Prototyping
Vacuum Cleaner Nozzle
The vacuum cleaner nozzle is a connector that can be used underwater. This vacuum cleaner is designed to suction stainless steel chips that occur during an underwater processing operation, preventing the chips from falling into the water bath. We begin with the design of the model, testing various variations through flow simulations to achieve the optimal model that meets the requirements. One of the design requirements for this specific project is that the nozzle, with an average suction rate of 25 m³/h, must be capable of suctioning both large and small chips, while considering a maximum fall speed of 0.2 m/s.
For the flow analysis, we explored different options by varying the dimensions of the nozzle opening. The results were compiled into a technical report. Ultimately, we obtained a favorable model with a suction speed of approximately 4.5 m/s of water around the processing area and a chip fall speed of 0.2 m/s, making it possible to suction the chips.
Due to the complexity of the part, we first created a prototype using a 3D printer. This allowed us to test the entire assembly. We adjusted the model from the flow simulation externally to ensure it was printable and added external components to facilitate the mounting of the nozzle within the assembly.