Mecatronics Engineering
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- ItemAutomated Plastic Recycling For 3D-Printing(2026-02-16) Ahmad Al-Abed; Badee Al-Salameen; Karem Rashed4 ABSTRACT Plastic waste represents one of the most serious environmental challenges worldwide due to its extensive use and long degradation time. At the same time, additive manufacturing technologies, particularly Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), have rapidly expanded and rely heavily on thermoplastic materials. Recycling plastic waste and preparing it for reuse in manufacturing applications offers a sustainable solution that reduces environmental impact and material costs. This project focuses on the design, construction, and mechanical validation of a low-power plastic shredder intended for shredding thin household plastic waste. The developed machine is based on a dual-shaft cutting mechanism using counter wise rotating shafts equipped with circular cutting blades. The design emphasizes simplicity, low cost, availability of components, safe operation, and suitability for educational and small-scale recycling applications. Detailed mechanical design calculations were performed using actual measured dimensions of the constructed machine. These calculations verified the safety and reliability of the power transmission system, cutting mechanism, shafts, gears, and bearings. A single-phase washing machine motor rated at 120 W was successfully used to drive the system, providing sufficient torque and cutting force without mechanical overloading. The shredder was manufactured and assembled using standard workshop tools and materials, and experimental testing was conducted using different types of plastic waste, including PET, HDPE, and ABS. The machine successfully shredded all tested materials into small, uniform pieces. Further manual melting and reshaping experiments showed that ABS plastic exhibited favorable behavior for recycling, allowing the production of a solid filament with a diameter close to the standard 3D printing filament size. The results confirm that the developed plastic shredder is an effective and reliable solution for preparing plastic waste for recycling processes. The project demonstrates that low-cost mechanical systems can play a vital role in sustainable plastic recycling and can serve as a foundation for future development of complete plastic recycling and 3D printing filament production systems.
- ItemAutomated Plastic Recycling For 3D-Printing(2026-02-16) Ahmad Al-Abed; Badee Al-Salameen; Karem Rashed4 ABSTRACT Plastic waste represents one of the most serious environmental challenges worldwide due to its extensive use and long degradation time. At the same time, additive manufacturing technologies, particularly Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), have rapidly expanded and rely heavily on thermoplastic materials. Recycling plastic waste and preparing it for reuse in manufacturing applications offers a sustainable solution that reduces environmental impact and material costs. This project focuses on the design, construction, and mechanical validation of a low-power plastic shredder intended for shredding thin household plastic waste. The developed machine is based on a dual-shaft cutting mechanism using counter wise rotating shafts equipped with circular cutting blades. The design emphasizes simplicity, low cost, availability of components, safe operation, and suitability for educational and small-scale recycling applications. Detailed mechanical design calculations were performed using actual measured dimensions of the constructed machine. These calculations verified the safety and reliability of the power transmission system, cutting mechanism, shafts, gears, and bearings. A single-phase washing machine motor rated at 120 W was successfully used to drive the system, providing sufficient torque and cutting force without mechanical overloading. The shredder was manufactured and assembled using standard workshop tools and materials, and experimental testing was conducted using different types of plastic waste, including PET, HDPE, and ABS. The machine successfully shredded all tested materials into small, uniform pieces. Further manual melting and reshaping experiments showed that ABS plastic exhibited favorable behavior for recycling, allowing the production of a solid filament with a diameter close to the standard 3D printing filament size. The results confirm that the developed plastic shredder is an effective and reliable solution for preparing plastic waste for recycling processes. The project demonstrates that low-cost mechanical systems can play a vital role in sustainable plastic recycling and can serve as a foundation for future development of complete plastic recycling and 3D printing filament production systems.
