In industries, three-phase induction motors (TIMs) are crucial elements in production lines. Consequently, faults in these machines are closely linked to huge losses in productivity. Therefore, predictive fault detection methods are valuable tools in this field. Within this framework, the correct installation of the motor is the first step to avoiding flaws. The key procedures are leveling, alignment, and tightening. However, over time, the TIM's fixing bolts can become loose. This phenomenon leads to other types of mechanical failure, damaging the machine. Therefore, this work studied the application of piezoelectric sensors and the Discrete Wavelet Energy Technique (DWET) to identify loose bolts in the base of three-phase induction motors. The four mounting bolts were tested during the experiments, and after the signal processing, they could be individually diagnosed as tight or loose. The fault classification was achieved by using 3D classification maps. The clusters related to each bolt condition were well defined and spatially far from each other. Also, different wavelet levels were tested, and their efficiency was compared through silhouette and precision statistical indexes. Piezoelectric sensors were applied as transducers to acquire the vibration of the motor due to their low cost and availability. Several experiments were carried out with different conditions to ensure the efficiency of the proposed system. Finally, the results showed that the new low-cost system successfully diagnosed and classified loose bolts in TIMs.

This paper presents an experimental investigation into the one-dimensional piezoresistive behavior of 3D-printed conductive carbon-fiber polylactic acid (PLA) structural samples. The ability to accurately characterize the piezoresistive properties of such materials is crucial for their application in various fields, including flexible electronics, smart structures, and sensing systems, to name but a few. This study involves the fabrication of carbon-fiber PLA composite samples using a 3D-printing technique and the subsequent testing under different mechanical loading conditions. A comprehensive experimental setup is established to measure the electrical resistance changes in the samples corresponding to applied strain. The obtained data are analyzed to determine the piezoresistive coefficients and investigate the linearity and repeatability of the material's response. The results reveal a clear relationship between the applied strain and the resistance change, demonstrating the piezoresistive behavior of the 3D-printed conductive carbon-fiber PLA structural samples. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the material's sensing capabilities and pave the way for its utilization in various applications requiring strain sensing and structural health monitoring. Further research is warranted to optimize the fabrication process, investigate the effects of different printing parameters, and explore the material's potential for integration in advanced sensing systems and smart structures in various operating scenarios.

The automation of textile handling processes poses significant challenges due to the complex nature of textile materials. This paper presents the concept and preliminary design of a novel mechatronic robotic gripper prototype specifically developed for textile handling tasks. The proposed gripper leverages the advantages of 3D printing technology, enabling the fabrication of intricate and customizable structures with high precision. The gripper incorporates a combination of soft and rigid materials to ensure gentle yet firm grasping of textiles, while also providing adaptability to different fabric types. The design integrates sensing and actuation components to enable intelligent gripping and manipulation of textiles, thereby enhancing automation capabilities. This paper details the design considerations, mechanical and electrical components, and the control system architecture of the gripper prototype. Preliminary experimental results demonstrate the gripper's capability to handle various textile materials effectively, with promising performance in terms of accuracy, stability, and reliability. The proposed 3D-printed mechatronic robotic gripper prototype represents a significant advancement in textile handling automation, offering potential applications in industries such as apparel manufacturing, logistics, and household textiles. Further research is warranted to optimize the gripper's design, control algorithms, and scalability to meet the diverse requirements of textile handling automation systems for various operating scenarios.

This paper presents the nonlinear spring design of a vibration isolator using a geared parallel mechanism. The proposed vibration isolator consists of six identical legs, each made of two straight links connected via two orthogonal springs. The main advantages of this vibration isolator are that it can provide a large stroke and a wide range of applied payloads, making it appropriate for most industrial applications. The link and spring parameters of the mechanism are determined through an analytical approach based on dynamic equations. In this work, the design concept, modeling, analysis, and numerical examples are presented in detail. Through the numerical investigation, it was found that the amplitude of an input signal can be nearly canceled with the spring design over a wide range of frequencies from zero to infinity. When the base is excited with acceleration, the moving platform of the vibration isolator obtains a much smaller value of acceleration as compared to that of the base. The obtained result demonstrates the effectiveness of the signal isolation of the proposed spring design. Moreover, this work also investigates the effect of the input parameters of the isolator, which allows us to find the optimal parameters for the vibration isolator to achieve the best performance.

