Week 1: 12/11/2012

Monday 12 November 2012

Day 1
Philip Schillinger, the mechanical engineer at Petec, showed me around the
workshop where they do lathing, welding, milling and grinding amongst other
things. Ive also started to learn how to work on a different 3D CAD program
called Autodesk Inventor. Philip helps me with this as I was struggling a bit with
the basic functions. He also showed me some of the projects that Petec is
currently working on: A Triplex stand; Netstacker; Fish pump (impeller
mechanism) with a Dewatering Screen (which he designed); an Anchor winch
and finally a Table mountain advertising stand. I also received some protective
gear including a hardhat, overalls, safety shoes and a reflective vest.
Tuesday 13 November 2012
Day 2
Still working on Inventor designing a shelf for the store room, used to store
hollow shafts and pipes that are in stock. I am also required to do the annotated
working drawings of the parts and the assembly drawings. I helped Philip
brainstorm concepts for a welding jig used to keep a simple structure in place to
be welded.
Wednesday 14 November 2012
Day 3
Today was given the task of measuring and modelling a hydraulic power pack.
Got very dirty when measuring. Used a Vernier Calliper and a measuring tape to
get the dimensions and Charlie George (Workshop Foreman) checked my
readings. Pictures below will show details of the different parts. The focus was on
the Tank Lid in which holes had to be cut out for the bell housing and the motor.
The customer also wanted to know if the two motors would fit and therefore I had
to calculate the center to center distance between the holes in the lid. I worked
on measurements and modelling for the rest of the day.
Thursday 15 November 2012
Day 4
Im still working on the Hydraulic Power Pack. I rechecked some of the
dimensions of the bell housing to make sure my PCDs were correct. I assembled
the parts and started on both the assembly drawings and the part drawings. We
needed to do some calculations of the maximum force we could apply to a
hollow steel bar supporting a Netstacker. Phillip did the calculation and asked me
to do the calculations separately to check whether his were correct. A lot of
background knowledge about stress calculations and torsion that we learnt in
solids. We also went on to site (I&J Waterfront) onto a boat (Flame Thorn) that
experienced failure on its life boat Davit. It was a very educational experience
and I got to wear my hard hat, Overalls and my Reflective vest.
Friday 16 November 2012
Day 5

I finished the working drawings for both the Hydraulic Power Pack and the Store
shelf, Phillip just needs to check it. He assigned me to walk through the workshop
and note all the safety issues. I also have to compile a list so that a report can be
written to improve safety in the workplace.
Week 2: 19/11/2012
Monday 19 November 2012
Day 6
Philip gave me some old company drawings to convert to 3D models. We also
visited Cape Fabricated Metals where they are producing a sheet metal box
which is used to anchor a billboard which is to be placed on Table Mountain. Also,
the Hydraulic Power pack drawing needed to be altered according to the holes
which they cut in the top plate. He also gave me a problem to think about which
involved me deriving an equation for the thickness of a drum used in a winch.
Wednesday 21 November 2012
Day 7
Phillip gave me a problem to work on which involved calculating and modelling
(on excel) stresses and angles on a bin tipper. Also had to think of a way to
design a crane in which one movement would result in two of the levers moving
at the same time in relation to each other. The stand for Table Mountain is
completed and packaged for transportation to the mountain where it will be the
plaque of the new Seven Wonders of the World. I also modelled two different
motors for use in a power pack system.
Thursday 22 November 2012
Day 8
This morning we had the opportunity to go to a fishing boat called Oceanfresh
for which Petec is designing a Netstacker. We explored the boat and went into
the engine room. Some problems arose when we saw that the funnel was too
long and would result in the netstacker letting the nets stack up at the back of
the drum, creating extra work. We therefore decided to shorten the funnel by
about 1m in length. The boat also had a crane and we saw how they gauge the
weight that the crane can lift. When we returned from the boat, we tried to
model the bin tipper so that its starting position would be at 45 degrees. We
then phoned the customer who just complicated the problem by clarifying that
he not only needed the bin tipper to lower the 2.5tons of waste, but to lift it as
well. Our whole design therefore must be changed in order to accommodate this
requirement.
Friday 23 November 2012
Day 9
Today we just worked on calculations for the bin tipper. The customers change in
requirements changed all of our initial calculations. We called up suppliers asking
if they had stock of the specific pumps and cylinders we needed. We also had to
think about ideas for a redesign of the bin tipper to accommodate all the
requirements and criteria.

Week 3: 26/11/2012
Monday 26 November 2012
Day 10
Phillip and I redesigned the arm of the bin tipper so that it had a kink in it to
allow for a better pulling angle for the cylinders. We then did several attempts at
the calculations. When I rechecked the calculations I picked up on several
mistakes that had been made. We were uncertain if we were able to find a design
that would work, and started to feel a little despondent, when we finally found
one that worked perfectly, just by changing 1 angle. We then did final draughts
of the calculations and phoned suppliers to check if they had something that
would suit our requirements. We completed the drawings and will be sending
them to the customer tomorrow. A finished project well done.
Tuesday 27 November 2012
Day 11
Today we submitted the bin tipper final design and started on a project involving
the design of a braai from a piece of sheet metal that had been bent, supplied by
a big client of Petec. I had to take measurements of the existing pan, model, and
design the braai which is to be used on a boat. I completed this and submitted
the braai drawings to Phillip.
Wednesday 28 November 2012
Day 12
Phillip and I went onto the Oceanfresh again today where we took measurements
inside the control room of the fishing boat. The Chute (silver thing on boat) which
was required to be shortened was also completed and welded when we arrived
on the boat. We took measurements and came back. We also took the material
and drawings to Zeville at Cape Fabricated Metals, in order to have the braai
manufactured, out of the sheet metal.
Thursday 29 November 2012
Day 13
This morning we fetched the Braai from CFM, Had Staff Lunch.
Friday 23 November 2012
Day 14
Today we just worked on calculations for the maximum torque a set of 12 bolts
could undertake without shearing.

Week 4: 03/12/2012
Monday 03 December 2012
Day 10
Philip had me redesign some old drawings which had been piling up on the desk.

Tuesday 04 December 2012

Day 11
Today we submitted the bin tipper final design and started on a project involving
the design of a braai from a piece of sheet metal that had been bent, supplied by
a big client of Petec. I had to take measurements of the existing pan, model, and
design the braai which is to be used on a boat. I completed this and submitted
the braai drawings to Phillip.
Wednesday 05 December 2012
Day 12
Phillip and I went onto the Oceanfresh again today where we took measurements
inside the control room of the fishing boat. The Chute (silver thing on boat) which
was required to be shortened was also completed and welded when we arrived
on the boat. We took measurements and came back. We also took the material
and drawings to Zeville at Cape Fabricated Metals, in order to have the braai
manufactured, out of the sheet metal.
Thursday 06 December 2012
Day 13

Friday 07 December 2012

Day 14