Thesis Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering University of Rizal System-Morong 2023

This undergraduate thesis paper’s sole purpose is the design and development of a brick making machine for recyclable materials and sand. The study discusses the conceptualization, design, and development process of the machine, including the selection of materials, fabrication process, and multiple testing. To test the performance of the machine in terms of precision, the researchers determined the characteristic of the output brick in terms of compressive strength, water absorption, and density as their variables. To test the performance of the machine in terms of speed of production, the researchers include the rate of brick production of the developed machine and the standard machines for a burnt clay brick and engineering brick as variables. To test the level of acceptability of this study, the researchers include determination of limits of machinery, hazard identification, risk estimation, inherently safe design measures, safeguarding and complementary protective measures, and information for use as their variables. The researchers determined the compressive strength of the output brick through a material testing laboratory, and used standard testing procedures to determine the water absorption and density. The study includes the creation of user's manual of the machine to provide essential information to users on how to operate and maintain the machine properly. This research was conducted at the University of Rizal System Morong Campus during the School Year 2022-2023. The researchers developed a device that could process plastic waste, glass waste, and sand into a cost-effective construction brick. The users could produce the output brick from the machine through simple, manual machine controls. The formulation of the brick by weight was set to be 70% manufactured sand, 20% Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles, and 10% crushed amber glass. To test the performance of the machine in terms of precision and speed of production, the multiple output bricks were tested to acquire their individual characteristics and the duration of the machine operation and drying process were considered. The average values and standard deviations of the characteristics of the bricks were then computed to show the precision of the machine. While the standard rate of production of machines for burnt clay brick and engineering brick were the chosen basis of comparison to determine the speed of production. As part of the research survey, the questionnaire checklist was given to eleven (11) respondents who are professionals in the field of mechanical and construction industries. The overall weighted mean of the experts’ and end users’ evaluations of the level of acceptability of the Brick Making Machine for Recyclable Materials and Sand was 4.59, which was verbally interpreted as Highly Acceptable. The average weighted mean for Determination of Limits of Machinery is 4.60, which was also verbally interpreted as Highly Acceptable. The average weighted mean for Hazard Identification is 4.46, which was also verbally interpreted as Highly Acceptable. The average weighted mean for Risk Estimation is 4.49, which was also verbally interpreted as Highly Acceptable. The average weighted mean for Inherently Safe Design Measures is 4.60, which was also verbally interpreted as Highly Acceptable. The average weighted mean for Safeguarding and Complementary Protective Measures is 4.69, which was also verbally interpreted as Highly Acceptable. The average weighted mean for Information for Use is 4.69, which was also verbally interpreted as Highly Acceptable. The characteristics of the brick output of the machine in terms of compressive strength, water absorption, and density were tested with satisfactory results in each characteristic. The output bricks yielded an average compressive strength of 14.76 N/mm2, an average water absorption of 3.53% of the average dry weight and an average density of 191.43 kg/m3. Based on the summary of the design outcome, the researchers found out that the developed machine is adequately designed to perform its intended function efficiently and safely, has acceptable precision, has a relatively high speed of production, deemed to have a high level of acceptability, and produces the desired brick output with above standard characteristics. For the user’s convenience, the device could have a motor to drive and automate the mixer of the machine. Furthermore, the safety design feature of the machine could be further improved for the well-being of the future users during the machine operation.