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is an effective method of generating highly customized products by adding materials layer by layer to produce the entire item as a single unit, regardless of complexity. AM technology has transformed product design and production by providing unparalleled flexibility and efficiency in creating intricate shapes. By thoroughly examining the existing literature, this study explores how AM supports ergonomic product design. This work explores the benefits of AM in tailoring items to meet the specific requirements of individual users, thereby enhancing comfort, safety, and functionality. This article examines how AM intersects with ergonomic product design, emphasizing its ability to transform conventional design principles and improve user experience.

Further, thisresearch also examines the current issues and obstacles encountered by the personnel on the shop floor because of the need for more individual customization. AM technology may provide personalized equipment that is ergonomically tailored to each user. This study emphasizes the significance of human-centered design techniques and AM technologies to guarantee the smooth integration of ergonomic concepts into product development. This research highlights the obstacles and restrictions related to using AM in ergonomic product design, such as material limits, process constraints, and scalability concerns.

In conclusion, this research proposes reassessing the boundaries of AM technology in the field of ergonomic product design. Designers may employ AM methods to expand creativity and develop visually appealing and ergonomically optimized items for improved user experience and comfort. This research offers guidance for the advancement of AM technology in the field of ergonomics.

Robotics stands as a pivotal force shaping the future of our society, revolutionizing industries from healthcare and manufacturing to transportation and exploration. While serial anthropomorphic robots dominate the industrial landscape, parallel Delta robots have long occupied a niche position, renowned for their exceptional speed, precision, and mechanical simplicity. Now, with the transformative power of additive manufacturing (AM) and 3D printing, the field of mechatronics is poised for unprecedented innovation. AM liberates design constraints, allowing greater complexity in geometry and the seamless integration of diverse materials, all while maintaining production accessibility. These advancements address a multitude of intricate engineering challenges, unlocking solutions that were once restricted by traditional design and manufacturing limitations. This work delves into the kinematics modeling and accuracy analysis of the Oscar family, a series of cost-effective, 3D-printed Delta robots. It presents a comprehensive examination of both forward and inverse kinematics modeling techniques, assessing the efficacy of the methodologies employed. Furthermore, this study will explore how subtle changes in design parameters impact the robot's positional accuracy throughout its workspace. By carefully analyzing these relationships, we can gain valuable insights that will guide the development of future Delta robots, pushing the boundaries of performance and affordability within this exciting field.

The focus of this study is to examine the effect of fundamental pocket geometries of a cylindrical roller bearing (CRB) cage on its lubrication and friction performance. Lubrication in bearings presents an interesting tradeoff, with excessive lubrication resulting in high friction and fluid drag, while poor lubrication inherently results in wear and component damage. Three cage pockets of varying conformity with the roller were investigated to determine pocket friction due to fluid shear as well as lubricant availability within the pocket. A custom Bearing Cage Friction Test Rig (BCFTR) was utilized to isolate a single roller within a cage pocket geometry. The BCFTR was configured with a 6-axis load cell to accurately measure friction developed between the roller and pocket, while the roller speed was controlled through a precise servo motor. A lubricant sealing enclosure was installed around the roller to control the lubricant fill condition during testing. The enclosure was designed to include swappable, transparent cage inserts with adjustable roller pocket clearances. Testing was conducted for a range of roller speeds, pocket clearances, and lubricant fill conditions, and a high-speed camera was used to capture lubricant flow within the roller–pocket gap. A multiphase computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was developed for an equivalent geometry, matching the range of test conditions. The robust model was able to accurately predict both the experimentally measured pocket friction and the imaging of the pocket lubrication state. Through the study, cage pocket conformity was determined to have a prominent effect. Reducing pocket conformity aids in minimizing pocket friction. However, the larger pocket inlet and outlet zones resulting from a low-conformity design promote high recirculation, which generates aeration within the lubricant. Furthermore, a low-conformity pocket design faces challenges in retaining the lubricant in the roller–pocket contact.

