Introduction

In the image, a scheme design of a mechanical drive system mounted on a fabrication is shown. Although rudimentary, it is indicative of a typical design produced at Cyclife Aquila Nuclear (CAN).

System Specification

An electric motor is mounted to a fabricated mild steel table via a bracket and fasteners. The table consists of a fabricated frame, made up of equal angle lengths with a steel plate top and is fabricated together using conventional techniques. The motor drives a shaft, mounted on bearings at 40 RPM. A COTS gearbox transmits drive from the shaft to a leadscrew, mounted on bearings. Not yet shown in the design is a precision carriage system that is driven up and down its length using a lead nut running on the lead screw. An interface is required between the carriage system and the lead nut but has not yet been designed. The carriage system will be selected from this range. The carriage system must be set within 2° of the horizontal plane.

The system has a design life of 10 years, with a duty of 2 hours of continuous operation, 365 days a year. It will be installed indoors and will operate at ambient room temperatures. It will be installed into a workshop type area.

At this stage, exact dimensions have not been defined, but to provide a sense of scale, the table fabrication is 1200mm long, 500mm wide and 1000mm high.

Activity Brief

The above design needs to be developed into detail design i.e. complete for engineering drawings to be produced to allow manufacture and procurement.
Based on the information provided, review the scheme design and present the areas you believe require further design development to ensure the system can achieve the following requirements:

• Can be manufactured cost effectively
• Simple to build and set to work
• Meets all the requirements of the System Specification
The following areas must be considered, but the list is not exhaustive.
• Drive system alignment
• Drive system component interfaces
• Management of manufacturing tolerances
• Site setup

Your findings shall be presented within a maximum 15-minute period, using whatever tools you prefer i.e. PowerPoint, verbal, bullet points.

We are not interested in your presentation method but rather your engineering capability.