Introduction

Throughout this project, my cross-functional team and I embarked on the challenging task of engineering a highly efficient taffy puller system. Our design incorporated a meticulously crafted configuration, comprising a single stationary prong and two dynamically operated cranks capable of withstanding substantial forces generated during the taffy pulling process. Our comprehensive approach encompassed careful considerations of various critical factors, including material selection, thorough analysis of stresses induced by cyclic and dead loads, precise evaluation of prong deflection, and a rigorous assessment of the design's fatigue life. By addressing these intricate engineering aspects, we successfully developed a robust and reliable taffy puller system that meets the demanding requirements of the industry.

Project Requirements

• Must include 1 stationary prong and 2 dynamic cranks.

• Must fit within a space 1 m wide and 1.5 m long.

• The rotation diameters of each moving prong should not be less than 0.5 m.

• Materials requirement: Custom 450 (H900) or 17-4PH (H900) stainless steel.

• Avoid yield failure: 1296.2MPa (n= 2)

• Avoid deflection failure: δmax = 50 mm

• Avoid fatigue failure : 500,000 cycles (n = 4)

Solution

Below is the successful creation of a custom 3-prong taffy puller, which involved the design and construction of two rotating prongs centered around a fixed prong. This specialized equipment was engineered to withstand weights of up to 25kg. Additionally, I conducted thorough stress analyses on individual components, ensuring that the maximum deformation remained within a controlled limit of 50 mm. Moreover, I implemented a rigorous fatigue analysis to guarantee the product's longevity, achieving an impressive lifetime of 500,000 cycles.