| Title: |
Fully Automated Industrial Valve Body Staker |
| Category: |
Industry |
| Intellectual Property: |
Student team assigns intellectual property control to company |
| Year: |
2009 |
| Semester: |
Fall |
| Sponsor Name: |
AGM Container Controls |
| Sponsoring advisors: |
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| Sponsor URL: |
http://www.agmcontainer.com |
| Sponsor Information: |
For six decades, AGM Container Controls, Inc. (AGM) has led in the design and fabrication of products that control and monitor moisture (desiccators and humidity indicators), pressure and vacuum changes (breather valves) and shock and vibration (tie downs and shock overload indicators). These products are used for a variety of applications in defense and aerospace, electronic, electro-optical, industrial and commercial markets to protect and extend the life of critical equipment. AGM's entire operation is conducted in Tucson, AZ. |
| ITAR Restriction: |
No |
| Scope of work: |
The team of students will work with AGM’s manufacturing engineering to develop an automated system for installing metal screens into valve bodies. Currently an operator manually installs the screen with a staker. This process is slow and operator-intensive. Additionally, the current staking method often results in the product’s anodized coating chipping off.
The team will investigate the current process and problems to determine the best method for producing a staked, anodized valve body. Using this research the students will develop a system that can load, stake the screen in place, and unload the body. The new system will hopefully reduce the need for an operator, decrease damage to the body, and increase production speed.
Rather than simply developing a proof of concept or model of the system, AGM will encourage the team to build a full-scale prototype system for use on the production floor. This allows the students the unusual and satisfying opportunity to fully implement their design.
The system may include a method for loading and unloading the valve bodies, an automated staking device, an electrical control system, and safety features as determined by the team.
Students should anticipate a heavily hands-on project requiring a multidisciplinary approach. The students will have access to AGM’s facilities to facilitate design and production of the system. |
| Project summary: |
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| Disciplines: |
Electrical Engineering (1)
Industrial Engineering (1)
Mechanical Engineering (1)
Optical Sciences and Engineering (1)
Computer Engineering (1) |
| Skills: |
Solidworks or other 3D modeling software skills |
| Additional resources: |
Students will have access to AGM's production facilities and prototype lab. |
| Key Contact Name: |
Tom Christie |
| Key Contact Email: |
tchristie@agmcontainer.com |
| Key Contact Phone: |
520-881-2130 |
| Project URL: |
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| Mentor Name: |
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| Mentor Email: |
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| Mentor Phone: |
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