1. Ultrasonic Mixer b Members: Lihong Xu arthur@udel.edu »Moshe Solomon moshe@udel.edu »Joanna Pirnot 90620@udel.edu »Katie Kaser katie@udel.edu Mission: Design a system incorporating a suitable non-mechanical device for homogenizing powder injection molding feedstocks into relatively high viscosity liquids, by April 1999 Customer: Fraunhofer Advisor: Dr. Keefe Approach: Use the Engineering method, and identify wants and constraints, to select the best concept to complete our mission

2. b Introduction and Background - Katie Kaser b Benchmarking (Mechanical Mixer) - Joanna Pirnot b Benchmarking (Ultrasonic Mixer) - Lihong Xu b Schedule and Budget - Moshe Solomon

3. Powder Injection Molding (PIM) Metal or ceramic powder Polymer matrix Wetting agent PIM Feedstock

4. Importance of Quality Mixing Non-uniform Distribution Removal of Polymer Voids or defects

5. Current Situation b Mechanical Mixers b Mixing Difficult b Wear and tear

6. Innovation... Ultrasonic Energy Source Ultrasonic products out there

7. Benchmarking b Mechanical Mixers b Ultrasonic Mixers

8. Mechanical Mixer b Advantages Produce homogenous PIM feedstockProduce homogenous PIM feedstock TemperatureTemperature Material introduction and extractionMaterial introduction and extraction SensorsSensors

9. Mechanical Mixer b Disadvantages MaintenanceMaintenance CostCost SizeSize

10. Ultrasonic Mixer b Probe or horn How they workHow they work Things to considerThings to consider

11. Ultrasonic Mixers on the Market b Sonolator - Sonic Corp. (Stratford, CT) b Near Field Acoustical Processor –Advanced Sonic Processing Systems (Oxford, CT)

12. Principle of the Mixers b Sonolator b Near Field Acoustical Processor

13. Advantages b Low Initial Investment b Low Operation Cost High EfficiencyHigh Efficiency Low maintenanceLow maintenance Easy cleaningEasy cleaning b No Cross Contamination b Precise performance

14. Disadvantages b Viscosity Range b Temperature Range

15. SENIOR DESIGN SCHEDULE 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 S E P T E M B E RO C T O B E R BENCHMARKING Contact Manufacture Ultrasonic Mixers Mechanical Mixers Contact Ultra Consultants Contact People in industry FIRST MEETINGS Define Project Collected list of Wants Saw Existing Equipment Introduced to the Process PROPOSAL Written Report Presentation BRAINSTORM Process Energy Requirements Research Ultrasonic Equipment Mobile/Stationary Contamination Maintenance Operation Detail Volume Wants/Constraints Existing Mixer Lab Access MEETING WITH CUSTOMER ESTABLISH METRICS PROGRESS REVIEW