Valmet is a world leading company in the pulp-, paper- and energy industry and is a manufacturer of e.g. paper machines. These paper machines are largely composed of steel frames for which beams and plates are often joined by welding. In order to evaluate the structural integrity of welded components both static and cyclic evaluations of these components are performed. At Valmet the stress in the weld can be determined in different ways, usually an Excel program is used which determines the stresses in the weld by analytical means. For a more complicated geometry a FEA approach is more suitable. The FEA modelling can be done in several ways, the geometry of the structure can be divided into several or one body. Dividing the geometry into separate bodies simplifies the meshing procedure, but the separate bodies have to be joined using contacts. Different boundary conditions can also be considered during modelling e.g. placing a fixed support at the plate face or at the face of the screw holes in the plate. For structures affected by static loads the stress is determined in the smallest nominal area of the weld i.e. the weld throat. For fillet welds, crack propagation mainly occurs at the weld toe or the weld root. The geometry of the weld imposes problems for determining the stress due to the stress concentration present, but methods have been developed to solve this problem. The hot spot method and the effective notch method are two of these methods. By the use of fatigue classes and calculated stresses the fatigue life of the component can be determined. Two different models have been developed in order to perform static and fatigue analysis for which stress and fatigue life has been determined for different modelling variables and evaluation methods. The results from the static FEA show lower stresses compared to the analytical values. Different types of supports did not show a significant influence, but a slight increase in the stress near fixed screw holes was observed. Modelling using separate bodies did not show a large effect on the results except when using the MPC contact formulation for which stresses were slightly larger compared to the reference model. Evaluating using the effective notch method yielded longer fatigue life compared to the hot spot method. When the weld was not explicitly modelled significantly longer fatigue lives were observed, this is not recommended since this most likely overestimates the fatigue life. Similarly in this case the MPC formulation generally showed a some what larger stress and therefor the shortest fatigue life. It was however observed that in this test the compression only support did yield a significantly larger fatigue life.

Heating and cooling currently accounts for approximately half of the world’s primary energy consumption. Since the most common technologies used today for generating heat and cooling are heavily contributing to increased emissions, the possibility of converting these technologies into renewable ones needs to be investigated. This study aims to investigate, design, and simulate several solar cooling systems driven by heat generated from concentrating solar collectors. Research was mainly executed through literature studies. Mapping of the influencing factors for solar cooling systems has also been carried out. The identified essential influencing factors were selection of components, application area and geographical positioning.  Main components of solar cooling systems were thoroughly described in the theory chapter and a practical application was chosen to exemplify how solar cooling systems can be designed for different geographical regions. Simulations with the designed systems were performed through the software PISTACHE in order to study different systems performance. Discoveries made through simulations showed that double effect absorption pumps tended to be more beneficial in sunnier regions whilst single effect absorption pumps showed opposite results, at least from a performance standpoint. Furthermore, performance seemed to decline in less sunny regions which meant that more solar collectors were required to meet the given cooling demand. One major conclusion that could be drawn was that solar cooling systems equipped with parabolic troughs more beneficially could be implemented in regions with approximate levels of direct normal irradiance above 2200 kWh/m2 per year.

