Dumpling Maker 2.0 EDSGN 100-008, Group 2

Submitted by: Xinru Yang, Juliana Redisi, Bernard Lindinger, Aditya Ravi

Submitted to: Xinli Wu

10/21/2018

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2. Abstract

The motive for this project was to construct a prototype of a portable, semi-automatic dumpling

maker. The goal is to design a dumpling maker that is cheap, efficient, and easy to use. The total

cost of the dumpling maker must be less than 200 dollars. This report outlines the design process

of the semi-automatic dumpling maker.

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3. Table of Contents

i Cover Page---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Xinru Yang

ii Abstract------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Xinru Yang

iii Table of Contents------------------------------------------------------------------------------Xinru Yang

1 Introduction-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Aditya Ravi

2 Description of Design Task:

• Problem Statement-----------------------------------------------------------Juliana Redisi

• Mission statement------------------------------------------------------------Juliana Redisi

• Design Specifications----------------------------------------------------------Aditya Ravi

3-10 Design Approach:

• Project management - Gantt chart--------------------------------------------Xinru Yang

• Customer needs assessment--------Juliana Redisi, Xinru Yang, Bernard Lindinger,

Aditya Ravi

• Concept generation------------------Juliana Redisi, Xinru Yang, Bernard Lindinger,

Aditya Ravi

• Design Selection matrices-----------------------------------Xinru Yang, Juliana Redisi

11-16 The final design and its prototype:

• Working drawings of the final design---------------------------------------Aditya Ravi

• Prototype scale and digital images of the prototype---- Juliana Redisi, Xinru Yang

• Design features------------------------------------------------- Xinru Yang, Aditya Ravi

• Operation instructions -------------------------------------------------Bernard Lindinger

16-18 Engineering Analysis:

• Working mechanism---------------------------------- Bernard Lindinger, Aditya Ravi

• Cost analysis------------------------------------------------------------Bernard Lindinger

• Summary and conclusions--------------------------Juliana Redisi, Bernard Lindinger

18 Acknowledgement--------------------------------------------------------------------Bernard Lindinger

18 References-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Bernard Lindinger

Chief Editor: Juliana Redisi

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4. Introduction:

Dumplings are a simple dish of dough filled with meat. Over time, we have seen variations of

this dish from many cultures spread around the globe. However, the famous Manti steamed

dumplings of Central Asia are found in every Chinese restaurant and are popular among families

worldwide. The desire for this savory treat is halted by the intensive process of making them.

The future of dumplings lies in an automated machine that will help families create this delicious

meal in their home with ease.

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Description of Design Task

• Problem statement

Dumplings are a desired dish for many households and small restaurants, but the

process to make them is long and labor intensive. There are not dumpling makers on

the market suitable, or affordable for small-scale use.

• Mission statement

Our mission is to design a dumpling maker to reduce the manual labor and time

associated with the process of making dumplings by families. The dumpling maker

needs to be affordable, under $200 to produce, and suitable for a typical household.

• Design Specifications

a. The dumpling maker should be automatic or semi-automatic.

b. The dumpling maker should produce no less than 10 dumplings per minute on

average.

c. The material cost for the dumpling maker should not exceed $200 unless it can be

justified.

d. The dumpling maker should be safe as a food processor, easy to maintain, safe to

use, and dishwasher safe.

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Design Approach

• Table 1. Gantt Chart

• Customer needs assessment

After speaking with Chinese restaurants about their desires and issues with dumpling

makers, the responses were very similar. None of the restaurants seemed interested in

buying a dumpling maker, but each establishment noted that if they were to buy one

hypothetically, it would need to be safe and cheap. The most helpful information

from the calls came from Xinru’s Aunt. Her Aunt Caiyun used to own and operate a

Chinese Restaurant in China. She did not have a desire for a machine. Caiyun

mentioned that the market for hand-made dumplings sells for more money. They have

the process down and the extra work is worth more of a profit. She said she would not

pay more than $150 for a machine. However, this only references the needs of a

restaurant. A family might choose to save time and energy with a machine.

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• Concept Generalization

Fig 1. Design A

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Fig 2. Rough Design B

Fig 3. Rough Design C

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Fig. 4 Design D

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Fig. 5 Rough Design E

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Fig.6 Rough Design F

Fig.7 Updated Design B

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Fig.8 Updated Design F

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• Design Selection Matrices

Table 2. Design Matrix

Design A Design B Design C Design D Design E Design F

Size - 0 - + 0 +

Ease of Use + 0 + 0 - 0

Time

Efficiency/S

peed

+ 0 0 0 0 0

Difficult to

Clean

- + - - - +

Waste 0 0 0 - - 0

Storage/Mat

erial Hold

0 0 + 0 - +

Durability + - 0 0 - 0

Manufacturi

ng

- 0 0 0 - +

Sum of +'s 3 1 2 1 0 4

Sum of 0's 2 6 4 5 2 4

Sum of -'s 3 1 2 2 6 0

Net Score 0 0 0 -1 -6 4

Rank 4 2 3 5 6 1

Proceed? no yes no no no Yes

Table 3. Selection Matrix

Selection

Criteria

Weight B F

Rating Weighted

Score

Rating Weighted

Score

Size 10% 3 0.3 4 0.4

Ease of Use 20% 4 0.8 4 0.8

Time

Efficiency/Spe

ed

20% 3 0.6 2 0.4

Ease of Clean 10% 4 0.4 2 0.2

Waste 5% 3 0.15 2 0.1

Storage/Materi

al Hold

5% 3 0.15 4 0.2

Durability 20% 5 1 4 0.8

Manufacturing 10% 4 0.4 2 0.2

Total Score 3.8 3.1

Continue? Yes No

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The final design and its prototype

