CHINHOYI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF PRODUCTION ENGINEERING INTERNSHIP
REPORT
FOR
CHIPORIRO MUNASHE

C20141593I
REPORTING PERIOD: 01 OCTOBER 2023-31 JUNE 2024

CHINHOYI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION AND

BUSINESS INCUBATION HUB

INDUSTRIAL SUPERVISOR:

SUPERVISOR: ENG MLAMBO

Report submitted in partial fulfillment of Bachelor of Technology Honors Degree
in PRODUCTION ENGINEERING

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 ABSTRACT

The main aim or goal of the Innovation HUB is to promote and implement Education 5.0 by
facilitating the creation of innovative projects from students across various schools within the
University. The incubation hub primarily focuses on generating rapid solutions to the nation’s
problems by leveraging smart technology and software development to improve living standards.
All areas, including agriculture and mining, are covered as areas of interest at the Innovation
HUB.

This document summarizes all the activities and duties I carried out at the Innovation HUB during
my attachment period from October 2023 to July 31, 2024, as a technical assistant. My duty was
to address and resolve all engineering issues and areas requiring attention, as well as to design
new systems to overcome the challenges faced by the Innovation HUB.

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First and foremost, I extend my deepest gratitude to the Almighty for guiding me through this
journey. Without His blessings and grace, none of this would have been possible.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the School of Production Engineering and its
esteemed supervisors. Their unwavering support and mentorship have played a crucial role in
shaping my skills and knowledge in the field.

To the Innovation HUB organization and its supervisors, I am truly thankful for the opportunity to be
part of such an innovative and dynamic environment. Their guidance and encouragement have
been invaluable in my professional development.

I am also indebted to my dear mother for her sacrifices, both financially and emotionally. Her constant
support, guidance, and spiritual strength have been my pillars of strength throughout this
journey. Additionally, I extend my heartfelt thanks to my uncle for providing accommodation and
invaluable guidance.

To all those who have contributed to my growth and learning, I am sincerely grateful. This journey
would not have been possible without each and every one of you.

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DECLARATION

I, CHIPORIRO MUNASHE with registration number C20141593, declare that this attachment report is my
original work and has not been submitted to any academic
institution worldwide.

STUDENT’S DECLARATION
Signature:…....................................................................Date: 17/12/2021

SUPERVISOR’S DECLARATION
This Industrial attachment report has been submitted with my approval as the University’s supervisor for
the student.

Name:………………………………………………………..Date:…………………………………….. Signature:

……………………………………………………

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Contents
ABSTRACT...................................................................................................................................................ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...........................................................................................................................iii
DECLARATION...........................................................................................................................................iv
STUDENT’S DECLARATION....................................................................................................................iv
SUPERVISOR’S DECLARATION..............................................................................................................iv
List of figures................................................................................................................................................vii
1.0 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER........................................................................................1
1.1 BACKGROUND......................................................................................................................................1
1.1.2 Thrust/Core Business of the University................................................................................................2
1.2 ORGANIZATIONAL LOCATION.........................................................................................................2
1.3 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE......................................................................................................3
1.4 VISION....................................................................................................................................................4
1.5 MISSION.................................................................................................................................................4
1.6 CORE VALUES......................................................................................................................................4
1.7 DEPARTMENTS OVERVIEW..............................................................................................................4
1.8 PRODUCTS AND MARKETS...............................................................................................................5
1.8 Functions performed by Engineers..........................................................................................................6
2.0 CHAPTER 2: INTERNSHIP ACTIVITIES/ASSIGNMENTS................................................................7
2.1.1 Bolts and Nuts.......................................................................................................................................7
2.1.2 Tool post fixing.....................................................................................................................................8
2.1.3 Wheel Chair hubs..................................................................................................................................9
2.2.1 PCB Design of a wire bending machine.............................................................................................12
2.2.2 PCB Design and Fabrication...............................................................................................................15
2.2.3 Induction stove PCB design and fabrication......................................................................................17
2.2.4 CNC PCB Drilling Machine Controller................................................................................................18
2.2.5 Alarm System using Ultrasonic Sensor..............................................................................................23
2.3 Arduino C language Programming.........................................................................................................24
2.4 3D Printing.............................................................................................................................................26
2.5 Bottle filling prototype development.....................................................................................................27
2.6 Maintenance of equipment and machinery............................................................................................27

