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INTRODUCTION
Mould are said to be as old as man, the early day’s blacksmiths were able to
construct, forge and design materials of different shapes and sizes using moulds.
produce materials with different shapes, pattern, embossment etc. (Adam, et al, 2001).
machine can be used in small business and home-based production of building blocks.
The increased use of concrete technology for construction has made manual block
making a desirable manufacturing method. With the help of the manually operated 6
and fast manner. Therefore, the development of a more efficient and cost-effective
machine is required to keep up with the demand in the industry. There is a need to
develop a robust machine that has the ability to produce various shapes and sizes of
concrete blocks without compromising on quality. The aim of this research project is
material of a desired shape of the same prototype. In other words, mould is a designed
equipment that has the shape of the materials to be produced. After production, the
substance usually in molten form, power into mould, takes the shape of the mould on
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The rapid growth of urban areas of Nigeria due to its developing economy and
urbanization has been heavy concentration of population in large cities demanding for
efficient housing layout. The rapid progress and research over years, has led builders
to prefer framed structures over conventional load bearing structures. Frame structure
walls are simply to serve as a screen for privacy of various rooms. They support their
self-weights only. Hence in such structures for masonry component low density, low
strength material can be used to reduce dead load. The higher density conventional
concrete blocks give heavy self-weight of masonry, thereby increasing the cost of
Manually block mould are used by a variety of industries, including concrete and
construction, and have many different functions, such as creating decorative paving
stones, industrial blocks, and architectural blocks for use in various projects. The
This report provides an overview of the design and fabrication process for a 6-
inch manually operated block mould, including the selection of materials, design
considerations, and other key steps involved. Additionally, this report includes a
The specific aim of this project is to design and fabricate manually operated Six
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1.3 Objectives of the Study
and peocedures that underlined the fabrication process involved in the production of a
block mould.
This project tend to solve inadequate block mould to withstand huge demands.
The specific aim of this project is to design and fabricate manually operated Six
Inches (152.4mm) Block Moulds. We develop detailed design plans for the manually
block mould that involve schematics, selecting materials, and determining the mould
dimension and specification. Hence this project report contains the introduction,
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literature review, materials and method, result and discussions, conclusion and
recommendation
This project work is limited to six (6) inches (152.4mm) moulds using mild
a) Cost: The cost of materials and tools required to create a 6-inch block mould can
experimentation.
b) Time: Depending on the complexity of the mold, it can take a significant amount
c) Skill: The skill level needed to design and fabricate a 6 inch(152.4mm) block
mold is usually beyond that of an average user. It takes a great deal of knowledge
and experience to design and construct this type of mold correctly and safely.
d) Accuracy: Even with the most precise tools and techniques, the accuracy of a 6
inch (152.4mm) block mold can vary significantly from one piece to another. This
variance can lead to inconsistencies in the quality of the product produced using
the mold.
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CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
The design and fabrication of a manually operated block mould involves many
operated block moulds. One research study conducted by Kumar et al. (2018) on the
development of a curved mould. This study found that a curved mould can be
designed with the use of CAD software and then fabricated using steel plates and
welding techniques.
Other studies have focused on the selection of materials for the design and
Jaber (2016) examined the effects of using different types of cement and binders to
create the required strength and durability of the block mould. This study found that
the use of a blend of cement, sand, and lightweight aggregates resulted in a better
Fabrication is the construction of items from different parts using at least one
of a range of processes and materials such as metal, laminates, wood and other solid
surface materials. The fabrication process tends to make items from manufactured
materials like steel, that can then be assembled to create larger metal structures. In
something from start to finish, as opposed to simply assembling it. This work is
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typically completed by a fabrication shop (or fab shop) that will bid on the contract
for the job based on engineering drawings and specifications. The fabrication process
can involve a range of different steps, depending on what is being produced and from
complex or detailed designs can be created and tested with computer aided design
(CAD) programs. More complex fabrications will also often involve prototyping,
which helps with visualizing and testing product iterations (Arya, 2009).
produce hollow blocks, interlocking blocks, paving blocks, curbstones, porous blocks,
solid blocks, insulation blocks and sidewalk blocks, other includes: grass planting
blocks, stretcher blocks, corner blocks, pillar blocks, partition blocks, lintel blocks,
frogged brick blocks, bull nose blocks, concrete stretcher blocks, concrete corner
blocks, solid construction blocks and many others designs. The price of manual block
moulding machine can vary considerably depending on the model and the
manufacturer.
