The casting of parts by pouring molten metal into a mold has been a popular and efficient way to make parts for some time. However, despite the wide spread use of this technology, it can still be a time intensive and costly endeavor for one to undertake if the proper equipment and facilities are not present. In addition, even in the event that the resources are readily available, it is still remarkably likely that a casted part will be of substandard quality or will have a disqualifying defect. It is for this reason that our team was solicited by Dr. P.A. Simionescu to construct a device that will allow the user to use the centrifugal casting method to make castings.

1. Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
School of Engineering and Computing Sciences
Coast Bend Business Plan Competition
Vertical Axis Centrifuge
Team:
Derek Veuleman
Samir Abusetta
Michael Frazier
Shumeng Wang
ShehryarNiazi
Advisor: Dr. P.A. Simionescu
MEEN 4340.001 Project Management – Fall 2013
Professor: Dr. Ruby Mehrubeoglu
Date: December 2, 2013

2. Vertical Axis Casting Centrifuge: A Game-Changer for the Industrial
Equipment Industry
The Market Idea
In the time since North and Hall succeeded in producing interchangeable parts in
the early 18th century, much has been done in industry to make sure that the equipment
that keeps businesses working is productive and reliable. However, as the industrial
revolution burgeoned a new level of reliability, machinery began to last ever longer.
The result is a large number of industrial machines that have long outlived their own
obsolescence, product line, and in some cases, even the manufacturer itself. This leaves
end-users in the precarious position of facing either astronomical redesign and
replacement costs, or the logistical nightmare of reverse engineering an obsolete
machine. Unfortunately, many who lack the knowledge or gumption to face the
challenge of reverse engineering end up simply paying a company to handle the
problem. In the process, a great deal of time and money are squandered on what is,
ostensibly, an easy way out.
The Product Idea
The problem described above is a common side effect of the ever-aging
infrastructure of our refineries, power plants, chemical manufacturing facilities, and city
utilities. The proposed solution is a device which is capable of using a centrifugal casting
process to make parts. Whereas many of the parts inside of any given machine are
made by conventional machining methods, a few of the more complex parts require a
process that is capable of more intricate details. With conventional casting, complex
shapes can be achieved by using a shaped mold. In centrifugal casting, the same level of
complexity can be achieved, but with fewer defects, significantly better material
properties, and near-net shape. The combination of better quality and less waste mean
that the profit potential for such a device is high. Whereas a conventional casting
operation must use a large portion of its capital on overhead costs due to scrapped
parts and extra labor, a small scale centrifugal casting outfit can produce small runs of
complex, hard-to-make parts. By doing this, the business can afford to sell these parts
at large margins while still undercutting the OEM's prices. The device in question will be
capable of this level of quality, as well as being reliable and easy to use. Please refer to
the appendix for cost and design data.
The Market Served
The idea here is to use the device to complement the services that industrial
equipment manufacturers and equipment repair centers already provide to their
customer base. These businesses will already have a great deal of the infrastructure in
place needed to sustain a casting operation, such as machining and drafting capabilities,
as well as safety procedures and zoned industrial facilities. Companies looking to
expand the scope of what they're able to offer their customers will take great interest in
the capabilities of this product.

3. The Customer Value
Value for the customer is created by the special nature of what this device is able
to achieve. Purchasing spare parts from an OEM often results in inflated prices and long
lead times. The reason for this is that many times, end-users have no one else to turn
to. When a critical piece of equipment breaks down, sometimes the only party capable
of producing a fix is the OEM. With the proposed product, the hope is that third party
shops become empowered to contest the OEM's market share and ultimately provide
the customer with higher quality products and faster turnarounds.
Revenue Generation
Revenue will initially be generated by limited retail sales to area businesses in
order to study the market impact and gauge customer interest. Once these variables
have been set, attempts will be made to license the idea to an existing manufacturer.
Since an established manufacturer will already have many important relationships with
clients, it would be wise to assimilate this product into their already existing market
share, rather than try to carve out a niche independently. After these deals are set,
revenue will be generated in the form of licensing fees collected from a participating
corporation.
Economic Impact for the Coastal Bend
Impact for the Coastal Bend will be large. As a result of the fact that the Coastal
Bend is beset on all sides by industrial businesses, such as refineries, chemical plants,
equipment repair shops, etc., a product like the one described could potentially be a
game-changer for businesses that haven't yet figured out how to procure higher profile
work. Also, this product encourages competition between OEMs and aftermarket parts
manufacturers. Whereas the OEM used to be the only place you could find particular
parts for your machine, now, many facilities will be capable of this type of
manufacturing. The resulting competition results in a buyer's market, which creates
added value for the customer. Hopefully, this competition will raise local standards
regarding manufacturing ability and quality, as well as create jobs for residents by giving
locals businesses a new venture to look into.

4. APPENDIX
Figure 1: Design of Vertical axis centrifuge
Figure 2: A flowchart describing the basic function of the vertical axis centrifuge

5. Table 1: A basic parts list and budget
Figure 4: A qualitative risk analysis table called risk matrix