Den här rapporten beskriver ett examensarbete inom integrerad produktutveckling vid Högskolan i Skövde. Projektet har drivits i samarbete med Furhoffs Rostfria i Skövde. Rapporten behandlar genomförande av projektet samt beskriver metodiken och processen som använts för att uppnå förväntat resultat. Uppdraget innebär utveckling av en utslagsplats med rengöringsfunktion anpassad för användning i vårdmiljö. Den existerande produkten ingår i ett äldre produktsortiment och uppfyller inte dagens hygienkrav för vårdlokaler. Produktutvecklingsprocessen följer en kombination av två olika designprocesser som gav en möjlighet att generera idéer parallellt med uppstarten av projektet vilket sedan övergår till en kontinuerlig iteration av prototyper. Projektet började med förstudie genom att kartlägga användningen av den befintliga produkten. Förstudien gjordes genom en fältstudie tillsammans med skriftliga intervjuer samt litteraturstudie. Konceptgenereringen utförs i två steg med tillhörande konceptval. Tester utgör ett viktigt underlag både till divergenta och konvergenta faser. Furhoffs bistår med tillverkning av prototyper under arbetets gång. Det slutgiltiga konceptet presenteras i form av en fungerande prototyp, ritningar på koncept som helhet samt konstruktion av de viktigaste detaljlösningarna. / This report describes a degree project in integrated product development at the University of Skövde. The project has been run in collaboration with Furhoffs Rostfria AB in Skövde. The report deals with the implementation of the project, the methodology and the process used to achieve expected results. The assignment was to develop a sluice sink with a cleaning function adapted to hospital environment. The product is part of an older product range and is not marketed by Furhoffs but is rather sold after the customer requests the product. Today, the hygiene requirements in hospitals have become stricter and the product does not always meet the hygiene requirements, which is why the product needs updating. The product development process follows a combination of two different design processes that provided an opportunity to generate ideas in parallel with the start-up of the project, which then went on to a continuous iteration of prototypes. The project began with a preliminary study by mapping the use of the existing product. The preliminary study was done through a field study together with written interviews and literature study. The concept generation was made in two phases with a concept selection with each phase. Physical tests provide an important basis for both divergent and convergent phases. Furhoffs provide with the manufacturing of prototypes during the project. The final concept presents in form of a functioning prototype, blueprints on the concept and construction of the most important detail solutions.

The aim and goal with this report is to investigate the possibility to replace a hydraulic cylinder system on a foldable snowplow with an electric alternative. More environmentally friendly and non-hydraulic solutions have increased in demand over the years, even in applications for large and heavy machines. Holms Industry in Motala aim to produce a foldable snowplow which only uses electric components, so the aim of the thesis is to design a system that can replace a hydraulic cylinder system and to identify and explain any challenges with the process. The process follows a typical product design process that starts with analyzing the current snowplow, gathering and identifying customer requirements. This is followed up by generating ideas and concepts based on the ideas and requirements, detailed design of the most promising concept. Lastly FEM, life cycle and cost analysis are performed to investigate and verify the properties of the final concept. The final concept that was developed consists of an electric linear actuator that provides the required linear movement to move the snowplow blades and an external shock absorption system which utilizes a set of small and large dye springs to absorb the shock loads applied to the snowplow when it hits hidden object in the snow while clearing snow. The conclusions of the project is that the developed final concept is considered to prove that it is possible to replace the hydraulic system with a fully electric system and it also highlights the main challenges with developing such a system, where the main challenge was to develop an external mechanical shock absorption system. The external shock absorption system has some limitations, such as stroke length and load capacity, and the linear actuator requires some improvements, such as higher stroke speed to be viable for implementation on the snowplow. Lastly it is suggested for future work to first perform a field study to gather real data about shock loads as it is very hard to calculate such loads and lastly to focus on creating a linear actuator with an integrated shock absorbing system inside the actuator itself. This would allow for a properly dimensioned, smaller, lighter and in general more efficient product.

When lifting unbalanced objects with a crane or other lifting equipment it can be hard to getthe object leveled. This is dealt with in ways which often rely on experienced workers and can bedangerous as well as time consuming. A remote leveling lifting yoke (LLY) can be a solution to thisproblem, there are currently only one such product available capable of lifting up to 20 tonnes calledL20. The L20 is however rather large and not practical for smaller lifts or lifting equipment. Thisreport investigates weather a smaller version of L20 is needed and how it should function. By usingmodern product development techniques a few concepts to a new LLY was presented. The conceptsare based on the fundamental working principles of the existing L20, that is being battery poweredand leveling the load by a chain with its two ends connected to the lifted object driven by a chainwheel. The main challenge during the concept development was to gure out a brake function whichwould prevent the driving mechanism from being overloaded in the event of an unexpected load shift.Another challenge was to try to implement a freewheel function which would enable the chain wheelto spin freely making it possible to adjust the chains by hand. From the prestudy it was seen thatin order to make this new LLY unique, the remote controlled function would be the main thingsetting it apart from alternatives on the market. The freewheel ability was also not seen amongst thecompetitor products.The most promising concept turned out to be a worm gear drive system since they are inherentlyself locking thus solving the brake problem as well as eliminating the need for much of the gearreduction. However no easy way of adding a freewheel ability with this system was found but this isintended to be worked around by adding a high speed gear used when fast changes need to be made.

