Republic of the Philippines

University of Southeastern Philippines

Bislig Campus
Maharlika, Bislig City

AUTOMATIC WHITEBOARD CLEANER

(ME 516 – MECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROJECT)

Submitted to:

ENGR. ANASTACIO G. PANTALEON, JR.

Professor

Submitted by:
CYRIL L. OROZCO
Student

JANUARY 1, 2021
 SECTION 1

ABSTRACT

Blackboard or Whiteboard is a reusable writing surface on which text and drawings is

being written and draw. Through this a student can easily visualize the lessons and efficiently
acquired them. The concepts of learnings brought a huge impact in our educational systems.
Teachers and students are more reliable to visual and auditory ways of learning and for that
reason blackboard or whiteboard is one of the best materials to provide and suit in that learning
methods. Teachers and Students consumes a lot of time in cleaning the board. To cope with these
new technologies have been develop. This project design an Automatic Whiteboard Cleaner that
cleans the whiteboard automatically and minimizes the amount of time being consume and
reduces the stress of manual cleaning. The mechanism of this project is in horizontal motion,
duster spans and moves horizontally across the width of the whiteboard to clean the board. The
principle of this project is that a switch is on and the motor transmit an energy to rotate the
sprockets which in turn drives the chain. The duster is fixed connected to the pulley and this
duster moves horizontally to clean the board.

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2

FIGURE 3

FIGURE 4
 FIELD OF INVENTION

The project presented a device that can clean automatically a whiteboard instead of
traditional manual cleaning or hand erasing in which this project reduces human efforts and time
consume in manual cleaning.

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

A whiteboard is a wipeable board with white surface used in every lecture rooms, office
buildings, etc. Whiteboard help us to visualize better the lessons or topics being discuss. In
today’s era of fast changing environment especially in the technological growths. This project is
implemented to make work easier, reduce human efforts and minimizes time being consume in
manual cleaning. Teachers as well as the students consumes a lot of time in just cleaning the
board. The fabrication of this automatic whiteboard cleaner will reduce the stressful nature of
board cleaning, this project adds a more lecture time for the teachers. Whiteboard becomes an
essential part of our educational system, office buildings, etc. Whiteboard also helps us in
forming ideas effectively and this project save time and it becomes easy for us to modify
discussions or lessons progresses.
 SECTION 2

PROJECT SUMMARY

The idea of the invention is to design an automatic whiteboard cleaner that can reduces
human effort and time consume in manual cleaning. By switching on the main controller, a dc
motor rotates and then drives the chain in which the duster/eraser is connected. This invention
uses the following materials: Whiteboard, DC motor, Steel rod, Duster, Switch, Chain Drive, and
Sprockets.

The materials use in the invention are all attached at the top and bottom of the whiteboard
except the duster to make the front view of the board neat and avoid any distraction to learners.

The invention is connected to an existing external supply. The operating voltage of the dc
motor which drives the system is 12 – 24 volts, voltage lower to that given range may cause the
attachment not to work and voltage higher to that given range may develop excessive heat to the
dc motor.

[001] Why am I doing this project? Whiteboard or Blackboard is an important device for
us to learn. As we can observed we spent a lot of time in just cleaning the board manually and
because of this the time we should spent for lectures time mostly goes to manual cleaning. In
order to solve this problem, the researcher proposed a project entitled “Automatic Whiteboard
Cleaner” that cleans the board automatically and this project minimizes the time consume in
manual cleaning and it also reduces the stressful nature of hand erasing.

[002] What should I do to make this project successful? First, I will research some related
studies of my project and the possible mechanism of an automatic whiteboard cleaner in order
for me to come up of my own algorithm. I also considered the factors that may affect the
mechanism of this project and find a solution about it. I will also research the materials that I’m
going to use and lastly the designing process.

[003] How should I do it? The first step is to make an algorithm (the flow of process),
second step is to find the materials the suit to my algorithm, third step is design, and fourth step
is assembling the prototype or the device, and lastly testing the prototype or device.
 [004] Who will be doing it? Me, the researcher.