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3.0 CHAPTER 3 EXPERIENCES GAINED...............................................................................................28
3.1 NEW SKILLS GAINED........................................................................................................................28
3.1.1 TECHNICAL SKILLS........................................................................................................................28
3.1.2 SOFTWARE SKILLS.........................................................................................................................28
3.1.3 OTHER SKILLS.................................................................................................................................29
3.2 RESPONSIBILITIES AND CHALLENGES........................................................................................29
3.3 FUTURE CARRER PLANS..................................................................................................................30
3.4 RELATIONSHIP OF THE INTERNSHIP TO THE STUDIES...........................................................31
4.0 CHAPTER 4: CONCLUSIONS OF THE REPORT.............................................................................32
4.1 SUMMARY...........................................................................................................................................32
4.2 CONCLUSION......................................................................................................................................33
4.3 Recommendations..................................................................................................................................34
5.0 Appendices and supplementary material................................................................................................35
5.1 References..............................................................................................................................................39

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List of figures

Figure 2.1: The figure above shows the bolts that were machined by the CNC lathe
machine............................................................................................................................................................................ 8
Figure 2.2: The wheel chair HUB after being machined one side.........................................10
Figure 2.3: The wheel chair HUB being machined..........................................................................10
Figure 2.4: The extrusion screw after the machining with the CNC lathe machine
........................................................................................................................................................................................... 11
Figure 2.5: This picture shows the difference in the coolant after being drained
and the new one to be replaced.................................................................................................................... 12
Figure 2.6: The wire bending machine double sided PCB..........................................................13
Figure 2.7: The component side of the wire bending machine PCB....................................14
Figure 2.8: The PCB of the stepper motor driver circuit............................................................16
Figure 2.9 The stepper motor driver circuit still on a vero board under
development............................................................................................................................................................... 17
Figure 2.10: The PCB layout print out for the CNC PCB Drilling machine.....................18
Figure 2.11: The CNC PCB drilling machine controller board after etching................19
Figure 2.12: The PCB tracks layout after the pressing and pilling off the paper.....20
Figure 2.13: The PCB laminate after the etching process and ready for drilling.....21
Figure 2.14: The CNC PCB drilling machine PCB after all the processes and ready
for population........................................................................................................................................................... 22
Figure 2.15 The PCB after etching............................................................................................................. 23
Figure 2.16: The alarm system and the 3D printed casing.......................................................23
Figure 2.17: The final system ready to be boxed and for use for security r easons 24
Figure 2.18 The volume meter under development........................................................................25
Figure 2.19: The LED matrix display after being programmed.............................................25
Figure 2.20: LED matrix display showing the vision 2030 message...................................26
Fig 2.21: The mechanical structure frame after welding process.......................................27
Figure 5.1: The 12VDC laptop and cell phone charger in testing stage..........................35
Figure 5.2: LCD showing the Inductance meter whilst testing...............................................35
Figure 5.3: 3 phase wiring of the CNC lather under maintenance of the tool post 36
Figure 5.4: Old inverter under troubleshooting................................................................................37
Figure 5.5: On top of the building installing security cameras............................................38

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 1.0 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER

1.1 BACKGROUND
The Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) began as a degree program under the
auspices of the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) in 1999, according to the university's website.
It was founded in response to the Chetsanga Commission's suggestion that Chinhoyi
Technical Teachers College and other similar colleges be converted into degree-granting
institutions. As a result of this process, the Chinhoyi Degree Programs were born, which
then offered two degree programs: Production Engineering and Hospitality & Tourism.
From 1999 to 2001, when Chinhoyi University of Technology was formed by Act of
Parliament number 15, the Chinhoyi Degree programs were run by the University of
Zimbabwe. Professor Charles Muchemwa Nherera was appointed as Acting Pro Vice
Chancellor to run the degree program and develop the institution into a fully-fledged
University. His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Comrade Robert
Gabriel Mugabe, was at the helm, as was the case with all Universities, and leading the
administration was Professor Charles Muchemwa Nherera, who was appointed as Acting
Pro Vice Chancellor to run the degree program and develop the institution into a fully-
fledged University. The Chancellor and Vice Chancellor were installed on November 23,
2003, in front of a large crowd from around the country. A transitional concept paper was
created by the university. The paper's major goal was to convert former college programs
into diploma programs at Chinhoyi University of Technology and to improve the related
academic norms. The transitional concept paper also addressed how the University would
absorb the previous college employees. The university conducted audits in all departments.
The selection methods and procedures at the university were established in a fair and
transparent manner. The government also provided a relatively good infrastructure to the
university. The HEXCO and DTE students were also adopted by the university.

