VSRD International Journal of Mechanical, Civil, Automobile and Production Engineering, Vol. V Issue III March 2015 / 1e-ISSN : 2249-8303, p-ISSN : 2319-2208 © VSRD International Journals : www.vsrdjournals.com

RESEARCH COMMUNICATION

EDUCATIONAL MULTIMEDIA ON HYDRAULICS AND PNEUMATICS

1Dipak Vinayak Shirbhate*, 2D.S. Ingole and 3Uday A. Mehare1Research Scholar, 2Professor, 1,2Department of Mechanical Engineering,

PRMIET&R, Amravati, Maharashtra, INDIA.3Head of Department, Department of Mechanical Engineering,

Vikramshila Polytechnic, Darapur, Maharashtra, INDIA.*Corresponding Author’s Email ID: dipakshirbhate@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Mechatronics is widely thought subject in all most all the universities in Mechanical and Production Engineering stream across India. Low cost automation using hydraulics and pneumatic circuit is becoming popular in all sectors of Industry. This paper outlines how the Flash capabilities can be utilized for effective teaching of complex hydraulics and pneumatic circuits which by other means will not be that much effective. The paper also gives emphasis on how the "teaching learning process" can be strengthened by using such new teaching aids for effective teaching. The multimedia is not only useful for college but also to industry which wants to give quality training of hydraulic and pneumatic circuits to their employees.

Keywords: Mechatronics, Machine Tool Control (MTC), Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Multimedia, Flash, CBT (Computer Based Training).

1. INTRODUCTIONMachine Tool Control (MTC) / Mechatronics / Low cost Automation Using Hydraulics and Pneumatics are the subjects that deals with mainly hydraulic and pneumatic circuits, again contain pressure boosters, air compressor and accessories, hydraulic power devices, hydraulic fluids, piping, air filters, regulators and lubricator, directional control valves, flow controls, pressure controls, rotating and non rotating cylinders, pneumatic motors and tools, Rotary hydraulic Motors and Hydraulic transmission, accumulators .

In MTC (Machine Tool Control) we have limited our scope to Hydraulic and Pneumatic circuits. While, studying Hydraulic and Pneumatic circuit theoretically from books, it is difficult while reading because one has to assume the flow of fluid or air in the circuit. The students does not get perfect idea about the circuits, there may be certain doubt in the mind the student. To clear this doubt, we have undertaken Educational Multimedia on MTC which mainly comprise two Dimensional Simulation of Hydraulic and Pneumatic circuits.

Browsing Educational Multimedia: The entire contents are arranged on one auto run CD ROM with pages linked together by hyperlinks for easy navigation form one page to another. Every page is flash page with .swf extension which can be opened in any browser like Internet Explorer, Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Opera. Below is the screenshot of display as soon as CD Rom is inserted into drive. The first screen shows college logo with animated college name title. Tab below “click here to enter” will take user to next page.

Fig. 1: Snapshot showing first page when multimedia is inserted into CD ROM drive

Background music of “sholey theme” is given to first page so as that user can adjust his PC or Laptop volume level to appropriate audio able level.

The second page gives appropriate credits to the developer by displaying thumbnail images of guide, co guide and projectees.

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Fig. 2: Snapshot showing second page showing thumbnails photographs of Guide, Co-Guide and

Projectees

Clicking on “Enter to diagram” will take the user to third page shown as below :

Fig. 3: Snapshot Showing Third Page Which Displays Tabs like Troubleshooting, Sign and Conventions and

Glossary

The pneumatic and hydraulic circuits are classified in separate parts, left portions displays 15 pneumatic circuits when mouse pointer is pointed to it as shown below:

Fig. 4: Snapshot Showing 15 Pneumatic Circuits When Mouse Pointer Pointed To It

The right side displays 11 hydraulic circuits when mouse is pointed to it as shown below :

Fig. 4: Snapshot Showing 11 Hydraulic Circuits When Mouse Pointer Pointed To It

Every number is supported by Text information with short description of the circuit when pointer is pointed to that particular number as shown below:

Dipak Vinayak Shirbhate, D.S. Ingole and Uday A. Mehare VSRDIJMCAPE, Vol. V (III) March 2015 / 3

Fig. 5: Snapshot Showing Change in Color Along With Short Description Of The Circuit Associated

