RECONDITIONING OF TWO COLUMN AUTOMOTIVE PILLAR LIFT

Abstract

The reconditioning an abandoned, non-functioning automotive lift in the Autolab workshop of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, has been carried out successfully. Replacing the equipment with new one would be an expensive, while reconditioning it helps to restore its functionability at minimal cost, and with quality close to that of a new one. In doing this, the defective parts were identified after careful study of the equipment, these parts were dissembled and repaired or replaced with functioning ones and finally reassembled back. The functionability of the equipment was also improved upon by employing Pascal’s principle to increase its carrying capacity from 10,000 lbs (4536 kg equivalent) to 12,000 lbs (5443 kg). A computer-aided design of the equipment’s frames was carried out using SolidWorks which was used to execute its structural analysis to simulate the response of stresses the equipment was subjected to in the course of usage. After the reconditioning process, the equipment was subjected to performance tests such as no-loading test, operational test and load-holding device test to ascertain its functionality and evaluate its performance. The equipment performed effectively and efficiently upon these tests, and it was also shown that its capacity is 20% greater than its installed capacity before reconditioning. The total cost expended in the course of the reconditioning work on the equipment was four hundred and fifty thousand naira only (₦ 450,000:00), and this helped to save cost and efforts of procuring and importing a new equipment