[005] Where will it be done? Purok -1 Riverside District Mangagoy, Bislig City

[006] How long will it take? About 1 to 2 months

[007] How much will it cost? Estimated P600 – P3000

[008] Existing problem. Manual board cleaning consumes a lot of time and it minimizes
the time that should spent for lectures and it is a stressful nature for both lecturers and students.

[009] Why your onlookers/stakeholders/concerned persons must have their attention in

resolving the issue/problem? The onlookers must have their attention especially in resolving the
issues/problems concerning about this project. The project mechanism is design mechanically,
the onlookers must look-up about the safety of this device to this user. The onlookers must also
look-up about the arrangement of the components, in order for the students not to have access on
it must be concealed and only authorized personnel have the access for it.

[0010] List of goals and objectives that the project I am trying to achieve.

 Develop an algorithm for the Automatic Whiteboard Cleaner

 Design an Automatic Whiteboard Cleaner
 Establish an Automatic Whiteboard Cleaner that capable of erasing automatically instead
of manual hand erasing.

LIMITATIONS OF THE EXPERIMENT DONE

Due to lack of equipment available for the research to use, a large scale of whiteboard has
not been realized. Also, the dc motor is limited in speed since the board is in small to medium
scale.

BRIEF DISCUSSIONS OF THE DRAWING

In Figure 1 shows the view of the device with its component’s arrangements.
In Figure 2 is the illustration of the dc motor connected to a sprockets and chain drive.
 In Figure 3 is the illustration that shows the duster and supporting sprockets and the other
end of the board.
In Figure 4 is a block diagram that shows the algorithm of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In regards to the figure, a switch (SPDT) controls the flow of the device. If the switch is
on at the first terminal (ON #1) the dc motor runs in forward bias and the sprockets connected in
the dc motor drives the chain and the duster connected in the chain moves to the left in the same
direction with the chain drive. If the switch on in the second terminal (ON #2) the dc motor runs
in the reversed bias and the duster moves to the right same direction as the chain drive.

The researchers claim:

1. A device cleans automatically the whiteboard.

2. The device can be used by directly connecting to the external battery and also by a SPDT
switch to control the motion of the device.
3. The device may be less efficient but it minimizes time in cleaning the whiteboard
compared to manual cleaning.
 SECTION 3

PROJECT METHODOLOGY

The first process for the attainment of the goals and objectives of this study is the
researching of review and related studies both local and foreign studies and by using each prior
arts of existing studies in order to came up with my own process flow or algorithm of the project
for this one will act as the main guide for the design and establishment of the project.

The Second step or the second process is the searching of supply or materials that is
suitable for the algorithms and later on can be used for the design process of the project. In this
stage, a wide knowledge about the functions and specifications of each components or parts is
highly needed together with the cost estimations of all possible supply and materials needed for
the establishment of the design.

The third step is the development phase, in this stage involves the collecting of materials to
be used then testing of the functionality of each materials then lay outing the diagram or design
in a paper to become the guide for construction of project and finally organizing the final
materials to be used. The Construction of time frame is one of the most important in this stage
for this will serve as the time basis for the development of the project.

Outline
 Resources

1. Materials

a. White board
b. DC motor
c. Steel rod
d. Duster
e. Switch
f. Chain drive
g. Sprockets
  Tools used

2. For prototype

a. Flat nose plier

b. Metal saw
c. Hammer
d. Grinder
e. Stick glue
f. Nails
g. Wood
h. Nylon string

TASK ITEMIZATION

Task Month 1 Month 2

1 2 3 1 2 3 4

Developing of Algorithm

Designing an Automatic Whiteboard

Cleaner

Establishing or Constructing a
prototype
 SECTION 4

PROJECT RISK MANAGEMENT

A. Risk management plan

 Avoid using External supply greater than the motor specified voltage because it will
cause the amperage with corresponding heating and shortening of motor life.
Overheating of motor may start fire.
 Avoid putting any part of your body (especially hand) while the chain drive is moving
because it may cause pinching your fingers in a chain link or getting cut from chain
links that have a rough edge.
 Unauthorized Personnel should have no access to the device to avoid any incidents.