This paper presents the analysis of the vibrations created in a tooling during a drilling operation, by using indexable drills and how each variable affect in its reduction. It also shows a new design for the used tooling with the different aspects it offers. The objective followed during the development was to reduce the vibrations of the system below 5 μm, and therefore, make the process safer for the inserts and better for the tolerances and accuracy. The used method was to first study the drilling process and identify all the variables affecting to the system. Then, the analysis of the vibrations and the mass influence have been done, to continue with the possibility of adding a rubber platform, to finally, study the option of changing the transducer. Also, the design and dimensioning of the new tooling has been done. The key results of these analysis were that the mass and the rubber platform have not any influence on the vibration reduction because of the domain of the stiffness. So, changing the transducer is the only option to reduce the vibration with any tooling.

As people strive to live more sustainable due to the change in climate, product developers need to adapt and create new and more sustainable solutions. In the car industry, companies work to minimize weight and adjust material selection in the cars to reduce emissions. The goal of this project was to find a new solution, in aspects of cost, weight and size, for fixating the hood on Lynk & Co's Model 01 on behalf of CEVT to create a more sustainable vehicle.By using proven and recognized product development tools throughout the product development process, a new concept for fixing the hood could be evolved. This concept was then analyzed with regard to the developed requirements specification to ensure a good result. In this part, the finite element method and hand calculations were mainly used to analyze stresses in the material.The result of the work was thus a proposal on how hoods for electric cars could be fixed in the future. The concept consists of a hood that is held in place with the help of four hooks and which, when serviced, is held parallel to the engine compartment with the help of two struts. The concept also includes suggestions on locking mechanisms to limit the access for unauthorized users. This to ensure that the engine is only handled by qualified personnel and therefore reduces wear. Throughout the whole project, focus has been on sustainable development. The results has been analyzed and compared to the existing model with this in mind.

This report is a thesis work for a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Karlstad University. More than 8.5 million people in the world are deaf but unable to get cochlear implants. It has been shown that by the use of actuators that stimulate the skin nerves in different patterns, people can learn to feel the sound on their skin. Invencon AB has developed a actuator concept that uses an electromagnetic actuator with a moving permanent magnet. The problem with this concept is that it locks itself in its upper position due to the permanent magnets around it. The aim of this project was to develop a new actuator concept without the problem of locking-up by starting from the beginning through a systematic product development process. Through research of actuator technology, dividing the project into phases and tasks used in the industry and methods presented in literature such as systematic and creative concept generation, a product development project was made on a product with the main function of imprinting the skin in recognizable patterns. It resulted in an actuator concept similar but different to the existing concept. The resulting concept solved the problem presented by utilizing a moving coil instead of a moving permanent magnet. A 3D model was made and a prototype was 3D printed and tested. Future work includes designing a suitable spring, a research on how wire management should be done, how to minimize the environmental impact from transport, if there are any hazardous substances during elimination and if the income from recycled material can be greater than the elimination cost. / Denna rapport är ett examensarbete för civilingenjörsexamen i maskinteknik vid Karlstads universitet. Mer än 8,5 miljoner människor i världen är döva men är olämpliga för cochleaimplantat. Det har visats att användningen av aktuatorer som stimulerar hudnerverna i olika mönster kan lära människor att känna och lära sig ljudet på huden. Invencon AB har utvecklat ett aktuator koncept som använder sig utav en elektromagnetiskt aktuator med en rörlig permanent magnet. Problemet med detta koncept är att det låser sig i sitt övre läge på grund av de omringande permanenta magneternas påverkan. Syftet med detta projekt var att utveckla ett nytt aktuatorkoncept som inte fastnar i sitt övre läge genom att tillämpa systematisk produktutvecklings-process. Genom undersökandet av nuvarande aktuator teknologi, uppdelning av projektet i faser och uppgifter som används i branschen och metoder som presenteras i litteratur, såsom systematisk och kreativ konceptgenerering, gjordes ett produktutvecklingsprojekt på en produkt med huvudfunktionen att trycka på huden i igenkännbara mönster. Det resulterade i ett aktuatorkoncept som liknar men skiljer sig från det befintliga konceptet. Det resulterande konceptet löste problemet som presenterades genom att använda en rörlig spole i stället för en rörlig permanent magnet. En 3D-modell och sedan en prototyp framställdes och testades. Framtida arbete inkluderar utformningen av en lämplig fjäder, en undersökning om hur koppartråden bör hanteras, hur man minimerar miljöpåverkan från transport på produkten, undersöka om det finns några farliga ämnen under elimineringen av produkten och om intäkterna från återvunnet material kan vara större än elimineringskostnaden.