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 Thrust/Core Business of the University
Chinhoyi University of Technology is a public university that focuses on teaching, learning,
research, and community service.
It confers certifications and degrees in a variety of technologically oriented areas and
programs. Chinhoyi University of Technology's principal goal is to lead the way in
discovering solutions to national issues. As a result, being technologically oriented, provides
a foundation for resolving Zimbabwe's problems. The organization's technical bias provides
students with sufficient professional training as well as cultural enlightenment, as evidenced
by the university's motto, "Technology, Innovation, and Wealth." In this order, an
enlightened productive sector emerges.

The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education established the Chinhoyi University
Innovation and Business Incubation in 2018, and the President of Zimbabwe, His
Excellency Cde Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, officially opened it in on 3 October
2020. It was constructed with the goal of exercising and promoting education 5.0, as well as
serving as a center for innovation and business incubation. That is, it fulfills the dual
purposes of developing solutions to the nation's issues while also generating foreign
currency and sustaining local industry and enterprises. The website www.cut.ac.zw contains
information about the institution.

1.2 ORGANIZATIONAL LOCATION

The Chinhoyi University of Technology is located off the Harare Chirundu Highway on
Magamba road with a Private Bag address 7724.

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 1.3 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
Chancellor

Council

Vice Chancellor

Pro-Vice Chancellor Pro-Vice Chancellor

Academic affairs Adminstartive Departments Research and Resource

mobilasation

Registrar Bursar Librarian

Dean of Dean- Agric Dean Eng Director

Dean Centre Internal Dean of Director ICT Director
commerce Eng & Tech Sci & tech Works and Innovation and
for lifelong audit Student Marketing Director
Estates Business
and PR
Deputy Incubation HUB
Chair Ent Regi Director Deputy
Chair Chair All Chair Data Deputy
of Bursar
Agric depts Creative base librarian
Exams campus
and Art
Ofiice life and
Secretary Secretary Secretary Secretary student Ass Bursar Technica
accountin Ass
Ass reg dvt l Officers
Other librari
Other Other Personal programs
academi Other
academi academi Ass bur
c staff acad Analyst Tech Ass
c staff c staff Direcor specific
emi
Ass Reg sports , funds Programme
Chair Chair Chair adult Admissio culture
Chair
Accountin Fuels&ener and n and Reader
Irrigati
continuing Ass Bur service
on
Ass Reg Students
Secretary Secretar Students Director accounts
Secretar
Secretar records Health Sci Adminstrator
Other Other Purchasin
Other
academic academi g Officer
academi Other
staff c staff HIV & AIDS
c staff academi
c staff prog Secretary
Chair Chair coordinator
Internatio
Administrator
Environm Senior
Chair ICT Chair
nal ental ENg Assistant
and Mechatronics Chaplain Secretary
Marketin Technician
Electronics
Other non-
Secretar Secretar
Secretar academic
Secretar
Other staff
Other Other
academic
Other academi academi
staff
academi c staff c staff
c staff

Chair Secretary Other academic staff

Purchasing

Chair Consumer Secretary Other

academic
staff

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1.4 VISION
 To be the world class center of technological Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

1.5 MISSION
 To produce innovative graduates, create knowledge, enhance entrepreneurship and
provide community service through quality teaching, training and technologically-
oriented research.

1.6 CORE VALUES

 Integrity
 Excellency
 Dynamism
 Entrepreneurship
 Democracy
 Culture

1.7 DEPARTMENTS OVERVIEW

Chinhoyi University of Technology is divided into several departments which work hand in
hand with one another to achieve greater things the University has achieved so far. The
departments are as follows:
 Bursary
 Library
 Human Resource Management
 Public Relations
 Academic Registry
 Internal Audit
 Student Affairs and Registry
 Work and Estates
 I.C.T
 Central services

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  Academic staff
 Non academic staff

1.8 PRODUCTS AND MARKETS

 Students from High School to undergraduate programs
 Diploma holders and graduate students
 Post graduate students coming to the University
 Guests and visitors are welcomed to the 2 hotels of the University
 Dairy Farm at the Agro Industrial Park project producing milking projects.
 Cattle projects like block licks at the Farm.
 Dish washing liquid, Sanitizer and Disinfectants from the Innovation HUB
 Bolts, nuts, ball joints, wheel chair hubs, screws and CNC lathe machining products
from the Innovation HUB
 The Innovation HUB is also making 3D printed objects.
 Electronics systems and electrical components such as inverters, quad copters, LED
matrix display etc.

