DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF A CONCRETE MIXER

ABSTRACT Conventional manual concrete mixing methods are physically demanding, time-consuming, and frequently result in inconsistent material blending and substantial wastage. To address these inefficiencies, this project focuses on the localized design and fabrication of a functional concrete mixer using reverse engineering and simulation methodologies. The initiative specifically targets reducing dependence on foreign imported machinery by utilizing locally sourced and recycled materials including components from water heaters, washing machines, and bicycles thereby creating viable manufacturing opportunities within the local market. The developed concrete mixer consists of a heavy-duty steel frame, internal mixing blades positioned at optimal angles, a robust chain-and-sprocket drive mechanism, and an integrated motor/generator system. Key engineering calculations were performed to establish the machine's technical parameters. The design accommodates a mixing chamber volume and delivers a baseline mixing force based on drum weight. the speed transmission mechanism effectively reduces the input motor speed to a functional drum rotation speed achieving a total reduction ratio of approximately The concrete mixer was successfully fabricated at a total material and workmanship cost. Performance evaluation demonstrates that the machine achieves a high degree of uniformity and consistency during the blending process. By producing a homogeneous concrete mixture rapidly, the mixer minimizes material waste, alleviates intensive manual labor, and significantly enhances overall workplace efficiency on small-to-medium scale construction sites..