For this project I worked with Iain Griffin to convert a CNC machine into a drawing machine. This project will be to use the CNC machines mechanical functions in conjunction with a pen/pencil/ink to draw using G-code. The intended use of the drawing machine is for teaching students G-code, converting the CNC machine to a drawing machine would mean that material wouldn’t be wasted on practising G-code and at the same time the students would still be able to see their results.
Iain’s Website is here: https://blogs.brighton.ac.uk/designengineeringiain/
This project was discontinued due to other projects/activities covering the same Learning Outcomes.
The Aim
Our aim for this project is to convert a CNC machine into a system which draws from inputted G-code.
The Objectives
Before beginning this project we set some objectives to complete.
- Research and Build an understanding on how a CNC machine works
- Produce a range of solutions for the drawing machine
- Produce a rationale to determine the best solution
Deliverables
Website/Portfolio/Presentation, Economic Context, Relevant Ethical Issues, Environmental Issues, Risk assessment.
Economic Context of Design Engineering Processes
I used Economics Made Simple 14th Edition by Geoffrey Whitehead as a reference.
In Geoffrey’s book, page 3, 1.1: what is economics, he explains that economics is the ‘everyday business of providing the means of livelihood.’ He further explains that everyone has things that they need; these are their ‘wants’ and that want can be food, water, clothing, housing or even entertainment and education.
Furthermore, on page 4, he mentions utilities. These are used to ‘satisfy our wants’. He then provides an example: ‘Thirst is a want, and water has utility because it satisfies this want’.
In the context of design engineering it is our job to provide the utility. If we didn’t manufacture to satisfy a want then we could be potentially manufacturing useless products and ultimately wasting resources, time and man power.
Relevant Ethical Issues
There are many ethical issues which come into play with design engineering. For example; we need to evaluate acceptable risks, this is done to keep both the user and the manufacturer safe, If we didn’t evaluate the risks we wouldn’t be able to put safety measures in place to keep the manufacturers safe and the product may potentially being designed in a way that is harmful to the user.
Investigating Ethical Issues in Engineering Design by Ibo Van de Poel states: ‘Moral questions may again arise in the user phase when technologies are being used for certain purposes and produce certain (social) effects’
If we didn’t write needs and requirements for our products, more and more moral questions may occur and the product could be considered morally wrong.
Van de Poel, I., 2001. Investigating ethical issues in engineering design. Science and engineering ethics, 7(3), pp.429-446.
Environmental Factors
When manufacturing it is important to take into account how we are going to be affecting the environment. For example: some materials such as; fossil fuels, clay, natural gas, oil, coal, and certain metal, are limited and therefore we must reduce the amount that we use in order to preserve the material for longer. We should try to use recyclable materials for our products so that others can reuse the materials after the product is disposed.
Another example is incorrectly disposing of waste materials, some materials can be damaging to the environment if we dispose of them incorrectly. For example, landfill, littering and throwing waste into the sea. Disposing of chemicals are especially bad as they can damage plant life if thrown into woodland.
Global warming is another factor which we should consider, we should reduce our carbon footprint as much as possible.
By considering the environmental factor we can preserve materials, we will be damaging the environment less and we will be contributing to global warming less.
Risk Assessment
This is my risk assessment for manufacturing within the work area:
DOWNLOAD: Risk Assessment