A flexible manufacturing system for lawnmower cutting cylinders

The thesis is concerned with the conception and design of a FLEXIBLE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM (FMS) for the automation of the manufacture of lawnmower cutting cylinders at Suffolk Lawnmowers Ltd. A review of FMS definitions, planning methods and current systems is carried out for the development of a suitable FMS configuration for the final stages of manufacture of grass cutting cylinders having 21 different design specifications. This involves examination of the capabilities of robotics and microcontrollers to automate the technologies used in cylinder production. The company's current manual batch production system is analysed to determine the suitable form and requirements of the FMS. This includes analyses of annual volumes, throughputs, batch sizes, product and process mixes. Long term objectives to automate the system are identified from which short term objectives are derived. The FMS recommended for immediate development encompasses the short term objectives for the welding, hardening, grinding and transfer processes of 8 cutting cylinder specifications. It is shown that the MIG (Argon/C02) are welding, progressive flame hardening and wide-face cylindrical grinding processes can be developed successfully to automate cylinder production. The recommended system integrates these processes into an FMS through the'automatic handling of cylinders (through three process routes) by a robotic manipulator utilising a double gripper. 'A robotic welding station, manually loaded, is also recommended. ' The system is controlled overall by a 32K microcontroller with the process machines individually controlled by programmahle logic controllers with up to 6K of memory each. The economic appraisal of the FMS indicates a 4.4 year payback based on direct labour and material cost savings. The company's application for grant aid to implement the FMS design has led to an offer of a Department of Industry grant to cover 50% of all capital and revenue costs. The grant of £166,943 reduces the payback period to 2.3 years

Research and education for the development of integrated crop-livestock-fish farming systems in the tropics.

There is a vast potential for Asia's numerous and needy small-scale farmers to enjoy the benefits of integration of aquaculture into farming systems. This publication attempts to create a framework for an interdisciplinary approach to research and education in integrated farming - a fusion of agriculture and aquaculture sciences.Integrated farming, Research, Education, Tropics, Farm Management,

Research and education for the development of integrated crop-livestock-fish farming systems in the tropics

There is a vast potential for Asia's numerous and needy small-scale farmers to enjoy the benefits of integration of aquaculture into farming systems. This publication attempts to create a framework for an interdisciplinary approach to research and education in integrated farming - a fusion of agriculture and aquaculture sciences.Integrated farming, Research, Education, Tropics

ICR ANNUAL REPORT 2020 (Volume 27)[All Pages]

This Annual Report covers from 1 January to 31 December 202

3D Bioprinted Engineered Living Materials for Continuous Organophosphorus Compound Detoxification

Engineered living materials (ELMs) are a rapidly emerging class of materials, demonstrating a wide range of functionalities, including responsive morphing, self-healing, and bio-catalysis. 3D bioprinted hydrogels have been used for the fabrication of high resolution, compartmentalised, and load-bearing structures suitable for hosting microbial metabolism, and accordingly represent an ideal environment for ELMs. The interactions between material frameworks, such as hydrogels, and encapsulated life are now beginning to be investigated.Herein, by 3D printing a hydrogel-encapsulated population of Escherichia coli, a chemically inducible, metabolically active, microbial ELM was fabricated. The material was characterised using a wide range of techniques, including fluorescence microscopy and cryogenic electron microscopy. Toxic organophosphorus compound (OPC) detoxifying capabilities were conveyed to the material through inducible expression of Agrobacterium radiobacter phosphotriesterase (arPTE). The reaction diffusion process occurring at the interface of the OPC detoxifying ELM was investigated using continuous fluorescence imaging of Coumaphos hydrolysis.. Principal component analysis was then used to uncover spatial and temporal features within this data, with relevance for future optimisation of catalytic microbial ELMstructures. To further demonstrate the applicability of this 3D printable microbial ELM, the material was incorporated into an entirely 3D printed flow reactor, demonstrating effective, cyclical detoxification of an OPC solution at high flow rate.Looking towards the future of ELM design, a novel, 3D printable, contractile-thermosensitive,double-network hydrogel was used to create thermo-responsive OPC degrading bioreactors, capable of autonomously controlling their performance