The Innovation HUB targets its customers from the local residents, local institutions,
and companies surrounding Zimbabwe which needs the services as they are very cheap
and affordable also available.

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1.8 Functions performed by Engineers

Chinhoyi University of Technology has many departments which work hand in hand to service
the University and help it fly is flag high. They are several engineers at the University and all of
them distributed among different work spaces. Production engineers, agricultural engineers,
environmental engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, computer and software
engineers, mechatronics engineers and fuels and energy engineers are all different types of
engineers available at Chinhoyi University of Technology.
 Production engineers mainly focus into the manufacturing of machines and
equipment that the University needs such as furniture, desks and chairs, spare parts
for buses and other vehicles.
 Agricultural engineers attend to the farm of the University and taking care of all the
equipment and activities at the farm. Some of the engineers are academic engineers
who teach students various courses
 Electrical engineers keep the University shining and bright by maintaining the
lighting system of the institution and also all electrical issues around the premises
and all the departments of the institution.
 Computer and Software engineers work tiresomely distributing the network to each
and every department and servicing every department so they experience better
services. The engineers also make online learning possible. They support the website
and all online platforms of the University so that they are always functional.
 Mechatronics engineers work in the department of mechatronics where all the
Innovations are being carried out. All designs that have to do with electronics,
electrical and software engineering are dealt with in the department of Mechatronics
Engineering. New designs are made, repairing of electronic and electrical gadgets

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 2.0 CHAPTER 2: INTERNSHIP ACTIVITIES/ASSIGNMENTS

All the activities that were carried out during the period from OCTOBER 2023 to JUNE 2024
will be summarized in this chapter.

2.1 During the attachment period, a variety of activities were undertaken, encompassing
different types. I will commence by detailing all the CNC job operations that I carried out.

2.1.1 Bolts and Nuts

The machining of bolts and nuts of different sizes using the CNC lathe machine was performed by a group
of individuals, including the machinist, myself as the operator, and my academic supervisor, Mr. Mlambo,
who assisted in programming and operating the lathe machine.

 Bolts of different sizes were machined that is M20s, M16 and M14 bolts and their
respective nuts.
 The M20 bolt was 80mm in length, M16 being 40mm and M14 were 40mm in length
also.
 Work pieces of the bolts were made from the main campus and came with the hexagonal
part already machined to counter for the head of the bolt and the nut.
 The machining process took two working days as we had a challenge in changing the tool
so the process of changing the tool was manually done and taking much of the time.
 The code was generated with the help of Mr Mlambo and Mr Sabau and we used the code
for machining all the bolts and nuts and just altering were we needed to do another set of
bolts.
 The machining of bolts and nuts were done in 2 processes: that is turning and threading
of the bolt using the lathe machine.
 Nuts were then made from the main campus since we didn’t have the inside threading
tool so we then shifted to the main campus.
 I learned how to make bolts using the CNC lathe machine.
Pictures of the bolts and nuts are attached below:

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Figure 2.1: The figure above shows the bolts that were machined by the CNC
lathe machine.

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2.1.2 FRUIT JUICE MAKER

The range juice maker project arose from the necessity for a machine capable of producing
pure orange juice. This endeavor involved collaboration among engineers from various
fields and required considerable time. The initial stage involved the design process.

1. Gathering Customer Requirements: Understand the needs and preferences of customers

regarding the orange juice maker. This involves conducting surveys, interviews, and market
research to identify key features and functionalities desired by the target audience.

2. Defining Design Objectives: Based on the gathered requirements, establishing clear

design objectives and specifications for the orange juice maker. This included determining
factors such as juice extraction capacity, speed, ease of use, safety features, and aesthetics.

3. Conceptual Design: Generated initial design concepts and ideas that address the identified
requirements and objectives. Explore various design alternatives and evaluate their
feasibility in meeting customer needs. Consider factors such as mechanical design,
component layout, and overall system architecture.

4. Detailed Design: Refined the selected design concept into detailed specifications and
schematics. Develop comprehensive CAD (Computer-Aided Design) models of individual
components and subsystems using Solid-works. Ensured that the design meets all functional
and performance requirements.

5. Component Selection and Procurement: Identified and selected suitable materials,

components, and parts for the orange juice maker based on the design specifications.
Procure necessary components from suppliers while considering factors such as quality,
cost, and availability.

