Can Crusher
By Kaylan Patel, Madeline Koldos, and
Courtney Shadd
Group
Development
Lessons
Learned
Timeline
Problem
Statement
Refine the
Design
Agenda
10 Steps of
the 12 Step
Process
Background
Deliverables
Customer
Scope
Roles
O Leader:
O Kaylan Patel
O Scribe:
O Maddie Koldos
O Timekeeper:
O Courtney Shadd
Team Constitution
Article 1
Article 2
Article 3
Article 4
Article 5
Article 6
Article 7
Article 8
All team members will be on time.
No team member will make fun of another
team member’s idea.
Respect is to be shown at all times by each
team member.
After decision is made, team members will
respect it.
Members will live up to their commitments.
Team members will not blame other for
failures.
No one-team member will dominate
discussion.
Team members will make an effort to
contribute equally.
Timeline
Plan Date
Start
1/27
1/27
Actual Date Who’s
Responsible
Comp Start Comp
1/27
1/27 1/27
Team
1/28
1/27 1/28
Maddie
1/30
1/30
2/2
2/6
2/10
2/13
2/14
2/21
2/2
2/1
2/4
2/10
2/11
2/13
2/15
2/29
2/1
1/30
2/1
2/3
2/21
2/21
2/14
2/28
2/2
2/1
2/4
2/27
2/24
2/22
2/23
3/7
Maddie
Maddie
Kaylan
Kaylan
Maddie
Courtney
Maddie
Team
2/28
3/2
3/5
2/29
3/5
3/8
3/6
3/2
3/1
3/7
3/6
3/8
Team
Team
Team
Task
Team development
Research Background
information
Scope Statement
Decision Matrix
Brainstorm
CAD drawings
Build Process
Test Plan
Bill of Materials
Build Prototype (Including
Rebuild)
Test, Monitor, and Analyze
Refine the Design
Communicate Results
Problem Statement
O The can crusher for Roadrunner Trucking has to
reduce the volume of the aluminum cans they
dispose of by 70%.
Background
O An easy way to reduce the amount of aluminum
cans
O Recycles larger quantities in smaller spaces
O When cans are flattened it makes it easier to store
and transport
O Takes a total of 60 days for a can to go through the
recycling process
O Can crusher makes it easier to contribute to the
recycling process
Customer
O Roadrunner Trucking Company
O Integrated Technology teacher Mr.
Pritchard
Scope
O Design and build a can crusher to reduce the
volume of aluminum cans by 70%
O Subject matter expertise:
O Construction/ Technical – Mr. Pritchard
O CAD – Mr. Hund
O Calculations/ Math – Ms. Hernacki
O Materials:
O ¼” hardwood plywood
O ½” hardwood plywood
O ¾” spruce
O Four specific customer constraints:
O The max space it can occupy is 18” x 24” x 30”.
O Use a minimum of one simple machine
O The aluminum can bin must hold 20 cans
O Aluminum cans volume must be reduced by 70%
Deliverables
O Can Crusher
O Tech Report
O PowerPoint
Research and Generate Ideas
O The force to crush a can is 100-120 lbs.
O We could use wood glue, screws, or nails as adhesive
O If the fulcrum point is closer to the load then more
O
O
O
O
force will be applied
We could use hardwood plywood, spruce, or oak for
our wood
Lever should be long for less input force
The volume of 20 crushed cans is 158.28in cubed
We should use mostly ¾” wood for it’s strength
Criteria and Constraints
O Criteria:
O It must use a minimum of one simple
O
O
O
O
O
machine
The aluminum can must fall into the
aluminum can bin once it is crushed. No
human intervention is to be involved.
The aluminum can bin must slide in and out
of the crusher.
All parts of the can crusher must be
fabricated.
The design is to be one unit.
Must be manually operated.
O Constraints:
O The max space the can crusher can
occupy in 18” x 24” x 30”
O The aluminum can bin must be sized to
hold 20 crushed cans.
Explore Possibilities
Maddie’s Sketch
Courtney’s Sketch
Kaylan’s Sketch
Adhesive Pros and Cons
Parts
Pros
Cons
Screw vs. Nail
Screws: good stability,
low risk of injuries,
reusable
Could run through
wood, take longer to
put in, can split
Nails: good stability,
faster with a nail gun
Not reusable, nail guns
risk of injuries
Spruce: more stable,
doesn’t have glue that
melts, no fumes
Heavier
Plywood: lighter
Higher possibility of
cracking and has glues
that can melt
Spruce vs. Hardwood
Plywood
Sketches
Pros
Cons
Kaylan’s
Very clear, design
seemed like it would
function well,
dimensions clear
Not very robust
Maddie’s
Design seemed like it
would work,
dimensions relatively
clear
Design slightly
confusing
Courtney’s
Design seemed
functional
Not all dimensions
clear and not all
isometrics there
Select an Approach
Sketches Decision Matrix:
Criteria
Price
Kaylan’s
Sketches
3
Maddie’s
Sketches
3
Courtney’s
Sketches
3
Ease of Use
5
4
5
Reliability
5
5
4
Self- loading
5
5
5
Conservation of
Materials
Ease of Assembly
4
4
4
4
5
4
Efficiency
5
4
3
Total
31
30
28
Type of Plywood Decision Matrix:
Criteria
Spruce
Hardwood
Plywood
Pressure-Treated
Plywood
Efficiency
5
5
4
Price
5
5
3
Durability
5
4
2
Total
15
14
9
Adhesives Decision Matrix:
Criteria
Screws
Nails
Wood Glue
Price
5
5
3
Efficiency
5
4
4
Durability
5
4
3
Total
15
13
10
• Using each one when best fitted to design
Design Proposal
Bill of Materials
O ¼” hardwood plywood
O ½” hardwood plywood
O ¾” spruce wood
O 1 ¼” screws
O 1 ¼” nails
O Wood glue
O Rubber pad squares
O 1” dowels
Test Plan
Test Criteria
Crushes Can 1st Time
Reduces Can Size by 70%
Can Must Drop into the Bin
Bin must fit at least 20 cans
Bin slides in and out
Will be stable for the
duration of the operation
That the Can will fall into
crushing station (selfloading portion of project)
How Tested
Crush can using
operation
After can is crushed
check the volume of the
can that the volume
matches 70% less than
the original volume
Run operation
Expected results
Can crushed 1st time
Crush 20 cans using the
crusher and fit into the
bin
Assemble crusher and
slide bin in and out
Operate can crusher and
check for any movement
in the crusher
Assemble crusher and set
2 cans on the ramp watch
if the fall into crushing
station
Fits 20 can (no hassle)
Reduced by at least
70%
Can Drops into the bin
Bin slides in and out
easily
Crusher will be stable
Can falls into crushing
station automatically
Actual Results
CAD Drawing Assemblies
Final Assembly
Bin Assembly
Can Crushing Station Assembly
Lever Assembly
Self loader Assembly
Prototype
O Work process was too general and more details
were added in the
O Knew what specific parts to use but not how to
assemble them smoothly
O Prototype had to be modified a lot
Refine the Design
O Had to change the base so in turn, the bin
as well
O Used spruce instead of hardwood plywood
for more strength
O Redesigned crushing station and lever so
withstand more pressure and make more
force
Lessons Learned
O Make sure your design works and can
perform the task before building
O Use materials best fitted to design
O Prepare to modify and redesign your
prototype
O Splitting up tasks and delegating
Summary
O Used more time management skills to
complete project ahead of time
O Had to redesign many portions of the can
crusher to fit requirements
O Learned to use new tools for the project
O Split up tasks effectively