B. Risk register

 Overheating of Motor – to avoid this kind of accident, the external supply must be at
the range specified by the motor’s specification. In this case the motor is a dc motor
(12-24 volts) the external supply must not be less than 12 volts and must not exceed
24 volts.
 Being Cut by the Chain Drive – to avoid this kind of accident, the supply must be turn
off first before doing any kind of work at the chain drive such as replacing.
 Unauthorized Personnel having access to the device components may result to any
kind of accidents – to avoid this situation, the device main components must be
concealed and only authorized personnel should have an access for it.
 SECTION 5

PROJECT COST

DIRECT COST:
Cost Total
Materials pcs length (meter) Price (peso) (peso)
dc motor 1 395 395
sprockets 4 60 240
chain drive 2 510 1020
duster 3 24 72
whiteboard 1 120 120
TOTAL
COST: 1847

INDIRECT COST
no. of no. of days in a budget Cost total
weeks week (peso/day) (peso)
Snacks 7 7 20 980
internet 7 1 100 700
TOTAL
COST: 1680

SUMMATION OF
COST
Contigency Fund
Cost (10%) Total (peso)
Direct cost 1847 184.7 2031.7
Indirect Cost 1680 168 1848
TOTAL COST: 3879.7

Direct Cost are the cost of the supply materials or components to be use in the project. On
the other hand, is the indirect cost that involves cost not indirect to the project/study. Also,
contingency fund of 10% is added to support the budget.
 SECTION 6

This project “Automatic Whiteboard Cleaner” is a device that automatically clean the
board instead of traditional manual cleaning that consumes a lot of time and also minimizes the
time allotted for lectures. This project is easy to use and the materials or components being used
are not quite expensive, the mechanical design and its operation is not difficult to understand.
This project will also pave the way for modern technology and help our educational system, this
project has still a lot of things to improve. As a recommendation for other researchers, this
project is in mechanical operation and it would be better if both combination of mechanical and
electronic system is use as the design of this project

SECTION 7

DOCUMENTATION

EVALUATION RUBRICS

Area to Assess Beyond Expected Satisfactory Acceptable Unacceptable

Expectation

Proposal 0% ≥ 10% 10% ≥ 20% 20% ≥ 30% 30% ≥ 40% 40% ≥ 100%
Defense Error Error Error Error

function in
multidisciplina
ry and multi
cultural teams

identify,
formulate,
and solve
mechanical
 engineering
problems

understand
professional
and ethical
responsibility

recognize the
need for, and
engage in
life-long
learning

know
contemporary
issues

Area to Assess Beyond Expected Satisfactory Acceptable Unacceptable

Expectation

Direction of the 0% ≥ 10% 10% ≥ 20% 20% ≥ 30% 30% ≥ 40% 40% ≥ 100%
Error Error Error Error
Research Project

apply knowledge
of
mathematics and
science to solve
mechanical
engineering
problems

design and
conduct
experiments, as
well as to
analyze and
interpret data
design a system,
component, or
process to meet
desired needs
within realistic
constraints, in
accordance with
standards

use techniques,
skills, and
modern
engineering tools
necessary for
mechanical
engineering
practice

Area to Assess Beyond Expected Satisfactory Acceptable Unacceptable

Expectation

Knowledge 0% ≥ 10% 10% ≥ 20% 20% ≥ 30% 30% ≥ 40% 40% ≥ 100%
Error Error
Production/Innov Error Error
ation

apply knowledge
of
mathematics and
science to solve
mechanical
engineering
problems

design and
conduct
experiments, as
well as to
analyze and
interpret data

design a system,
component, or
process to meet
desired needs
within realistic
constraints, in
accordance with
standards

use techniques,
skills, and
modern
engineering tools
necessary for
mechanical
engineering
practice

communicate
effectively

understand the
impact of
mechanical
engineering
solutions in a
global,
economic,
environmental,
and societal
context