Manufacturing Technology: Today and Tomorrow

Have we ever pondered that what does the future hold for manufacturing technology? What will be the status of manufacturing technology in next 10 years? What are we expecting with this wide range of manufacturing expansion strategies? More consumables, more automation, more digitization transformation, more of everything connected to the Industrial Internet of Things. But manufacturing technology would be much greater tomorrow than what it is today. All these emerging technologies are converging to transform manufacturing processes, global supply chain and improving product quality.

The central force in manufacturing innovation is the emergence of the cloud technology. The cloud technology has taken the manufacturing innovation to an entirely next level. With increase in automation, cloud technology has received widespread adoption throughout in the global market of manufacturing industry. This has enabled to propel the manufacturing operations into an era of dexterity and innovation. Manufacturers are not only embracing this ‘Cloud Technology’ but they are proactively instigating this technology to revive the manufacturing technology.

It is a matter of known fact, technology like automation and Industrial Internet of Things have allowed manufacturers to run smarter factories. Innovations are introduced every single day to improve the working efficiency, product quality and minimizing casualties and fatalities among workers. The recent addition of cloud application has already set its way in transforming the manufacturing innovation globally.

Cloud apps are leading to a more productive and efficient supply chain in manufacturing technology. Firstly, it smoother out supply chain collaboration which are difficult to master. In addition to that, cloud apps have made the interactions between the supplier and customer easy and has turned it into an achievable reality. Secondly, cloud apps are leading in redefining worker productivity. Manufacturers now can employ tracking cloud apps to monitor the reasons for inefficient staff. Moreover, this will help us in providing potential insight regarding the meaningful operations that will mend the employee productivity. Finally, cloud apps are overhauling the inventory management too. This has raised the level from traditional inventory methods such as spreadsheet to the modern ones. With this, greater client satisfaction and more transparency is achieved.

Manufacturers are appreciating the fact that the cloud technology can fuel up the operational success of their manufacturing career. This forces the manufacturing sector to take a stride in bringing the cloud apps to the workplace. Early adopters of the cloud technology will be able to take a lead in the global manufacturing market. And the rest will catch up sooner or later- sooner the better.

                                                                Iqra Perviaz

                                                                Final Year (Bio Medical dept.)

                                                                NEDUET
                                                                BM-060

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Clutch of a Motor bike

What is clutch?      

The mechanical device that engages or disengages the driving shaft from the driven shaft as actually the clutch. Means the device that is used to transmit the power is clutch. In every type of road vehicles there is the need of a clutch to shift the power from through gear shift. Generally the Clutches are cable operated in motor bikes and in cars, buses, trucks they are not cable operated. The two shafts connected to the clutches are the main engine shaft and the next is the one that is connected to the output. The clutch is not a single element in actual it is the assembly of the different elements having their own functionality and these assembled part together produces the functional clutch. The elements/parts of the clutch are:

 1.  Clutch outer
2.     Clutch center
3.     Lifter
4.     Pressure plate
5.     Friction disk/Disk friction
6.     Clutchplates
7.     Springs
8.     Spring dampers
9.     Set rings
10.   Clutch cable & lever

Clutch Outer:

You may also call it the housing of the clutch. It one of its side there is a teeth plate attached i.e. riveted. This side of the clutch is connected with the driving shaft i.e. to the transmission box. All the other elements will be assembled in its other side.

Clutch Center:

For CD-70 this element is named as drive plate and for other heavy bike this element is named as clutch center. It has the inner hole broached means it have teethes on inner hole which is directly connected with to the engine.

Clutch plates:

There are two types of clutch plates one is disk friction plates and other one is steel plate. Disk friction plates have high values of coefficient of frictions which is used for firm gripping during the engage condition. This plate have the teeth at its outer diameter. These friction plates are coated with some material most of the time it is ceramic. Whereas the clutch disk plate have the teeth at its inside diameter that are used to make connection with the clutch center which is connected with drive shaft. During disengage condition these plates get separated from friction plates by very small distance so that the transmission becomes stationary.

Pressure plate:

It is the moving part of the clutch assembly which works against clutch spring tension. It releases the clamping action on the clutch plates when the clutch lever is engaged.

Springs:

These spring have greater importance in the clutch assembly. We can say it is the element that is causing principle of clutch to be performed. Generally there are in total four spring used.  These springs use their tension power for the frim engaging of the clutch with driving shaft. And uses it compression to be disengaged.

Clutch lever & Cable:

The steel cable is used for connecting the lever with the clutch assembly. Usually this lever is attached on the left side of the handle of bike.

Set ring:

It is actually the lock ring that is used to lock down the all the plates in the clutch outer.

How clutch works?

Under normal circumstances clutch is in engaging condition. Whenever the rider presses the lever of the clutch it compresses the springs which causes the pressure plate to expand and thus the disk friction plates gets separated from the clutch plates so the driving and driven shafts rotates at different speeds and at the same time rider had to change the gear (up or down) and will release the clutch lever. The time between disengaging and engaging of clutch with main or driveline shaft must be as small as possible when you are riding at high speed means you have to change the gears with in very small time.  This shifting with in smallest possible time is called the perfect shifting of gears.

Types of clutch:

There are following two types of clutches:

1.     Wet clutch

2.     Dry clutch

Wet clutch:

As the name indicates in this type of clutch the oil is circulated in its assembly i.e. the whole clutch is packed with engine assembly and oil is used for lubrication. Generally tacking almost all the bikes uses this type of clutches.

Dry clutch:

This is the one which as kept away from the oil. And this clutch assembly is outside of the engine case. The connecting points are sealed so that there is no chance for oil to get in to it.

                                                                                        Muhammad Umair Akram

                                                                                        IM-079 (2012-2013)

                                                                                        Director: MMR-SME NED

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