A general aim among manufacturing companies is to create a high value for the customer by using few resources and gain profit as a result. Tools and methods from Lean can be used for streamlining the production in order to achieve a resource-effective, flexible, and fast production process. An earlier study has shown that productivity increased by 37% when Lean tools were applied. The aim of Lean is to have a continuous value stream by eliminating waste that does not add any value to the customer. The value stream refers to the processing steps a product passes through from the moment a customer places an order until the finished product whose purpose is being fulfilled. Waste in terms of transportation, inventory, wait, defects in products, and more impairs the flow efficiency. The choice of production layout has an impact on the grade of flow efficiency. Making a suitable placement of machines, inventory areas, shipment positions, and workstations can minimize the number of waste occurrences hence benefit a continuous value stream. The purpose of this study is to design a suitable layout for a newly started manufacturing company. The company does not have a current production facility as its enterprise development is in the start-up phase. The layout is designed for the future production facility that is under planning. The goal is to design a layout with minimal waste occurrences that benefit a continuous value stream. The study is based on literature and data collections. The literature studies include Lean and production systems as the main field. Relevant data were collected through interviews and study visits at similar manufacturing companies around Värmland. The value stream regarding the company will be described through a visual map. This is done by using value stream mapping as a tool from Lean. Various layouts that are considered to be in alignment with the value stream will be designed and discussed. One of these layouts is chosen as being the most appropriate. The results presented a layout and a value stream map with regard to the company’s production process. These were based on a predictable volume of two similar products that were expected to be sold during the first production year. Three scenarios of different production schemes with regard to the presented layout was presented. One production schemed was proved to be the most resource-efficient. This was proved by calculations of machine capacity, the timeframe for production, and customer request. Furthermore, a value stream map of a future workshop and business state was presented. The value stream map provided a comprehensive control over the value stream. However, some data could not be provided. The starting point of this was considered to be unique as there was no current value stream to analyze or judge. Several assumptions, estimations, and simplifications for a future state were, therefore, taken. The presented conclusion of the study was that the layout was designed according to the required manufacturing processing steps. Waste risks were assumed to be low in the presented layout due to a suitable placement of machines, inventory areas, and workstations. Space, material handling, and transportations were being held low hence benefit a continuous value stream. The layout was assumed to be in alignment with the value stream. Recommendations for future work were to make simulations of different layouts before any implementations take place. The value stream map was obtained for future work in order to distinguish value-added and non-value-added activities by adding process data.

Vid BVT Sweden i Karlstad och Säffle säljs, utvecklas och tillverkas högtrycksventiler av olika varianter för kraftverk och till processindustrin. Ventilerna är av större format och tillverkas mot kundbeställning i mindre batcher. För att på ett snabbare sätt kunna skapa en CAD-modell och sammanställningsritning med ventilens viktigaste mått, samt en uppskattning av dess vikt, skapades i detta examensarbete en CAD-konfigurator. Målet för examensarbetet var att skapa en CAD-konfigurator för generering av en 3D-modell samt ritning av ventilen BVT-TB med uppskattning av vikt, detta i syfte att fungera som ett säljverktyg. Denna rapport innehåller bakgrund om ventilen BVT-TB och dess användningsområden, en teoridel om produktkonfiguratorer och dess användningsområden, verktyg för att skapa en sådan samt vanligtvis uppstådda problem vid skapandet av denna. Den innehåller även nödvändig bakgrundsinformation om de program som använts under projektet. Under arbetet skapades en CAD-konfigurator för de viktigaste och största komponenterna i ventilen av modell BVT-TB, en högtrycksventil för förbikoppling av ångturbiner. Denna gjordes i Solid Edge 2020 och styrdes av ett Exceldokument där modellens variabler hämtades in och skickades tillbaka och på så vis styrdes.