Today I Made...

(A product a day! Food for thought on: 1. The raw materials - Where can I find this raw material? Locally or imported? Cost? 2. The process - What kind of process? Chemical, physical, biological? Cost and safety considerations? If there are a number of alternative processes, which is the most energy efficient, most cost effective, and safest? 3. The product - What will the product be used for? Where will it be marketed? Locally or exported? How much profit will I make?)

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Light bulbs

Raw materials

1. Tungsten

2. Nickel-iron wire

3. Glass

4. Mixture of argon and nitrogen

5. Aluminium

Process

1. The filament (tungsten) is manufactured through a process known as drawing.

2. The glass bulbs or casings are produced using a ribbon machine.

3. The base of the bulb (aluminum) is constructed using molds. It is made with indentations in the shape of a screw so that it can easily fit into the socket of a light fixture.

4. In assembling the light bulb, the filament is mounted to the stem assembly with its ends clamped to the two lead-in wires, air inside the bulb is evacuated and the casing is filled with an argon and nitrogen mixture (ensures a longer-life for the filament), and finally, the base and the bulb are sealed.

Product

Light bulb

Used for

Lighting

Production facility

Mandurah, WA

Export

Brussels, Belgium