• Complete set of working drawings

Fig 9. Image of Full Working Drawing

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Fig 10. Image of Clamp

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Fig 11. Image of filler

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Fig 12. Image of Smasher

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• Prototype Scale and Digital Image

a. Scale: 1:1

Fig 13. Prototype

• Design Features

The entire machine runs on a programmed system such that every task is

performed at specific intervals. Minute details such as the speed of the conveyor belt

have been taken into consideration so that all parts and processes work together in order

to produce a dumpling.

As soon as the machine is switched on, the slicer is programmed to come down at

a time period after the machine has been started. Hence, all the user has to do is to place

the dough and start the machine.

The smasher also works in the same manner as it is also programmed to drop down at a

certain time after the machine is switched on. The speed of the conveyor belt has to be

altered in order to flatten every sliced piece.

In the filling stage, the filler will automatically drop same amount of filling for

every dumpling. By placing the filler above the clamper, after it drops the filling, the

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clamper will be triggered and seal the dumpling. The clamper then rotates on a rod placed

beneath it and releases the dumpling on the other conveyor belt.

• Operation Instructions

a. Fill dispenser fully with filling

b. Place dough onto conveyer belt

c. Place basket/dumpling holder next to end of slanted conveyer

d. Push dough along conveyer belt

e. The rest of steps will automatically be done by the machine. Pick up the

dumplings when the machine stops.

Engineering Analysis

• Working mechanism and engineering analysis

a. In order to make the consumers work as simple as possible, the dumpling maker

is designed in such a way which involves minimal effort from them. The

consumer prepares the dough manually and inserts it into the dumpling maker.

After this, the ‘slicer’ comes down due to a hydraulic system and slices the dough

into ten pieces. This happens as the all components inside the machine are

programmed to carry out their respective tasks in given intervals of time. After the

slicing stage, the conveyor belt slows down so that each piece is flattened

individually by the ‘smasher’, which also functions with a hydraulic system.

Before the third stage, the flattened dough moves on to the clamper and is molded

in the shape of the dumpling. The filling is then dropped down from the ‘filler’

which has a removable dispenser carrying the filling. After the filling is

dispensed, the clamp closes which creates pressure and forms a tight seal along

the perimeter of the dough, holding the filling inside. The clamp rests on a

rotatable rod, and hence is turned and releases the dumpling onto the second

conveyor belt. Utilizing the incline, the dumpling simply slides down and can be

collected by the consumer.

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• Cost Analysis

Table 4. Cost Analysis

Part (Material) Quantity Cost (Dollars Per Unit) Total

Sides (Plastic Sheets) 3 10.00 30.00

Conveyer Stand

(Aluminum Round

Tube)

1 3.50 3.50

Conveyer (m2 of belt) 2 10.00 20.00

Roller (3/4" Dia.

Aluminum Roller)

6 7.38 44.28

Custom Parts

Clamp (Stainless Steel

Half Round)

1/2 10.19 5.10

Slicer (Stainless Steel) 9 3.01 27.09

Dispenser (Hollow

Plastic Cylinders)

1 8.09 8.09

Flattener (Aluminum

Cylinders)

1 19.52 19.52

Welding/Cutting (hrs.) 0.75 45.00 33.75

Total Cost 191.33

• Conclusion/Summary

a. Over the allotted time frame and with the specified budget, the team gathered

information and ideas related to the functionality, design, and usefulness of a

small dumpling maker. The finished prototype met all specifications related to

cost, efficiency, and feasibility of the maker. However, after examination by peers

and a professional engineer, there were key areas of improvement that were

brought up. Specifically, regarding the build, the machine does not need the

elevation. Both conveyers could be level with each other and the incline could be

removed. This would drastically decrease the height and materials. With this

simple change, the machine could be a lot more compact for family use and a lot

cheaper to produce. This would also leave room in the budget to use better

materials. This detail is significant because one debate our group faced is which

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materials should be used in production of the maker. Some members wanted to use

aluminum due to its durability, but due to cost restrictions, plastic was the better

option. In addition, the slicer could have been scaled down to one blade as the multi-

blade costs more and does not improve upon the slicing process. Furthermore, with a

budget of $200, an automated machine was unfeasible as a motor, gearbox, and timed

system would all cost upwards of $50, which would put the project at 25% over

budget. In the end, a semi-automated machine with ease of access was envisioned and

a successful prototype was built off these specifications of efficiency, cost, and size.

References

McMaster-Carr (2018), Raw Materials. McMaster-Carr Supply Company: [accessed

2018 October 20]. https://www.mcmaster.com/

Acknowledgements

The team would like to thank Professor Xinli for teaching the necessary fundamentals of

constructing Multiview drawings and the basics of an engineering project. The group would also

like to acknowledge Jack the TA for helping design the cardboard prototype in the machine shop

and teaching the team how to safely use each machine for different specified tasks. Without this

help, it would not have been possible for the team to complete a prototype within the given

timeframe.