Activity6.4Product Disassembly

Introduction

Have you ever wondered how a product functions or what causes it to fail? Why can some products withstand extreme conditions and others cannot? Understanding how a product is made is not easy to determine by simply looking at a product. A technique used by many engineers is to disassemble a product to learn more about how it works and what makes it not work in some situations.Disassembly is a major step in the reverse engineering process.

During this activity you will disassemble your product to investigate vital product characteristics andtest your hypothesis as to the operation of the product.You will also investigate the structural composition of the product. During the disassembly process, you will research and document your findings using careful measurements, sketches, and notes. The information you record will help you in the next activity which will include 3D modeling, analysis, and redesign of your chosen product.

Equipment

  • Engineering notebook
  • Pencil
  • Consumer product
  • Storage container for parts
  • Hand tools necessary to disassemble product
  • Graph and isometric grid paper
  • Product Disassembly Chart
  • Materials Usages Chart

Procedure

Carefully disassemble your product and identify each part by name, quantity, size, function, material, finish, interaction of parts, and general notes using the Product Disassembly Chart to record your work.

  1. Create pictorial sketches, as necessary, to communicate the internal operation of the product.
  2. Carefully measure each part using appropriate measuring devices.
  3. Create annotated sketches of each part including an isometric pictorial (at least) and orthographic projections(as necessary) to detail the part with dimensions, material, and other characteristics.
  4. Compare your hypothesis of the operation and function of your product to its actual operation. Document your findings.

Use resources available to you, such as the Internet, to help explain how your product operates.

How Stuff Works URL:

The New Way Things Work by David Macaulay

  1. Complete the Product Disassembly Chart to detail important aspects of each part.

Sample Annotated Sketch of Part Documentation

The following is an example of a part documentation using an isometric sketch with annotated notes of fillet, hole location, materials, finish part location, and interactive parts.

Reference Sources

Material usage charts may be found in your textbook:

Hutchinson, J. & Karsnitz, J. R. (1997). Design and problem solving in technology. NY: Glencoe McGraw-Hill.

Conclusion

  1. Describe the process of reverse engineering.
  1. How did the process of disassembling the product aid you in understanding how the product works?
  1. What is the intended consumer use forthis product?
  1. How does your product function?
  1. Was your prediction as to how the product operates accurate?
  1. What parts would you redesign? Why?

Project Lead The Way, Inc. ● Copyright 2012 ● IED – Activity 6.4 Product Disassembly– Page 1