A Machine Design Approach on Minimizing Powder Waste during Production of Cemented Carbide Inserts
2024 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (One Year)), 10 credits / 15 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
This report describes a thesis project in machine design at Sandvik Miningand Construction Tools AB. The project aims to develop a method and/or tool to safely retrieve and reuse carbide powder in production of cemented carbide inserts for use in different mining and rock drilling applications. In order to solve the problem, multiple different conceptual solutions will becreated and evaluated to then be narrowed down to one main concept to develop further and lastly create a prototype to test in production. During the project, a requirement specification was created and multiple concept ideas were evaluated and graded based on those requirements. The concept with the highest grade was further developed and resulted in a container with a lid, which connects to the machines pressing table. Two types of implementation ideas were designed and one was prototyped and tested. The designed and prototyped implementation idea utilizes a container with a snap-fit lid which slides in behind the pressing table and locks in place both geometrically and using a snap-fit joint. Furthermore, a lid is used to completely enclose the powder inside the container once it is full. Part of the created prototype, the distribution tool, was manufactured in PA12 which was the intended material whilst the rest of the prototype was only created in PLA in house at Sandvik due to time constraints. The results showed that the generated concept should work in theory. This was also backed by tests in production where the tool fulfilled all of the requirements. However, in order to fully evaluate the concept, more tests with the finished product is needed. In conclusion, the developed concept presents a viable and cost-effective solution for the safe retrieval and reuse of the leftover carbide powder in the production process but it might need further testing in the future to fully evaluate the benefits and drawbacks.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2024. , p. 64
Series
TRITA-ITM-EX ; 2024:119
Keywords [en]
Pressing, powder, cemented carbide, production, carbide powder, cobalt safety, machine design, tool design
National Category
Engineering and Technology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-353824OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kth-353824DiVA, id: diva2:1900635
External cooperation
Sandvik Mining and Construction Tools AB
Supervisors
Examiners
2024-09-242024-09-242024-09-24Bibliographically approved