AbstractsEngineering

Some successful products are still developed and produced without the benefit of modern design techniques. One such product is a vibratory conveyor that has been developed largely through prototype iteration. The manufacturer has collaborated with Oregon State University to introduce model-based design into the development process. This research details a proposed framework for the reverse engineering of a mature product line. The framework is applied to a vibratory conveyor that is used in processing plants for corn and other raw foods. First, the project's origin and goals are described, followed by an explanation of the reverse engineering based framework used for guiding model selection. Next the selected dynamics model, built from the dynamic properties measured during reverse engineering, is applied and refined to accurately reflect the system's measured performance. Further modeling with finite element analysis, for improving performance and durability of specific components, is also described. This work concludes with the final research outcomes - redesign of fiberglass composite elements within the dynamic system and a set of guiding principles for designing a vibratory system, specifically this manufacturer's line of vibratory equipment.