Although simpler and cheaper machines are developed, but they require high
level skilled operator and diligence to produce good quality block/brick. In addition,
due to the tedious or awkward procedures of running these simple machines, they are
used mostly by intending house owners themselves to make the blocks or bricks.
Locally fabricated is the most common manually operated lever-action CEB press. It
costs between N120, 000 and N180, 000 defending on the quality of the fabrication.
Even though it is very cheap, it possesses the following disadvantages: low capacity
(usually not more than 1,000 bricks per day), no quality control mechanism and it
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involves high level of physical labour. Therefore, first and foremost, there is need to
operate and, most importantly, has a good quality control mechanism (such as
the author, that produces both concrete block as well as compress earth bricks. Thus,
equipment for manufacturing and producing bricks. Generally, stone powder, fly ash,
slag, crushed stone, sand, water, etc. are used to add cement as raw materials to
produce bricks through hydraulic power, vibration power, and pneumatic power. Full
Automatic Brick Making Machine Concrete Block Molding Machine for sale are
small in size, easy to install, disassemble and transport and the produced bricks are
brick making project! On the one hand, the small brick making machine mixes
industrial or household wastes such as fly ash, river sand, sea sand, mountain sand,
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mineral powder, stone powder, cinder, etc. with cement materials such as proportion
cement and lime, and by using different molds for producing various shapes of bricks.
making machine can produce hollow block, solid block, paver brick, porous block,
curbstone, and interlocking brick. It can adapt to the diverse needs of different
structure, easy require to operate and maintain, durability, etc. It is usually small in
size, feeding raw material manpower. Also, workers transfer finished blocks from the
machine.
(c) Concrete Paver Block Making Machine: A concrete paver block machine is
Concrete blocks are used in almost every construction project due to their strength
and durability. These machines offer various benefits over the conventional block
making methods. The concrete paver block making machine can manufacture
hundreds of blocks every day without any chance of error or mistake. This increases
the production capacity of manufacturers and helps them complete every order on
time. Latest models produce high-quality paver blocks and designer tiles. In the
production of this, highly flowing colour pigments along with grey are poured into the
rubber moulds & solidified in Vibro forming vibrating tables. These machines are
manufactured by making use of optimum grade components with the help of modular
machines in compliance with set industry norms. Concrete paver Block Machine
produces paver blocks, solid blocks, hollow blocks. All blocks size can be designed
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(d) Concrete Hollow Block Making Machine: Hollow machine that produces
hollow blocks using pressure and vibration. The latest models can produce hollow
concrete blocks without pallets but molds are limited in capacity and shape as well.
Concrete Hollow Block Making Machine has moulds in the shape of hollow blocks,
and when the mortar is poured inside these molds, the machine uses vibration and
hydraulic force to press the mortar into the molds. Any type of concrete block can be
produced with consistent quality by fixing different types of concrete mould and ram
into the machine. Our new spares are readily available to replace the interchangeable
wearing parts.
Manual block moulding machine has many major advantages and benefits
such as high production capacity, blocks with good precision and accuracy, best
A single machine can product more than 10,000 hollow blocks in a single day.
The machine can also make more than 600 m2 per day. If you want to produce
curbstone the same multifunctional machine can produce more than 3,000 curbs in a
It is important to have the same quality for all the blocks. Both hollow blocks
and solid blocks are used in the Construction Project. Concrete blocks come in
different shape and size. Pavers also come in different sizes and patterns. The
It can have a good production quality with the multifunctional machine. One
of the major advantages of concrete hollow blocks is their high durability and
stability. Concrete hollow blocks are compacted by high pressure and vibration. By
this way, the blocks are very strong and able to withstand a high level of loading.