With That Number When Mouse Pointer Pointed To It. For Example Number 14 Is Associated With

Simulation and Description of “Use of Air Valve to Control Main Hydraulic Valve”

Clicking on highlighted number 14 opens the circuit with name “use of air valve to control main hydraulic valve” as shown below :

Fig. 6: Snapshot Showing Schematic Diagram Of Pneumatic Circuit “Use of Air Valve to Control Main

Hydraulic Valve”

Significance of “Start”, “ stop” and “working” tabs : “Start” tab will start simulation of circuit with supported commentary for better understanding. “ Stop” tab will stop simulation but commentary will go on. “Working tab” will take user to written text page description for better understanding as shown below:

Fig. 7: Snapshot Showing Text Description Page Appeared After Clicking On “Working” Tab

“Back tab” will take user again back to previous page exactly similar to internet browsing (Alternately back tab on browser can be used)

“Troubleshooting” Tab: This tab describes troubleshooting with CD-ROM drive:

Fig. 8: Snapshot Showing Display of “Troubleshooting with Cd” Tab

This page mainly describes users query related with troubleshooting with following questions such as “Why diagrams do not open on another PC? Which software should be installed prior to running CD ROM? Etc.

“Sign and Convention” Tab : This describes sign & conversions used in circuits such as Conversion Factors, Fluid Circuit Failures, Standard Symbols For Hydraulic and Pneumatic Components etc.

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Fig. 9: Snapshot Showing Display of Page under “Sign and Convention” Tab

“Glossary” Tab : This tab shows “Glossary of Fluid Power Terms” used as shown below:

Fig. 10: Snapshot Showing Display Of Page Under “Glossary” Tab

2. BENEFITS OF USING MULTIMEDIAOrganizations that use multimedia systems can experience both economic benefits and qualitative benefits. Perhaps the most attractive reasons for using multimedia - and the hardest to assess - are the new business opportunities that may open up. This section

outlines the benefits experienced and expected from the use of multimedia.

3. TRAININGAlthough multimedia systems were initially very expensive to develop, early users of training systems reported overall economic benefits from the use of the technology. Successful organizations need to maintain high levels of staff training and development. Through reductions in the expenses associated with holding conventional training courses, the costs of developing a multimedia training system can be recouped within a few years. These savings in training costs are achieved because: Each course can be used by many more people; Time spent away from the office, including travel

time, can be reduced; Employees can work at their own pace so the average

training time per employee is reduced; Full-time classroom instructors are no longer

required; Expensive demonstrations can be used without

jeopardizing safety.

4. TRAINING USING MULTIMEDIAThe Need for Training: Training in on-the-job technical skills takes place at

or near the workplace. Staff learn how best to use their equipment in order to increase productivity.

Training in on-the-job interpersonal skills takes place at or near the workplace. Staff learns how to communicate, work with others both within & outside the organization.

Open learning covers training away from the working area, in a designated training centre. Staff can work undisturbed and at their own pace.

Training the trainers helps trainers to understand the concepts, technologies and benefits of open and distance learning.

Multimedia in Training:Computers have been used for training employees since the 1970s, using text-based and linear programs. They were followed in the 1980s by courses on interactive videodisks. These early CBT courses were developed to meet the needs of a particular company. Some were developed by in-house teams, while others were commissioned from specialist companies. In either case, a long development process was involved and costs were correspondingly high.

Cost Benefits:Using an interactive multimedia training system in the office will clearly provide significant savings in travel costs as well as reducing the amount of time for which staff are away from their desks.

5. WHY MTC IS FIRST CHOICE FOR MULTIMEDIA?

Machine Tool Control (MTC) is a subject that deals with mainly hydraulic and pneumatic circuits, again contain

Dipak Vinayak Shirbhate, D.S. Ingole and Uday A. Mehare VSRDIJMCAPE, Vol. V (III) March 2015 / 5

pressure boosters, air compressor and accessories, hydraulic power devices, hydraulic fluids, piping, air filters, regulators and lubricator, directional control valves, flow controls, pressure controls, rotating and non rotating cylinders, pneumatic motors and tools, Rotary hydraulic Motors and Hydraulic transmission, accumulators Etc.