6. Prototype Development: Build a functional prototype of the orange juice maker based on
the finalized design. This involves fabricating and assembling the components according to
the CAD models. Test the prototype to validate its performance, functionality, and
reliability.

7. Iterative Testing and Optimization: Conducted rigorous testing and evaluation of the
prototype to identify any design flaws, weaknesses, or areas for improvement. Iterate on the
design based on test results and feedback, making necessary modifications to enhance the
product's performance and usability.

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Figure 2.2

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2.1.3 MAINTANANCE OF RO
At the INNOVATION HUB we have a water treatment plant , that uses the concept of Reverse
Osmosis to treaty the water . The plant is made up of 3 stages , namely the purification , bottling
and capping process . The rate of flow of pure water was very low ,this required the attention of
Engineers to trouble shoot the system . A team of electrical and mechanical Engineers was
selected to trouble shoot the system .

 The first step was to analyse the flow rate and possible causes
 The next task was to check the operations of all pumps on the plant and their flow rate
 Then we analyse the operation of all filters first , we analyse the operations of pre-filters , then
ultra filters . we also conducted back-flow on all these filters just to make sure they are operating
at optimum levels .We moved on to AGC and Sand filters .
 After being satisfied with the operation and efficiency rate of all the filters , moved on to check
for any possible linkage or blockage in the pipes .
 The last task was to analyse the operation of the main filter (the reverse osmosis membranes ).
We disconnected the membranes from the rest of the plant and started testing the flow rates and
deduced that the membranes were not operating at optimum levels.
 We initial back-flow them in an attempt to clean them but it did work so we had to procure other
membranes and install them

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2.1.4 PRODUCTION OF DETERGENTS

- The innovation hub also have a department that manufactures detergents , that includes toilet
cleaners , dishwashers , ethanol and other chemicals . As a production Engineering student I was
tasked with a task to monitor the production of the detergents , identifying bottle neck processes
and possible areas that needs improvements at the same time assisting them in manufacturing the
detergents.
 First stage was to weigh the ingredients needed for manufacture of detergents .
 Then the ingredients were then mixed and stirred for a while to mix them using a stirring
mechanism
 After that the chemicals are boiled in a boiler up to a certain required temperatures , then
a cooling process starts
 After cooling a chemical test and viscosity test are conducted
 The concentrated chemicals are then added into a diluting tank where pure water from
reverse osmosis is added at a known ratio .
 After this the packaging process then starts , unfortunately its partial manual

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2.1.5 SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AT THE FARM
The Innovation Hub is responsible for scheduled maintenance of equipment at the farm on
monthly basics .
MAINTENANCE OF THE FEED FACTORY PLANT
 Maintenance of blower on boiler by replaying the worn motor and also adding VFD to
control the new motor.
 After installation and maintenance of boiler , the boiler started producing the required
water vapour pressure , but the the water vapor reaching palatalization plant was still very
low .
 After some trouble shooting the root cause was identified to be the GAS TRAPPER
 We conducted research on the operations of Gas trapper and how it controls flow of gas ,
and concluded that the gas trapper needed simple maintenance .
 After maintenance of the Gas trapper the control system of the plant wasn’t operating at
optimum levels so we had to analyse its operations and trouble shoot the electrical
circuits and solved the problem .


he component side of the wire bending machine PCB

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2.1.6 INSTALLATION OF WATER SYSTEM AT THE FARM

 The idea came when a specialized chip, the L293D, had a tendency of overheating and
failing. We carried ou some tests on a new design and managed to provide a more robust
alternative circuit. .
 The PCB design and schematic capture were done on Proteus software and came out
nicely
 The fabrication process of the PCB was done using the press and peel method
 For the small boards it would take me 20 to 30 minutes of ironing the copper laminate.
 Bond paper was used for printing the circuit design and ironing the tracks to the copper
laminate.
 After ironing the tracks I then dipped the copper laminate into cold water and wet all the
paper then leave it to dry
 After some minutes of exposing it to sun, I then do the peeling off the paper and left with
tracks which are nicely done and printed on the copper laminate.
 If there are some tracks which will not appear on the board, touch ups would be done
using masking tape drawing the tracks which failed to come due to the quality of the
paper.
 A solution of ferric chloride acid is the one we were using for etching as an etchant
solution. The etching solution takes time depending on the size of the board you have,
since every process was manual so shaking the bin container up until the result comes out
was tiresome and takes much of the time.
 When the PCB is ready the drilling process the nex step involves centre punching the
holes using a surgical blade.
 I used a normal hand drilling machine for drilling and the 1 mm drill bit attached to the
chuck.
The next pages there are pictures which shows the processes being carried out

