Course
Course: ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
Session: 2014/2015 – Term 2
Lecturer: Eur Ing Dr Alec D Coutroubis
Assignment 1
Title: Redesigning the disposable BIC ballpoint pen.
Brief:
You have been employed by Société Bic as the manager of ‘Environmentally Friendly Product Development for disposable ballpoint pens. Analyse the physical product (the standard BIC pen) and, having performed a ‘reverse’ Environmental Life Cycle Assessment, recommend changes in its design and manufacture in order to minimise its environmental impact without compromising on its function or reliability.
The following steps will be carried out during this assignment
1. Analyse the physical product that is the standard BIC pen
2. Perform a ‘reverse’ Environmental Life Cycle Assessment. (LCA)
3. Recommend changes in Design in order to minimise its environmental impact without compromising on its function or reliability.
4. Recommend changes in manufacturing in order to minimise its environmental impact without compromising on its function or reliability.
1. Analysing the BIC pen.
The cap, barrel, joint support, plug and cartridge container
Bic pen’s cap, barrel, joint support, plug and cartridge container the plastic parts of the pen is made of polypropylene. The cap, barrel, joint support, plug and cartridge container are fabricated through a process called injection moulding. Plastic pellets are heated through a barrel and then the melted plastic is injected into a mould to make the different polypropylene parts.
The ball bearing
The ball bearing is made of a textured tungsten carbide. The material is superior to other metal such as steel as it has the particular property of being resistant to deformation. The ball is designed to be a perfect sphere that can literally grip most any writing surface. Its surface is actually composed of over 50,000 polished surfaces and pits. The pits are connected by a series of channels that are continuous throughout the entire sphere. This design allows the
Session: 2014/2015 – Term 2
Lecturer: Eur Ing Dr Alec D Coutroubis
Assignment 1
Title: Redesigning the disposable BIC ballpoint pen.
Brief:
You have been employed by Société Bic as the manager of ‘Environmentally Friendly Product Development for disposable ballpoint pens. Analyse the physical product (the standard BIC pen) and, having performed a ‘reverse’ Environmental Life Cycle Assessment, recommend changes in its design and manufacture in order to minimise its environmental impact without compromising on its function or reliability.
The following steps will be carried out during this assignment
1. Analyse the physical product that is the standard BIC pen
2. Perform a ‘reverse’ Environmental Life Cycle Assessment. (LCA)
3. Recommend changes in Design in order to minimise its environmental impact without compromising on its function or reliability.
4. Recommend changes in manufacturing in order to minimise its environmental impact without compromising on its function or reliability.
1. Analysing the BIC pen.
The cap, barrel, joint support, plug and cartridge container
Bic pen’s cap, barrel, joint support, plug and cartridge container the plastic parts of the pen is made of polypropylene. The cap, barrel, joint support, plug and cartridge container are fabricated through a process called injection moulding. Plastic pellets are heated through a barrel and then the melted plastic is injected into a mould to make the different polypropylene parts.
The ball bearing
The ball bearing is made of a textured tungsten carbide. The material is superior to other metal such as steel as it has the particular property of being resistant to deformation. The ball is designed to be a perfect sphere that can literally grip most any writing surface. Its surface is actually composed of over 50,000 polished surfaces and pits. The pits are connected by a series of channels that are continuous throughout the entire sphere. This design allows the