Concept development of a compression molding machine for biocomposite materials

Sammanfattning

The growing concern with the environmental impacts of disposable products has placed an emphasis on ensuring the sustainability of material systems. A shift in the selection of material can decrease the negative effects of disposable products. One class of materials with good credentials is biocomposite materials, a material partly consisting of biodegradable products. In this thesis project a compression molding machine suitable for the pressing of biocomposite materials are developed for the start-up Trash to Gold. The start up is in a early process of developing compression molding machine. As of now they use a modified workshop press to test out the pressing of to-go coffee cups made out of biodegradable a biocomposite material partly consisting of coffee grounds. The current press is not optimised for their expected customer group and it is therefore appropriate to develop a new one. The aim of this thesis project is to assist Trash to Gold in their development of a compression molding machine, suitable for upcycling biodegradable waste into disposable products. The objective of this thesis project is to develop a concept of a compression molding machine that can be used to print to-go coffee cups partly made of coffee grounds. The concept to be developed will be for a press that weighs less and has smaller dimensions than the current one to suit the target group. The product development methodology of the project is based on Ulrich and Eppinger’s book ”Product Design and Development”. Some of the approaches used from book are modified for better application on the project. The project also includes digital and theoretical tools to determine if the concept can withstand the pressure generated when the machine is in use. The result of the thesis project is a concept of a compression molding machine that meet requirements given by the start up. Suitable parts for the basic structure of the compression molding machine is presented such as how the pressing function will occur and the outer frame with where the different components will sit. The resulting concept is smaller and more light weight compared to the current machine.