| dc.description.abstract | Post-consumer aluminum waste has significantly increased due to the growing use of
aluminum beverage cans, posing problems for recycling, storage, and transportation.
Effective volume reduction at the source is crucial to enhancing recycling and waste
handling efficiency because empty aluminum cans take up a lot of space because of their
cylindrical shape. The design, construction, and analysis of a fully motorized aluminum
can crusher created especially for crushing 250 ml aluminum beverage cans are presented
in this project. The suggested system converts rotary motion into linear reciprocating
motion for controlled axial crushing using a crank and connecting rod (slider–crank)
mechanism and a 12 V DC windshield wiper motor as the prime mover.
In order to ensure safe and reliable crushing through buckling and progressive folding of
the can walls, the machine is built with a stroke length of 150 mm and runs at a low speed
of 35 rpm. To assess the kinematic behavior, torque-to-force transmission, power
requirement, and structural adequacy of important components, design calculations were
performed. The analysis verified that the chosen motor torque of 4.12 N·m offers enough
crushing force for efficient aluminum can volume reduction while using minimal power.
With the proper safety margins, the crank shaft, connecting rod, and frame were made to
withstand the applied loads.
By effectively reducing the volume of aluminum cans, the developed can crusher enhances
storage efficiency and makes recycling and transportation easier. For small-scale recycling
facilities, educational institutions, and community-based waste management programs, the
system provides an affordable, energy-efficient, and simple-to-fabricate solution. This
project offers a scalable basis for upcoming improvements in sustainable waste
management tech | en_US |
