Endurance test device for microwave oven door system and interlocks at the Bureau of Product Standards Testing Center (BPSTC)

• Main Author: Arada, Gerald P.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2006
• Subjects: Commercial products > Testing > Standards > Philippines
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/3615
• Institution: De La Salle University

Microwave oven is one great invention dating 20th century. Cooking and heating in a short amount of time, it is extremely efficient on the use of electricity because a microwave oven heats only the food, nothing else. All ovens have two independent interlock systems that stop the production of microwaves the moment the latch is released or the door opened. Old or faulty door interlocks are the most common causes of microwave radiation leakage. Mechanical abuse, a build-up of dirt, or simple wear and tear of continued use can cause door interlocks to be less effective. This is the reason why endurance or stress testing must be employed to ensure safety of the use of the appliance. The objective of the practicum project is to install and operate a test device system that would subject the door interlocks of a microwave oven to endurance test so as to simulate the normal use of the said appliance. The principles of pneumatics and electro-pneumatics will be employed. Chapter 1 starts with the introduction of the company - the Bureau of Product Standards, its origin and its functions as an agency under Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Specifically, Bureau of Product Standards Testing Center's (BPSTC) roles and activities are enumerated. The objectives, general and specific, and the significance of the project are also presented. This chapter puts emphasis on the purpose of the project and established the need of installing and operating the test device system the soonest time possible because of the high demand for product testing. Having narrowed down the objective of the Practicum, the report then proceeds to the Practicum Program. Chapter 2 contains the works and activities undergone during the Practicum. The Gantt chart is presented to aid the reader to straightforwardly see the time spent by the trainee for every activity performed. Since the program is practically project making, the trainee was confronted with all sorts of problems technically and financially to state the major ones. Being persistent, strong-minded and conscientious enough, the trainee wholeheartedly spent a great deal of his time and effort, and exhausted all his resources to address the foregoing predicaments. One by one solutions for each problem came about, with the help of BPSTC engineers and staff. Consequently, the trainee acquired positive results from the Practicum program. Intellectual growth and technical ability enhancement were some of the most important gains that the trainee had acquired from the training. The crucial segment of the reports is in Chapter 3, which is the Practicum Project. Careful planning on the sequence of the topics for the discussions had been carried out. The trainee first laid out the principles to establish the project requirements and specifications that conform to the objectives stated in Chapter 1. The block diagram of the system, its ladder diagram, the circuit operation and the maintenance procedures were made available. The contents of this chapter primarily will be of help to the engineers of BPSTC in the usage of the device and in faultfinding whenever operational problems occur. As the project still requires some modifications, The Center Manager approved of the project up to some extent. He is advised by the Industry Adviser that as long as he will see the project working, the other requirements and improvements will be carried out by the engineers of the Electrical Testing Laboratory Section. Nevertheless, the trainee was able to satisfy and complete the condition set by the Center Manager. Finally, the report ends with the recommendations, in which the possible improvements on the project that the Center will carry out in the future are enumerated.