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Figure 2.8: The PCB of the stepper motor driver circuit

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 Figure 2.9 The stepper motor driver circuit still on a vero board under
development

2.1.7 Induction stove PCB design and fabrication

 An induction stove is one of the new technologies emerging in the developed countries
which are energy saving and efficient.
 Induction stoves heat up very fast and only to the surface of the pot or pan which is
placed on the stove there by reducing the amount of energy used. Inducion cooking is
also much faster.
 The design and fabrication of the circuit was made through the same steps listed in 2.2.2
 An H-bridge circuit was used in the circuit design.
A picture which shows the PCB of the Induction stove is attached below:

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2.1.8 CNC PCB Drilling Machine Controller
 This board was one of the biggest boards which I fabricated using the press and peel
method.
 I did the board with much experience and passion and it came out nicely. My supervisor
was very much impressed with the quality of the resulting PCB.
 As it was bigger, it took much of my time. Pressing and peeling took 2 hours and 30.
 I took an hour doing the etching and they were no touch ups to be done as all the tracks
came out as printed on the PCB design.
 Drilling was a 2 working day job as the hand drill was not portable and tiresome to
handle.
Below are the stages of the PCB while it was being made up until it was populated

Figure 2.10: The PCB layout print out for the CNC PCB Drilling machine

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Figure 2.11: The CNC PCB drilling machine controller board after etching

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Figure 2.12: The PCB tracks layout after the pressing and pilling off the paper

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Figure 2.13: The PCB laminate after the etching process and ready for drilling.

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Figure 2.14: The CNC PCB drilling machine PCB after all the processes and
ready for population.

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2.1.9 Alarm System using Ultrasonic Sensor
 As a side part of my job I designed an alarm system of ultrasonic sensors using an
ATMega328p and a buzzer.
 I fabricated and designed the small PCB and populated
it. Below are the pictures of the alarm system

Figure 2.15 The PCB after etching

Figure 2.16: The alarm system and the 3D printed casing

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 Figure 2.17: The final system ready to be boxed and for use for security reasons

2.2 Arduino C language Programming

2.2.1 Programming the CNC control board on an Arduino Mega

2.2.2 Programming the Stepper motor driver board which was being controlled on an Arduino
UNO board

2.2.3 Programming of an ultrasonic sensor alarm system using an Arduino Uno

2.2.4 Programming an Arduino Uno for measuring liquid volume in a mixer

tank Below is the image of the system for measuring the volume of liquid in a tank.

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 Figure 2.18 The volume meter under development

2.2.5 Programming images and text on the LED Matrix Display

Here are some images which show some of the images and texts I programmed

Figure 2.19: The LED matrix display after being programmed

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 Figure 2.20: LED matrix display showing the vision 2030 message

2.3 3D Printing
3D printing was one of the most fascinating things to do at the HUB and it would actually come
up with nice shapes as you desire and want.

2.3.1 Designing of 3D objects was done on Solid works software for complex shapes and tinker
CAD for small and simpler shapes

 During my attachment period I designed a lot of objects and printed them using the
Creator Pro 3D printer
 The printer uses 1.75mm diameter PLA filament which is printed at a temperature of
220℃
 This is a non-exhaustive list of some of the 3D printed objects:
 CNC controller box for GRBL controller and Mega controller
 Key holders
 Gears and supports for the wire bender machine
 Stepper motor covers
 Leg covers for frames
 Nozzles

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 2.4 Bottle filling prototype development

Designing and development of the bottle filling prototype project for the Innovation HUB. PCB
design for the controller and mechanical design for the frame

Fig 2.21: The mechanical structure frame after welding process

2.5 Maintenance of equipment and machinery

Some of my day to day activities during the internship period included to maintain the equipment
and machinery of the Innovation HUB.

2.5.1 Electrical repairs and problems were emergency attention was needed I would attend to
everything. Monitoring the solar system, clearing faults and making sure that the building has electricity
24/7.

2.5.2 Water pump and supply of water into the building had to be checked on daily basis that
there is enough water for the pump to work efficiently and correctly.