- ItemIntegrating Automation Systems into Pharmaceutical Machinery for Enhanced Efficiency(2025-09-25) Waleed Qartallo; Taha Qanazeh; Adnan AbutahnatAbstract in English This project aims to modernize a brownfield machine operating under conventional control systems by upgrading it to an Industry 4.0 compliant automation system using Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and advanced industrial technologies. The implementation took place at Al-Quds Pharmaceuticals Company in Ramallah, Palestine, with the main goal of enhancing manufacturing efficiency through real-time data collection and analysis. The transformation improves production quality, reduces operational errors, and optimizes maintenance processes, thereby minimizing downtime. Furthermore, the system provides flexibility for future upgrades and scalability to meet evolving market demands while ensuring compliance with international quality standards. This project represents a practical step toward advancing the pharmaceutical sector in Palestine and highlights the potential of automation in related industries such as food processing and cosmetics manufacturing.
- ItemIntegrating Automation Systems into Pharmaceutical Machinery for Enhanced Efficiency(2025-08-04) Waleed Qartallo; Taha Qanazeh; Adnan AbutahnatAbstract The project aims to upgrade a brownfield machine currently operating under a conventional control system to a Fourth Industrial Revolution-compliant system, using devices such as a Programmable Logic Control (PLC) system. This transformation will be implemented at Al- Quds Pharmaceuticals Company, located in Ramallah, Palestine. The primary objective is to enhance the efficiency of the company’s manufacturing operations by utilizing an integrated system to collect and analyze real-time data from the equipment. This will lead to improved production quality, minimized operational errors, and optimized periodic maintenance, thereby reducing machine downtime. Key factors to be considered for the project’s implementation include: • Conduct a thorough feasibility study to assess the potential of upgrading the brownfield machine from a conventional control system to a PLC-based system, considering the specific operational requirements. • Develop a detailed system design by identifying and selecting the necessary components, such as sensors, actuators, and emergency stop buttons, ensuring compatibility with the PLC system and the machine’s existing infrastructure. • Implement the designed PLC system, integrating it with the machine to achieve full automation, ensuring precision and control over various operational processes. • Test and evaluate the upgraded machine under real-time operational scenarios to verify performance improvements, reliability, and compliance with Fourth Industrial Revolution standards. The project’s main objective is to advance the pharmaceutical sector in Palestine by addressing the specific needs of Al-Quds Pharmaceuticals. PLC systems offer significant flexibility in handling various industrial processes, making them widely applicable to industries like food production and cosmetics manufacturing, where precision and speed are essential. Applying this technology in the pharmaceutical sector provides a unique opportunity for Al-Quds Pharmaceuticals to stand out among competitors by enhancing production efficiency, ensuring adherence to quality standards, and reducing human error. Furthermore, this transformation allows for seamless future upgrades and expansion, empowering the company to adapt to evolving market challenges. 1
- ItemLiquid Food Packaging and Filling Line(2025-07-13) Ibrahem Jauysi; Ayesh Khatatbe; Nabil MasoodAbstract This project focuses on the comprehensive design, development, and implementation of an automated labneh filling and packaging machine, specifically tailored to meet the operational needs of small to medium-scale dairy producers. The machine has been engineered to ensure high efficiency, hygiene, and precision in the process of dispensing viscous dairy products like labneh into various container sizes. The system comprises several integrated subsystems: a stainless-steel mixing hopper equipped with an internal agitator motor to maintain uniform product consistency; a screw pump mechanism driven by a calibrated motor to ensure accurate volumetric filling; and a servo-actuated nozzle valve that precisely controls the start and stop of product flow to prevent dripping and ensure clean filling. Additionally, the system is designed for easy cleaning (CIP - Clean-in-Place), using food-grade materials and sanitary connections to comply with food safety standards. Through a combination of mechanical, electrical, and control engineering principles, the machine provides programmable fill volumes, speed control, and sensor-based feedback to optimize the filling process. It reduces manual labor, minimizes product waste, and enhances production throughput. The development process included mechanical simulations, flow rate calculations, motor torque estimations, and prototype testing to refine the accuracy and reliability of the system. Results demonstrated the machine's capability to fill labneh with high repeatability and minimal deviation, making it suitable for commercial applications. This project represents a significant step forward in localized dairy automation, providing a cost-effective and customizable solution for producers seeking to improve product quality and operational efficiency.