Snowboard binding

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Revision as of 20:24, 20 September 2009

Assembly

The following is a parts list of all the components that make up ONE snowboard binding (as in the left or right, but not both). It includes the weight of each component, the material which it is made of, and a picture of the piece. There's total of 63 parts to each binding. While many of these parts are nuts, bolts, and washers, it shows that there is more complexity to a binding than one might expect.

Failure Modes and Effects Analysis

Failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) is an effective tool in identifying a product’s strengths and weaknesses. The process begins by listing all components/parts of a product. Each component is then analyzed to determine different possible failure modes and effects of each failure mode. The failures are rated according to the legend below. The failures and effects of failures are assessed on a scale from 1 to 10, 1 being lowest and 10 highest. Finally, a recommended action may be proposed if necessary and each component is reevaluated (*). The table below lists the separate components of a snowboard binding and assesses different modes in which these components may fail. Legend :
(S) – Severity of the Failure
(O) – rate of occurrence
(D) – Detectability of the problem
RPN – Risk Priority Number; = S*O*D

DESIGN FOR ENVIRONMENT

Recent growing concerns over human environmental impact have stirred engineers to become more aware of their designs and the impact on the environment. This growing awareness brings about a new engineering aspect entitled “Design for Environment”. In our analysis of the snowboard binding, we considered various guidelines when determining the product’s environmental influence. Since the usage of the product does not require any external sources or energy input (besides that of the user).Therefore, we have found the analysis of the environmental impacts of snowboard binding usage negligible.

We used a template for analysis called Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) which examines each process associated with the manufacture, production, use, and disposal of the product. The following flow chart represents the various aspects of the life cycle of a snowboard binding.

We have used software that produces an Economic Input-Output LCA (EIO-LCA) in order to quickly analyze the chart above. This program uses industry sector averages to predict economic and environmental impact based on the supply chain needed to generate a given demand. The main material used in the life cycle for the product is plastic, and we have therefore chosen to use the model for “Other Plastic Product Manufacturing” sector for a design for environment analysis.

MANUFACTURING

Economic Activity
The results show that the main economic activity in producing a demand of one million dollars is credited towards other plastics product manufacturing. These results predict that for the demand given, we can assume a total economic activity increase of $2.36 million.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The results of the EIO-LCA show an increase of 862 metric tons of CO2 equivalent (MTCO2E) per $1 million increase in demand for snowboard bindings. This increase is mainly attributed to the power generation and supply needed to manufacture the plastic products. We have noted that the predicted emissions associated with other plastics product manufacturing accounts for only 4% of total greenhouse gas emissions.

Energy
Inducing a demand of $1 million produces a predicted energy increase of 14.7 terajoules (TJ) for all sectors. Again, we see the main source for this increased energy demand stems from power generation and supply, as well as from plastic material and resin manufacturing.

Transportation

Both energy demand and greenhouse gas emission results from the EIO-LCA list truck transportation as a top ten contributor to environmental effect. The product features components that can be easily stacked and folded. Based on this design of the product, we feel that the packing design has been optimized and allows for maximum efficiency in transporting the product.

End Use/Disposal

The design of the product involves various components which can easily be disassembled, therefore providing optimum end-use efficiency. Separate components can be replaced upon failure instead of replacing the entire product assembly.
The toe and upper straps of the binding contain a comfort foam strip attached to the plastic which interferes with recycling. A recommendation here would be to re-design the straps so that the foam strip can be easily removed prior to disposal.

Conclusions

Based on the results found from our EIO-LCA analysis, the main environmental impacts are attributed to the power generation and supply needed to support an increased product demand of $1 million dollars. Given that the usage of the product results in nominal (or no) environmental impact, almost all impact is attributed to the production of the snowboard binding.

In order to decrease the environmental effects of producing the binding, one could look at incorporating more energy efficient manufacturing methods, as well as using biodegradable plastics. A more detailed analysis of using biodegradable material in injection molding (main manufacturing method used) should be conducted in order to recommend the use of a specific bioplastic.

The vast majority of the binding consists of plastic materials. There were a small number of metallic components that were not included in this analysis, as their impact was assumed to be negligible. Also, the use of online software to perform an EIO-LCA produces very general and basic results. To add to this inaccuracy, the software did not specify snowboard bindings as a source for Other Plastics Product Manufacturing. A further study would include a more accurate data source/software, as well as including the excluded components. We feel that these inaccuracies did not affect the basic design for environment analysis of the product, nor did it affect our ability to provide recommendations for improving the product.

Mechanical Analysis

Moments About Large Rivet
-F₁d₁ + F₂d₂ = 0
15 lb * 4.448 N/lb 66.72 N
66.72 N * 0.040 m = F₂ * 0.009 m
F₂ = 296.53 N = 66.66 lb

Reaction Force At Point A
B_x = 66.66 N
B_y = 0.0 N
C_x = (296.53 N) * sin(50^o) = 227.16
C_y = -(296.53 N) * cos(50^o) = -190.61
Sum F_x = 66.66 N + 227.16 = 293.83
Sum F_y = 0.0 N - 190.61 = -190.61
F_A² = 293.83² N + 190.61² N = (350.23 N)²
F_A = 350.23 N