Design and Development of an Automated Pottery

Wheel for MSME

Shivanand S. Patil, *Chennagiri Gopinath, S. Suresha
Faculty of Art and Design, M . S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bangalore 560 054
*Contact Author e-mail: gopinathc.id.ad@msruas.ac.in

Abstract
India is a vast country with 68% of the population living in rural areas as per the 2014 survey. A wide majority of the
rural people are still practicing their traditional family vocations like creating artefacts in wood, stone sculpture,
earthenware and pottery. As per the survey, it has been estimated that over 150 lakh potters are presently practicing the
traditional art of pottery making. The proposed project was initiated to design an automated pottery wheel for MSME
focusing on functionality, usability, safety and ergonomics. A literature survey was carried out to study the variants and
the evolution of the product. Ethnography and questionnaire survey was conducted to understand the needs of the user.
Analysis of research inferences from the collected data were carried out to translate customer requirements into
technical requirements. Preparation of Quality Function Deployment and Product Design Specification from the analyzed
results were carried out for listing out customer needs and technical voices, according to the importance of rating. The
generation of the Quality Function Deployment and Product Design Specification involved using various methods
including mind mapping, brain storming and analysis of collected data. Various design concepts were generated and the
final concept was selected using the Weighted Ranking Method.
The final selected concept was modelled and rendered using digital modelling tools like, Pro-E, Rhinoceros,
Photoshop, KeyShot and others. A full scale working model of the finalized concept was made using appropriate
materials. The feedback was collected from the user group by Validation method and the results were positive and
satisfactory.
Key Words: Pottery Wheel, Usability, Ergonomics, Safety, Functionality.

emotive feeling within the user. Form is again

1. INTRODUCTION
In this digital age, people’s lifestyle has changed a lot.
Without studying the advantages of our ancestors’
lifestyle, we are adopting new life styles. For example,
earlier, our ancestors used clay pots for cooking but
nowadays due to the technological advancements, clay
pots have been replaced by metal and plastics without
considering their ill effects on peoples’ health.
In the present Indian scenario, most of the potters have
given up their traditional vocation due to technological
advancements in various areas as the demand for their
traditional ware is low. The earthen pots used earlier for
garden plants has also been replaced by pots made of
plastics. The need to create awareness in people about
the benefits of using clay pots in the kitchen and for
gardening is obvious.
2. LITERATURE REVIEW SUMMARY
The literature review is a critical look at the existing
research that is significant to the work that is being
carried out. Though the need to summarize relevant
research is important, it is also vital to evaluate it. [1]
The following are the findings obtained from the
literature survey:
Form and Functionality: As the word Pottery Wheel
itself speaks about the product, development of the
form according to the function is essential. Hence
consideration of design parameters is a vital part as it
has to integrate various functions within the product.
Form also holds prime importance as it evokes an
interrelated with other aspects like environment and
comfort. [2]
User requirements and space utilization: Space
utilization is all about getting the compactness within
the product. This can be achieved by adaption of design
principles and problem solving tools like TRIZ, design
of nesting parts and sliding shelves.
User requirements need to be studied to achieve overall
satisfaction from the user group.
Anthropometrical aspects: Ergonomic aspects need to
be considered during the design process taking the
different percentile of users. The product must
incorporate good ergonomic design for ease of use by a
maximum number of people.
Material utilization and costing: Apart from the form
and function of the product, it is of equal importance to
bring up a match between material and form. M aterial
exhibits the feel of the product and different materials
have their own unique property of attracting like clay
and ceramics as shown in Fig. 1. A material study has
to be conducted for effective costing.
Fig. 1 Clay and Ceramic pottery’s [3]

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3. PRODUCT STUDY Table 1. QFD House
A study has been carried out to understand how the
product actually works including the kind of
mechanism involved, various parts of the product and
related issues (Fig. 2). This study helps in developing a
new product with unique design features.

