DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THREAD TESTING RIG FOR SUSPENSION ROD

Abstract

Threaded fastening is widely used in the automotive industry as quick means to assemble two or more parts. It is, however, necessary to make sure that the quality of the threads manufactured is according to the required standards. Manual testing does not suffice the aforementioned need. The aim of this project, therefore, is to automate the very process of checking the thread quality of suspension rods. Since rods with properly manufactured threads would have a specified tightening torque, an apparatus would be both designed and manufactured that checks these values of torque against some pre-defined values. The test rig is to include two parts, one fixed and the other moving. The fixed part is to essentially be comprised of a gauge, a motor to rotate the gauge, bearings, and a load cell. The moving part consists of the specimen to be tested, pneumatic actuators, linear guides (as sliders), v-blocks and mechanism to clamp the work-piece. Finally, Data acquisition is to be employed to create an output regarding the quality of threads of suspension rods.