2.5.3 R.O. plant maintenance and checking of all issues in operation

2.5.4 Variable Frequency Drive setup and maintenance for the mixer tank.

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 3.0 CHAPTER 3 EXPERIENCES GAINED

Chinhoyi University with its Innovation HUB taught me many things which I never knew to put
into application, but at the end of the internship period I was totally different. As a result of all
this in this chapter I will summarize some of the things that I have gained and learnt during this
period of 8 months.

3.1 NEW SKILLS GAINED

3.1.1 TECHNICAL SKILLS

 Press and peel of printed circuit board laminates
 Drilling of printed circuit boards (PCB)
 Populating of PCBs through soldering components
 3D printing using a creator Pro 3D printer
 Repairing and troubleshooting of inverters, CNC lathe machine, Egg incubator and many
electrical and electronics appliances and gadgets
 Developing and designing of new systems be they mechanical, electrical, electronics and
electrical systems
 Installation of solar systems and alarm systems
 Machining different products on the CNC lathe, using the CNC lathe machine to machine
lots of products

3.1.2 SOFTWARE SKILLS

 Making circuits and designing of PCBs on Proteus
 Generating g-codes from proteus for PCB drilling purposes
 C programming of many applications and systems using Arduino IDE software
 Developing of systems using Arduino software for different boards Arduino and Esp32 or
Esp8266
 Designing objects and drawings in 3D using solid works software, tinker CAD and
Edraw max.

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  CAM software Fusion 360 generating g codes for machining on CNC lathe machine of an
object

3.1.3 OTHER SKILLS

 Team work
 Public presentation where I presented the Innovation HUB on ZBC television on the
projects which are carried out at the HUB
 Time management
 Working under pressure with so many projects to look upon on
 Good communication skills as I encountered many clients and also with the team mates
 Customer care

3.2 RESPONSIBILITIES AND CHALLENGES

As a student who was on attachment at the Innovation I was serving as the technician and as the
technical assistant. Some of the responsibilities which I was taking care of are listed below:

 Monitoring and maintaining the small electrical issues around the building, networking
challenges, lighting of the building and maintenance of the electrical area of the building
assisting in connections outside the building for construction.
 Maintaining the watering of the building water pumps and if there is enough water for
daily use.
 Monitoring and maintaining the machines and equipment of the HUB that is the reverse
osmosis plant, CNC lathe machine, mixer tank with the VFD, 3D printer and the 25kW
solar system.
 Design of electrical, electronic and mechanical systems for the HUB
 Designing and fabrication of PCB laminates
 Designing 3D objects and printing them
 Programming of CNC lathe g codes from solid works and fusion 360
 Programming of circuits and systems using Arduino IDE
 Designing of electrical circuits using Proteus
 Logging in data from the inverters using the laptop over Wi-Fi and the USB port

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During my period of attachment there were some challenges which were faced at work which
slowed down the progress of work. Some of the challenges are listed below:

 No resources or no tools for use whilst at work which resulted in some of the jobs not
being completed, not done and or completed in much more time because of shortage or
tools. Some of the work could result in poor quality that is poorly done because of the
wrong use of tools trying to compromise with what was available.
 Some of the processes were too manual.
 Fewer activities.
 Shortage of multimeters which slowed down the progress because as a mechatronic
engineer you cannot do anything without a multimeter.
 There was no food for lunch so the effience of working would be reduced during the later
working hours of the day.

To overcome some of the listed above problems, we used our personal material just for the
progress of work and where we would have no tools alternatives were made so that we were
able to complete the projects. The University made arrangements for food for lunch and
everything was going well.

3.3 FUTURE CARRER PLANS

The internship period at Chinhoyi University Innovation’s HUB was actually a good
experience and it highlighted a lot of things which I was not aware and also enlightened
many ideas for me and projects to be doing in the future.

 The idea of starting an electronic systems company came to my interest as I was now
enjoying repairing, troubleshooting electronic systems and also designing and coming up
with newly designed smart systems.
 Supporting our own local manufacturing and starting our own systems in our nation had
been always in mind and was reinforced when I realized that we can make everything in
our own country rather than importing components.
 In the future I will be an engineer who is not going to praise making things from people
but we can develop our own systems with our own understandings and lower prices to
support our locals.