Hydraulic braking systems prevail as the most popular type of modernized braking application. This braking system is most efficient due to the controlled use of braking fluid. Supply line failures and damaged oil tanks deteriorate the functionality of the system, which inherently leads to accidents with a loss of control. This research aims to develop an alternative fluid supply line to the master cylinder for cases of emergency. Advantages such as less space, automated operation, and ease of manufacturing and assembling have been identified as key promoters for this development. A gravitational means of fluid transportation is encouraged. When the master cylinder chamber requires braking fluid, the main fluid reserve supplies theamount needed. With this alternative supply, even if the main supply system fails, the master cylinder will receive enough fluid oil when needed. This system will be helpful in emergencies until drivers can find a repair station to fix the braking system failure. The device was formulated with the minimum number of components necessary, namely, a level sensor, a non-return valve, a reserve tank, and a few fluid lines. The application of a prototype to 25 selected vehicles highlighted that 30% of the samples were able to utilize the fluid management system in an appropriate manner. Its drawbacks include the misalignment of the flow systems and an inadequate supply to ignite the engines. In addressing these limitations, a pump can be incorporated to undermine the issues of reserve tanks. Thus, brake fluid level management rectifies the drawbacks of a conventional setup while minimizing emergencies.

Hydraulically interconnected suspensions have nonlinear stiffness and damping characteristics, which can provide excellent ride comfort. At the same time, a reasonable suspension connection form can improve the handling performance of a vehicle, and they are widely used in mining vehicles. The working environment of a mining dump truck is harsh, which puts forward higher requirements for the suspension system. In order to study the influence of structural parameters on the performance of hydraulic interconnected suspensions, this paper takes an anti-roll hydraulic interconnected suspension of a tri-axle mining truck as the research object and establishes a mechanical–hydraulic coupling model for the whole vehicle by means of the impedance matrix transfer method and system boundary conditions. The suspension performance evaluation functions are obtained by combining the random pavement input matrix, and the sensitive parameters affecting the suspension performance are found using the Morris analysis method. The results show that the vehicle bounce modal is the most sensitive to changes in the suspension structure parameters, followed by the roll modal, and the pitch modal is the least sensitive. The upper and lower cylinder area ratios, the precharge volume, and the pressure of the front axle accumulator have the greatest influence on the performance of the suspension. The results provide a reference for the optimal design of the hydraulic interconnected suspension of a tri-axle heavy vehicle.

The ability to adjust various dynamic properties is facilitated by utilizing vector control methods. In vector control, selecting the appropriate parameters significantly influences not only dynamic parameters but also the ability to detect potential faults in the drive system, considering that the control structure tends to compensate for faults. This study focuses on a comprehensive analysis of the impact of current controller parameters in field-oriented control on fault detection. The main analysis was conducted regarding the identification and characterisation of potential faults in permanent magnet synchronous motors, including demagnetization and short circuits, which affect machine operation parameters. The presented research includes an assessment of the controller's bandwidth on the harmonic content present in control signals. This analysis sheds light on the complex relationship between controller parameters and sensitivity to fault detection. The proposed methods and solutions were analyzed both through simulation in co-simulation processes and experimental validation. This research confirms the importance of the proposed fault detection indicators in improving the reliability and effectiveness of fault detection mechanisms in drive systems with permanent magnet motors. The results emphasize the crucial role of current controller parameters in field-oriented control in providing accurate fault detection information. This information can be used as an important resource for teaching neural networks to implement automatic fault detection structures.