They also have high fire resistance and no salinity which reduces their maintenance
cost. Compared to other surfacing materials, a good quality block paving is more
environmentally sustainable because of its porous nature. This means the paving will
absorb rainwater and stop it from gathering on your patio or driveway. (Akelere et al,
2013)
Based on blocks production, we can divide manual block moulding machine into two
types: single pattern block type and double pattern block type.
Hollow blocks, solid blocks, lintel block are some examples of single pattern blocks.
To produce these blocks, you need only one type of mixed aggregate and commonly
do not need color. If you produce only single pattern blocks, then you need a machine
Pavement blocks or pavers and interlock blocks are some examples of double pattern
blocks. When you produce double pattern blocks, you need a machine with a double
mortar hopper. These blocks are made of different kinds of mixed aggregate. In many
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cases you use at least two kinds of mixed aggregate and color as well ( Ajao et
al,2012).
Concrete blocks are a basic commodity of the building industry. If you are
looking for a great business with a solid foundation this may be the one for you.
Concrete products are used everywhere for building. There is a constant strong
demand. They are always in style unlike here today gone tomorrow products. They
are used to build large buildings. There is a market for cement blocks around the
world and particularly in North America. If you are looking for a good business,
which you can start from home at low cost, making concrete blocks and other
concrete products is a great opportunity. Starting with a part time business, using
handmade molds, you can get going with as little as a few hundred dollars for supplies
and materials. You can operate out of your garage then as business grows and you
need more room you can expand to rented premises. The secret is to keep your costs
as low as possible to start with. Too many businesses fail in the first year because they
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Figure 2.1 An Image of 6 Inches block
According to the literature the Hollow concrete and Solid concrete mould are:
The concrete hollow block mold is used to make foam concrete blocks with holes, the
working process is very sample, just pouring fluid foam concrete into the concrete hollow
block mold, and when the foam concrete is solid, removing moulds.
The concrete solid block mold is used to make foam concrete blocks without
holes, the working process is very sample, just pouring fluid foam concrete into
the concrete solid block mold, and when the foam concrete is solid, removing
moulds.
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Figure 2.3: 6 inches Solid and Hollow Mould
(a) 225mm
(b) 150mm
(c) 200mm
(d) 450mm
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CHAPTER THREE
desired finish. The design of a 6-inch block mould must consider both the effect of
compressive and tensile forces that the block will experience when in use.
Specifically, these forces are affected by the shape of the mould, and the materials
The internal shape of the mould is an important factor in how the block will
perform under stress. Generally, the block should have a rectangular shape that is
slightly wider than its height. This shape creates optimal strength while also providing
the necessary space for air circulation during the curing process. The exterior of the
mould should also be designed for maximum strength and rigidity, as well as for easy
removal of the finished block. Ribbing, grooves, or both may be used to increase the
rigidity of the mould while also ensuring that the finished block can be easily released
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Overall, the design of a 6 inch (152.4mm) block mould is critical for any
construction project. By selecting the appropriate material and shape, the finished
block will be able to withstand the compressive and tensile stresses that it will
18” 457.2mm
9’’ (228.6mm)
6’’152.4mm
mmmmmm
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The materials needed are:
i. Mild Steel Plate of 3mm thick and 2mm thick: The 2mm thick plate is plate that
is bend into an appropriate size and length of 150mm x 150mm, which is serve as a
function of hollow block mould shape. While the 3mm thick plate is the inner part of
the block mould that is welded together with 2mm thick plate to form a complete hole
iii. Flat Bar of 2mm thick: Flat bar is a welded feed of the frame work of the block
mould hich prevent the inner part from separating during the block mould
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iv. Hammer: Used to form the steel sheet into a square shape
v. Bench Vice: Used to hold the steel sheet in place while forming it
vi. Protective Gloves: Used to prevent injury while handling the mould
vii. Paint: Used to coat and protect the surface of the mould
viii. Try Square: The Try square was used to take the dimension of the plate for accurate
measurement of the block mould to avoid any misalignment during the fabrication and
the measurement length for the expected shape using square as shown in plate 3.3
below
This is a device used to join materials together and it is an electrical equipment that as hat
and thong. Its produce heat that melts metal parts so that the part can be joined, when is
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Plate 3.4: Welding Machine.
