Problem
MS, a company in France, a leader with 40 years of experience in the metal industries, underground works, and water treatment projects, is looking for a low-cost and efficient design for a clamping system for fluid control units. Designers, industrial engineers, and mechanical design and production engineers are invited to submit their designs for a chance to win €800 for the best design as a starting point for collaboration. Please read the challenge for more details!
Challenge background
MS is a company based in Viri-Monton, France, with 40 years of experience in designing, manufacturing, and installing reliable and efficient solutions for separating fluids/solids used worldwide in metal industries, underground works, and water treatment projects. The company uses fluid control units to measure the sedimentation rate in contaminated water using optical cells. The current system works well; however, its manufacturing process does not allow for an industrial supply chain as it consists of a clamp modified by the company’s workshop.
Requirements and Constraints
Design of a clamping system for fluid control, used to determine fluid properties. This system consists of a glass tube (vertical position), a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) cap, a natural rubber gasket, and a level sensor. The system must prevent any leakage between the glass tube and the cap by tightly sealing the cap onto the tube. It must also allow the tube to be released sufficiently for removal when the cap is opened.
The proposed solutions must meet the following requirements:
● Easy to use
● Low cost (around €30)
● Corrosion resistant (humid environment)
● Clamping force: 100 N
● Assembly/disassembly time: <10 seconds
● Ability to hold different tube sizes
Additional information:
● Standard tube size:
○ Outer diameter: 90 mm
○ Thickness: 2.5 mm
○ Length: 300 mm
● Pressure inside the tube: +/- 0.1 bar
● Assembly/disassembly frequency: 1–2 times per day
Expected Deliverables
Submit the solution before the deadline: November 17, 11:59 EST. The solution must include:
● A clear design and its features by attaching JPG / PDF / DXF files of the design
● Material selection for each part
● Estimated total cost of the design
During the evaluation phase, you may receive questions regarding the submitted solution for clarification, if necessary.
The best design will be selected for an open-source contract, after which the winner must deliver the following files within the period specified in the contract for each part of their design:
● Complete DXF files
● Production/workshop drawings
● Manufacturing steps
Deadline & Reward
Ends
All submissions must be completed by Monday, November 18, 2019 at 12:00 AM. Late entries may not be considered.
The winner will receive a reward of €800 according to the following conditions:
The solution must meet the above-mentioned criteria:
● The solution must include a clear work plan, including implementation phases, timeline, required tools/materials, estimated budget, and required technical support (if any)
● The reward will be granted in installments, according to the milestones of the work plan set by the innovators
● According to our terms and conditions, if intellectual property rights are not registered, the innovator must include the minimum necessary details to assess the technical validity and feasibility of the solution, without providing full technical specifications
You can submit a solution at any time. Before doing so, it is strongly recommended to read the rules and FAQs.