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Mechanisation
Suggested answers
Activity 1
Suggest two tools that have been used in your industry focus area and explain how mechanisation has effect their design and use over the past thirty years.
There are two sample answers. The first deals with one tool from the Timber Products focus area; the second is from the Metals and Engineering focus area of the syllabus.
The hand drill has evolved into the electric drill. Early hand drills had the handle, drive system and chuck in line with one another. The modern electric drill has the handle at right-angles to the motor and chuck to support the operational procedure. The function has changed from a two-handed operation of holding and turning to a one-handed gripping operation. The materials have changed from a wooden handle with metal gears to plastic housing, copper wiring and metal shafts. The electric drill comes in a variety of models with varying specifications. Common sizes relate to the chuck size either 10 mm or 12 mm Some models have variable speed, impact ability (for masonry use), reverse options and battery power.
The hacksaw, although still widely used, has been mechanised and evolved into the power hacksaw . Similar to the hacksaw, the design of the power hacksaw has retained its reciprocal application for the cutting operation. The hand hacksaw supports a cutting blade on a light adjustable frame whereas the power hacksaw is much larger and is secured to the floor for safety. The increase in size permits larger sections of metal to be cut. The power hacksaw can have variable speeds determined in strokes per minute, while the cutting strokes of a hacksaw should be steady at about one stroke per second. The power hacksaw has an automatic, adjustable rate of feed to suit the cutting conditions whilst the rate and pressure for the hand hacksaw is determined by the operator’s skill. The return stroke of the power hacksaw is raised to avoid blade wear. Also, coolant can be applied to cool the cutting action and remove the build up of ‘swarf’, while iron filing from the hacksaw need to be brushed away.
Activity 2
A company experiencing financial difficulties is attempting to trade out of the problems.
A suggestion has been made to improve efficiency by increased levels of mechanisation.
Explain how mechanisation can improve efficiency and help relieve financial difficulties.
By increasing the level of mechanisation in the manufacture of a product, part or component a company can improve its efficiency and relieve financial difficulties. Manual, repetitious and boring tasks can be mechanised and done by machines. The result being greater output, higher accuracy and fewer mistakes and longer production times. Personnel displaced by the mechanisation can be transferred to more suitable tasks, retrained in a more skilful area of need, or retrenched.
The resulting financial gain in these consequences includes:
- more output achieved – more products sold
- more accuracy and less mistakes – less cost for materials
- longer production times – more products to sell
- personnel placed on a more suitable task – greater results for wages
- personnel made redundant – saving on labour costs
- retraining – greater output from skilled workers.
Activity 3
Access the Husqvarna company web site at:
http://www.husqvarna.com.au/node2418.aspx 
and describe the ways mechanisation has benefited the Husqvarna company.
The Husqvarna company’s use of mechanisation has resulted in high efficiency and a retention of both quality and flexibility. Many heavy and monotonous tasks have been mechanised to improve the working environment, and also raise the level of skill and competence of the employees.
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