In MTC we have only taken the Hydraulic and Pneumatic circuits, because while studying Hydraulic and Pneumatic circuit theoretically from books, it is difficult while reading because one have to assume the flow of fluid or air in the circuit. The students does not get perfect idea about the circuits, there may be certain doubt in the mind the student. To clear this doubt we took MTC (Hydraulic and Pneumatic circuits) for our project with multimedia.

We tried to simulate Hydraulic and pneumatic circuit and with the help of "Flash software” . By this process, we can demonstrate, how the fluid (shown in red color as per convention) enters the circuit with the help of hydraulic pump. How it pushes the fluid upward and how the various control valve operates, how fluid goes into cylinder and perform desired operation as per the circuit design. Red color is used to show flow of hydraulic fluid as per convention.

In pneumatic system, We tried to demonstrate how air from atmosphere collected and compressed? How it is then supplied to filter regulator and lubricator section to perform some operations. How it goes across directional control valves and to cylinder to perform desired action as per the design of circuit. Blue color is used to show flow of air as per international convention.

This multimedia helps user to understand complex hydraulic and pneumatic circuit in more interactive way.

Simulation is an imitation of reality. A children cycling park, with various crossings and signals, is a simulated model of the city traffic system. In the laboratories a number of experiments are performed on simulated models to determine the behavior of the real system in true environments. A simple illustration is the testing of an aircraft model in a wind tunnel from which we determine the performance of the actual aircraft under real operating conditions. Planetariums represent a beautiful simulation of the planet system. Environments in a geological garden and in a museum of natural history are other examples of simulation.

In all these examples, it has been tried to imitate the reality to see what might happen under real operating conditions. This imitation of reality which may be in the physical form or in the form of mathematical equations may be called simulation.

6. WHY ‘FLASH’ IS CHOOSEN AS ANIMATION SOFTWARE?

Macromedia Flash is introduced to draw interactive graphics and animations for web sites. It can be used to create navigation controls, animated logos, and efficient animations with synchronized sound on the web. One can even create a fully fledged web site using Flash with high quality. Due to its vector approach, it takes a very little time to download. Moreover, it also can be scaled to viewer’s size without disturbing the quality of the contents.

Nowadays, lots of web developers are using flash to fascinate their web sites. Many sites have been designed entirely on flash. You can get flash player either with your Internet browser or with your system software. You can even download it from Macromedia's web site (www.macromedia.com) absolutely free. Flash player remains in the local computer and used to play the flash movies whenever you visit a site, which has flash animation. Flash player can also be used as an individual application to play flash animations.

Now, let's try to understand how do you work in flash? Basically, you create a movie in flash by drawing objects with the toolbar provided inside the application or by importing the artwork done in other applications. Then you arrange the components on the stage and animate them using Timeline. You also specify interactivity by making components to respond to certain events and to change in specified ways. When the whole piece is ready, you have to export it as a flash player movie, which can be embedded within an HTML page. And finally, you can transfer the movie along with the HTML page to a web server.

7.7. CONCLUSION In this project we have basically worked only for Hydraulic & Pneumatic circuits.

It is very hard to understand working of Hydraulic & Pneumatic circuits due to complicated arrangement consisting various valves like pilot operated valve, solenoid operated valve, Direction control valve, check valves, flow control valve ....etc.

We by using animation software "Flash" have made these industrial circuits very easy to understand for students and workers. This multimedia shows how these circuit

Dipak Vinayak Shirbhate, D.S. Ingole and Uday A. Mehare VSRDIJMCAPE, Vol. V (III) March 2015 / 6

works & what happens when these complicated valves are operated?

The main objective of this project work is to support theory in classroom to understand subject in better manner.

This educational multimedia can be use to study following subjects: Fluid Power System Low cost Automation using Hydraulics and

Pneumatics Machine Tool Control Mechatronics etc.

Combination of audio, video and text makes this multimedia complete in all aspects.

8. REFERENCES[1] Project work titled “Educational Multimedia on

Hydraulics and Pneumatics” submitted by Mr. Ashish .R. Satao, Mr. Nikhil Kalantri, Mr.Amit Korde,Mr. Ashish Mankar and Mr. Govardhan Kothari under the guidance of Prof. Dipak V. Shirbhate submitted for partial fulfillment bachelor of Production Engineering at Sant Gadgebaba Amravati Unversity.