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

PE Technologies Inc.是马尼托巴省的一家中小企业，也是“Drain Commander Pro”的制造商和分销商，这是一种为住宅和商业建筑发明的自动排水管清洁机。DrainCommander旨在应对排水系统清洁挑战，包括切断堵塞物、树根、油脂、食物垃圾和排水系统中的其他障碍物。该机器包括用于检测水位上升的传感器，并能够进行定期清洗操作。排水指挥官配备了一个切割蛇能够75英尺的管道，包括薄壁管，油管和金属板。该设备被证明是多功能的。然而，目前的制造工艺、结构材料和整体设计使得该设备对于目标市场来说过于沉重和昂贵。PE技术公司要求与红河学院的航空航天和制造技术访问中心（TACAM）合作，对该设计进行全面评估。制造工艺和材料目前用于建造排水指挥官，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，对有问题的组件的重新设计，对替代建筑材料的评估以及对更具成本效益的制造路线的选择将导致Drain Commander节省30-50%的成本和一些重量。此外，该团队将通过将新的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。这项工作将需要大量的设计迭代，材料选择，制造，微控制器编程和系统集成。TACAM团队将利用学院现有的设计、3D建模、机械分析、制造技术、机电系统和系统集成方面的能力和专业知识来实现这一目标。

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.