4.1 Product Design Specification

The Product Design Specification (PDS) is the technical
Fig. 2 Parts of the pottery wheel [4] response to customer wants and needs. The PDS must
be comprehensive and unambiguous for all components
3.1 Market Study of the design. The PDS is a specification of what is
M arketing research is a process that uncovers past and required but not the specification of the product itself.
current conditions that help market researchers to Table 2 shows PDS chart.
predict future trends. M any companies use marketing
Table 2. Product Design S pecification Chart
research as the underpinning for future business
decisions and strategic planning.
Each market study includes a concise summary of the
data, analysis and conclusions.

3.2 User study

The ethnographic method is used across a range of
different disciplines, p rimarily by anthropologists but
also frequently by sociologists and designers.
Findings from ethnography survey:
 In the present context, most of the potters in India
use the manual pottery wheel
 The pottery wheel was mainly used to create
traditional artefacts.
 The aspects of p roduct cost and profit in the
business of pottery making
 The ergonomic aspects involved in the art of
pottery-making using the traditional pottery wheel
 Analysis of the mechanism presently used in the 5. CONCEPT GENERATION
pottery wheel
According to the QFD and PDS concept generation has
 Observation of the process of pot making from
been carried out as under.
start to finish.
 The understanding of how the finished products 5.1 Concept 1
were transported to market
Concept 1 has been created with a basic square form,
 The problems faced by potters in the present with an electrically operated pottery wheel having
market clockwise and anti-clockwise wheel rotation. The wheel
speed is controlled by a foot pedal. An electric motor
4. QUALITY FUNCTION DEPLOYMENT has been fixed at the base of the table. The different
views with manikins has been shown in the Fig. 3.
Quality Function Deployment (QFD) is a process
planning tool, which helps us to convert customer needs 5.2 Concept 2
into appropriate technical requirements for every stage In this concept, the form of the product is circular and a
of the product development. It develops a relationship strong steel base has been provided. It is suitable for
between demand and characteristic. Expectations are working in both sitting and standing posture. This
reached with very close results as quality of the product concept also has the same features like concept 1.
is formed by a network of relationships. Concept 2 has been shown in the Fig. 4.
Here the data collected from the users from the survey 5.3 Concept 3
methods are listed out where design intervention is
As shown in Fig. 5 this is the portable pottery wheel
needed, and are converted into technical terms and
which can be carried anywhere to work. Clock wise and
stated in the QFD house of quality for analysing and
anti-clock wise direction movement of the wheel has
reaching a maximum range of possibilities. Ratings are
been provided in the design. The speed of the wheel
tabulated as per the feedback from the survey. Table 1
head is controlled by a foot pedal provided with a long
shows the QFD House
flexible cord of wire.

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 and seat adjustment could be done to suit different
percentile of users. A metal ball mechanism has been
provided for the kick wheel to be rotated easily. The
control system has been provided on the right side of
the seat for easy operation.

Fig. 3 Concept 1 Fig. 8 Concept 6

5.7 Concept Selection
After generating the various concepts based on the data
collected earlier, concept selection was carried out to
finalize one concept for detail design.
A set of users were selected to give rating for the
generated concepts considering parameters given for the
Fig. 4 Concept 2 product. After this process, weightage ranking and
scoring method was done to finalize the concept for
detail design for development. The following
parameters shown in Table 3 were considered for
weightage ranking.
Table 3. Concept S election

Fig. 5 Concept 3
5.4 Concept 4
As shown in Fig. 6, this concept is inspired by the half
egg shape with a strong steel base. The half egg shape
acts as a cover. The motor assembly is housed in the
base and includes the same features as those in concept
3 like pedal system and flexible direction of wheel
rotation. This design features ease of handling of the 5.8 Details of the Finalized Concept
product with good ergonomic design. In Fig. 9 various parts of the pottery wheel machine are
shown including the assembly of parts of the product.

