristics of an Aircraft Model with and Without Winglet Altab Hossain a *, Prithvi Raj Arora b , Ataur Rahman c , Abdul Aziz Jaafar b , A.K.M. Parvez Iqbal a a Department of Mechanical Engineering, University Industry Selangor, Jln Timur Tambahan, 45600 Batang Berjuntai, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia b Department of Aerospace Engineering, University Putra Malaysia, Malaysia c Department of Mechanical Engineering, International Islam...
Abstract: Inhibition of corrosion on AISI 4137 steel in H2SO4 using Cascabela thevetia and Jatropha curcas leaves as inhibitor was studied using gravimetric and gasometric analysis. It was found that the leaves extract of both plants act as a good corrosion inhibitor for AISI 4137 steel in all concentrations of the extract ranging from 0.3 - 1.5 g/l and the inhibitive efficiency increases with increasing concentration of inhibitor. Cascabela thevetia has better surface coverage than J...
ABSTRACT The importance of Brushless Direct Current (BLDC) motors in modern day technology cannot be overemphasized. Its improved performance in terms of efficiency, reliability, noise and dynamic response, better speed versus torque characteristics, higher speed range, and durability over the Brushed Direct Current motors could not be wished away. This work investigates the performance of a BLDC motor with the application of PI controller, PD controller, PID controller, and fuz...
CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY: trolling body weight, reducing the chances of heart diseases, reducing the risk of diabetes and some other chronic diseases by improving the functions of the heart, lungs and improving the biomechanical system of the body. Aside surgeryand medication, several methods have been proposed for the prevention and treatment of heart conditions. One of such methods is the use of regulated and supervised exercise as therapy both for prevention of ...