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3.4 RELATIONSHIP OF THE INTERNSHIP TO THE STUDIES

During the internship period all of the duties that I was dedicated were just an application of what
I was going through the first 3 years of the learning process. As a Mechatronics student during the
internship period, my duties were to take care of the electrical problems at the HUB, electronics
designs and repairing of systems and software programming and software system design.
Mechatronics is a study which combines mechanical engineering, electrical, electronics and
software or computer engineering. The course covers a wide range of areas and all the areas
which I encountered in theory during the 3 year learning period, I did an application to all and
covering the areas. Mechatronics Engineering is the new technology to Innovation which became
an advantage to me as it helped my minds having an Innovation growth.

The PCB design in Proteus was very effective as I learnt how to design circuits from scratch,
which is part of a requirement for a mechatronics student. PCB fabrication was also a relevant
task related to my studies as I learned all the processes of PCB fabrication and made use of them.

Machining was also done by the writer during the attachment using the Computer Numeric
Controlled Lathe machining with the use of CAD and CAM softwares. Designing and machining
of different pieces was done by generating the g-codes from the CAM software Fusion 360.

Programming of circuits and different boards using the C-programming language was an
application of what the writer had learned through the lectures. During the internship period I
designed many circuits and programmed lots of them using different boards also.

With all these activities listed above and the parts at which I was operating they all interlink to my
undergraduate program I am studying towards Mechatronics which is the study of mechanical
engineering, electrical and software engineering. All the courses were covered in my internship
exercise at Chinhoyi University Innovation HUB

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 4.0 CHAPTER 4: CONCLUSIONS OF THE REPORT

4.1 SUMMARY
 During my attachment period at the University HUB I was groomed in many ways. I
learned new things even responsibility as I was left alone most of the times at the HUB to
look after everything when my supervisor is out. This taught me how to be responsible
and to be honest even loyalty was built within me. By seeing the way my superiors do
their work and how they carry out tasks it helped me in working hard to archive great
work and I ended up doing the best work out of everything to the extent that my
supervisor was always pleased.
 As I was the one who stayed with the keys it improved my punctuality and was always on
time at work.
 During the internship period many superiors loved my work and loved to work with me
due to the consistency of the work.
 There is more of electronics at the Business Incubation HUB which is really interesting
and making life easy through smart technology and circuits.
 The electronics part is the area which you come to know more circuits and exposing
yourself to more problems.
 During the attachment I was now able to fix and repair inverters of different types,
electronic gadgets and also design of new circuits.
 The Innovation HUB really helped in lots of things. There are lots of projects which
come from different schools at the HUB so you will be exposed to many different
systems and designs.

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4.2 CONCLUSION

 The internship at the Innovation HUB of Chinhoyi University was really a great
experience and exposure indeed as I managed to get exposed to lots of things which were
correlated to my studies.
 Chinhoyi University of Technology Innovation and Business Incubation HUB is an
emerging centre of technology where education 5.0 is being exercised and it is serving its
main purpose. Many of the equipment and components which you find at the HUB is
advanced technology and you will be up to date with the newest technology.

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4.3 Recommendations

4.3.1 Chinhoyi University of Technology, the University is doing a great job in

producing graduate students taking them through learning process and also industrial
processes. The University takes its own students for industrial attachments in all
departments to apply what they have been learning and have been taught, things which
are core related to the school studies. The institution offers great service to all the
workers and students.

4.3.1 Chinhoyi University of Technology Innovation and Business Incubation HUB

As a department that is exercising education 5.0 advanced technologies is fully captured
at the HUB and computer numeric controlled machines are introduced as a way to easy
people’s lives. The Innovation of projects is the daily business of the Innovation HUB in
trying to advance the nation. A great job is being carried at the HUB also in
accommodating students from all schools to advance their technologies through
attachments.

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 5.0 Appendices and supplementary material

Figure 5.1: The 12VDC laptop and cell phone charger in testing stage

Figure 5.2: LCD showing the Inductance meter whilst testing

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Figure 5.3: 3 phase wiring of the CNC lather under maintenance of the tool post

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Figure 5.4: Old inverter under troubleshooting

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Figure 5.5: On top of the building installing security cameras

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 5.1 References

1. Directorate Office

Innovation and Business Incubation HUB

Chinhoyi University of Technology

Private Bag 7724

Professor W. Mtangi

wmtangi@cut.ac.zw

+263 78 223 4588 / +263 71 315 6404

2. Senior Lecturer Department of

Mechatronics Chinhoyi University of

Technology

Private Bag 7724

Dr E.T Kapuya

engelbert.kapuya@gmail.com and ekapuya@cut.ac.zw

+263 77 525 4868

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