A design methodology investigation and the design of a material handling system.

Abstract

This dissertation is undertaken under the auspices of both the CSIR, Division of Mining Technology and the University of Natal, School of Mechanical Engineering. The CSIR have outlined two fundamental objectives of the dissertation. Firstly, the need for competent design engineers has become increasingly evident. To this end, an evaluation and research into the science of design methodology has been conducted and regarded as a significant component of the thesis. The rationale behind this aim is that the subject of design has been practiced for thousands of years, but an understanding of the process is comparably in its infancy. The importance of the steps involved in the mechanical design process can in no uncertain terms be overemphasized as the adherence there to results in designs that are least likely prone to failure as well as the attainment of highly efficient product design time scales. This is vitally important more especially when the drive towards multifunctional multidisciplinary teams is rapidly developing in the global market place. Secondly, the CSIR, having done the appropriate market research, have defined the need for the design of a timber handling system to be implemented in a deep level mining environment. It is the authors expressed intent not to separate the theory from the design at hand but rather to allow this thesis to become, for the reader, forum where a holistic and integrated approach to design can be presented.