
This is the last opportunity this year to remind University students that some interesting research projects have been identified for post-graduates looking for career prospects in the conveying industry. These include
• Water and dust ingress tests for idlers
• Pulley shaft deflection
• Energy saving rubber
Two research projects have recently been completed and papers on the resultant data were presented at the recent Beltcon 20 conference.
A dedicated test rig was built by CMA members to gather data on uni-directional rollers, images of which can be found on the CMA website www.cmasa.co.za. A Wits student conducted the research as part of his MSc Mechanical Engineering degree. Data collected will be used by the CMA to draw up recommendations to guide industry on uni-directional rollers as a method of preventing run back in belt conveyors and to set the parameters for the use of non-product specific uni-directional rollers.
The second recently completed research project was to test the forces causing damage to the belt that are present in the idler junction area. Again, a Wits student conducted the research as part of his MSc Mechanical Engineering degree on a second test rig built specially for this purpose.
Anyone interested in participating in research on any of the three new topics of water and dust ingress for idlers, pulley shaft deflection or on energy saving rubber is asked to contact the CMA Secretariat as soon as possible to plan this research for 2020.
Education and training courses planned for early in the year start off with the Bulk Transfer Chute Design and Modelling course. In this course, the basic design principles of “Guided Flow” Hood and Spoon chutes, Rock/Dead box chutes and combinations of these two chute concepts are covered in the three days of lectures. The course also covers the use of Discrete Element Modelling as a tool to supplement the traditional calculation methods, with focus on DEM analysis and calibration methods. The three days of theory lectures are followed by the student working on design for construction, fabrication, setup/installation and testing and the associated learnings around the chute fabrication assembly, testing/measurement processes and procedures (operational and safety) to establish the success of the design, and the verification against the model proposed.
Want to know more about any of the training courses? Visit the website www.cmasa.co.za or contact Beth at the CMA or email her on training@cmasa.co.za.
Jay Pillay, Chairman