Structural Investigation and Economical Assessment of the Designed Automatic-Brake-Pad Thickness-Checking Machine

Abstract

Thickness checking is one of the quality control procedures in the brake pad industry. This research aims to address the issue of the time effectiveness of the thickness checking by turning the technique into an automatic process, from specimen preparation to data recordings; the technical aspects, the geometric design, and the structure analysis are critical elements of the industrial machinery. However, economic analysis is considered when it becomes an investment by a company with long-term use expectations. Thus, this research provides structural analysis, time checking estimation, and simple investment feasibility studies on break-even points and a simple payback period to ensure that the new design can improve testing performance. Monte Carlo simulation offers the calculation of investment feasibility with the three possibilities of pessimistic, optimistic, and realistic results in achieving a break-even point (BEP) and a simple payback period.

Keywords

• brake pad thickness
• finite element method
• investment feasibility
• Monte Carlo simulation