i. Acetylene Gas
iii. Electrode
iv. Generator
v. Fuel
(i) The first step is buying and assembling of the materials for the fabrication process
ready.
(ii) The second step of the fabrication process involved cutting the steel sheet to the
(iii) The third step involved grinding or filing the steel sheet plate using grinding disc
(iv) The steel sheet was then placed in a bench vice and hammered into a square
shape.
(v) The steel sheet was wield with the wielding machine using wielding thong and
electrode.
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(vi) The steel sheet was then painted to protect the surface of the mould.
(vii) Once the painting process was complete, the mould was ready for use.
Plate 3.5 – 3.8 shows the sequence of operation procedure process of the block
moulds and Bill of Engineering Material and Evaluation aa stated in Table 3.5.
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Plate 3.7: Thong and Electrode
(N)
230mm
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7 Workmanship 10000
TOTAL 60,340
CHAPTER FOUR
4.1 Results
The mould can attain its 90% percent efficiency in lined with steel plates
standardization and also to prevent damage during tamping and to reduce wear in the
mould in large scale production steel mould. This project therefore was aimed to
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operated concrete block machine. This Project was found to be more cost effective
(i) Durability
excessive heat when moulding. The mould are most professional block laying
machines in construction areas especially for those heavily involved with the produce
concrete blocks, solid block and etc. they produce blocks in a straight line in the
ground without using pallets. Manual block making machines are the highest quality
on the market. The design is thoughtfully done, carefully considering the functionally
(ii) Ductility
The ductility of this manual block mound it has the ability at tolerate, excess loadings
4.2 Discussion
Automated moulding machines usually have more capacity compared to manual block
moulding machine. The most ideal Blocks can be made by using a simple block-making
Performance Test: Performance test was achieved by evaluating the block mould performed
in terms of quality due to good qualities used which passed performance test. The block
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mould gives the block smooth surface, perfect shape, accurate sizes and no trace of crack on
the block.
4.3 Calculations:
1” inch = 25.4mm
(b) Dimensions
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Total Volume Of Hollow Block Mould = ( 24,688.8 – 16,459.2) mm3
= 8, 229.6mm3
budget constraint.
less training for operators and reducing the livelihood of technical issues.
iii. Flexibility: Operators have more control over the process, allowing for
v. Suitable for Small Scale: Ideal for smaller production volumes where the
ii. Consistency
iii. Precision
v. Increased Output
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vii. Automated block moulds can operate continously
To achieve our objective five (5), the mould fabricated was used to produce
samples blocks using mortar (mixture of sand and cement) and the results output was
CHAPTER FIVE
5.1 Conclusion
was achieved. The materials used by the machines for making hollow blocks are
Mild steel plates of thickness 2mm, 3mm. This project was mainly on the production
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manual blocks mould which offer a significant difference in terms of accurate
Therefore, the research also came out that there is need to develop a machine that
control) mild steel plate 3 mm is the major materials use in this and is advisable to
use nothing less than 3mm thickness of the plate for the purpose of durability
cost, labour loss and maximize the production rate. The mild steel was very reliable,
highly rigid and easier to operate. The mobility nature of this project provide added
5.2 Recommendation
(i) I recommend 5mm mild steel plate to be used for rigidity purpose for future
study.
(ii) Brittle material must not be used for the fabrication of manual block mold
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(iii) Anti-rust paint must be used to prevent corrosion and wear.
(iv) Stainless or cast electrode should not be used to join mild steel material
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APPENDIXES
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