DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A MANUAL SHEET METAL ROLLING MACHINE.

ABSTRACT This project was on the design and construction of a manual rolling machine, a device used to shape materials such as sheet metal through three sets of rollers. The primary objective of this project was to create a cost effective, user-friendly machine suitable for small-scale industries and workshops where precision forming of material is required. The machine was designed to have dimensions of 1194mm height, 1524mm width, three roller diameters of 120mm each. It has the capacity to roll out sheet metal of 1.2m width and 3mm thickness sheet metal. The manual rolling machine was designed to allow for easy operation, requiring minimal power input while producing consistent and accurate results. The design incorporates adjustable rollers, offering flexibility for different applications such as bending, rolling, or forming cylinder components. The key consideration in the construction of this project, includes material selection for durability, ease of maintenance and simplicity in assembly. In the construction of the machine, safety and ergonomic factors were incorporated, these were to ensure ease of operations. The machine require minimal skill in operation. The machine was successfully designed, constructed, and the test evaluation carried out on two different sheet plate, cut 1.1m by 1.2m, thickness of 2.5mm shows efficiency of 91%. The machine is expected to offer an affordable, reliable alternative to powered rolling machines for small manufacturing units, enabling the shaping of metal and other materials.