Fig. 6 Concept 4
5.5 Concept 5
As shown in Fig. 7, this concept incorporates three
modes of operation for the product. It can run on
electrical power, manual mode using the foot operated
kick wheel and finally the wheel head could be rotated
using the hand wheel which provided on the left side of Fig. 9 Detail of the product
the product. The height of the seat could be adjusted for
all percentile of users. 5.9 Ergonomic study
Ergonomics is the application of scientific information
concerning humans to the design of objects, systems
and environments for human use. It aims to design
objects, systems and tasks in such a way as to improve
human safety, health, comfort and performance.

6. PHYSICAL MODEL
Fig. 7 Concept 5
A full scale (1:1) physical model of the final design was
5.6 Concept 6 developed using materials like mild steel and wood.
As shown in Fig. 8, this concept features two types of
Manufacturing Process: The manufacturing process
operation. It operates both on electricity and manual
included cutting, welding, turning, drilling and tapping
energy. A strong base has been provided for the product

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of various components for fabricating a pottery wheel
as shown in Fig. 10.
Fig. 10 Frame, cutting and welding
Wood work: As shown in Fig. 11 the top surface of the
work bench was fabricated in wood according to the
drawing. Additionally holes and boring was done using
a hand drill and milling machine.
Fig. 11 Wood work
6.1 Assembly
Once all the parts were machined as per drawing, it was
assembled. First sub assembly was completed for
sprocket and flange respectively and fixed to the top
wooden surface and wheel head. Later, the top wooden
surface was fixed to the frame and the wheel head was
fixed to the connecting rod. A bush was welded to the
frame to fix the metal ball to facilitate the rotation of
the wheel head. Fig. 12 shows the assembly process.
Fig. 12 Assembling
As shown in Fig. 13, the motor and pulley has been
assembled along with the connecting rod. The motor
has been fixed to the top wooden surface and the speed
controller was connected to it. A belt has been fixed to
the pulley.
Fig. 13 Motor assembly
The final full scale working model was built using
appropriate materials as shown in Fig. 14.
Fig. 14 Final physical model
7. FINAL CONCEPT VALIDATION AND
FEED BACK
Functionality, usability, safety and ergonomics were the
major criteria considered in the product, validation was
MSRUAS-SASTech Journal
carried highlighting these criteria from the user group.
Fig. 15 shows the product validation with various users.
Fig. 15 Final concept validation
 Ergonomic parameters were validated
 Safety issues were addressed.
 The product incorporated a portable option adding
to the uniqueness of the design.
 Ease of assembly, disassembly and transport as per
DFA principles were considered during the design
process where components could be detached
individually.
8. CONCLUSION
This project has been a blend of all the completed
modules to understand the product design development
process followed in design. Summary of works carried
out in the project work are listed below
 Data collection through secondary research such as
literature survey by referring books, journals,
articles and internet websites.
 Product study to understand related products
existing and market study to identify the scope of a
new product in the present market scenario.
 Questionnaire survey carried out to identify the
need for design.
 Generation of QFD and PDS from analysed data
according to primary and secondary users’ voice.
 Generation of concepts and its 3-D modelling
using Pro–E and Rhinoceros software, rendering of
the concepts using Key shot.
 Final concept detailing and physical model
building.
 Validation of final model was carried out with the
user group and results were satisfactory.
REFERENCES
[1] Librarians R., (2015) What Is A Literature
Review? - Literature Review Tutorial - Library
Guides at CQ University, Retrieved April 13,
2015, from
http://libguides.library.cqu.edu.au/litreview
[2] Hopper R., (1986) Functional Pottery, Form and
Aesthetic in Pots of Purpose. 2nd Ed. Krause
Publications.
[3] Anonymous, (2015) Retrieved June 3, 2015, from,
http://www.amaco.com/wp/wp-
content/uploads/2011/04/brent-model-ie-wheel-
lrg.jpg
[4] Anonymous, (2015) Ceramic Studies, Retrieved
April 13, 2015, from
http://www.ceramicstudies.me.uk/frame1tu2.html
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