tools

Glass Cutter

[allowing low-cost cutting of glass bottles ]

[Summary & Motivation] [Community] [Specifications] [Issues] [Contacts] [Diagrams / Pictures]

Summary & Motivation	Project Initiator: John Murray Start Date: 2004 Projected Completion Date: Not applicable Current Status: Prototyping and testing stage In Lesotho, glass is widely used as a packaging material and in house construction. Glass is also a material that can be used in craft or dishware making. Unfortunately, it is very difficult for the local craftsperson to acquire any glass cutting machinery for a low cost. John Murray developed a low-cost method for cutting bottles so that they could be reused as glasses. This machine consists of a heating source which is applied at a certain point to the glass surface. Following this point application of heat with a small blade allows the glass to be neatly cut without cracking. Such a tool could be used by a local enrepreneur to market dishware or by a local craftsperson to create works of art from glass. [top]
Community	This technology would be marketed to small entrepreneurs interested in the business opportunities or to local craftspeople. [top]
Specifications	Must cost less than or equal to 10,000 rand ($1,600) Must be powered using renewable energy sources Must cut sandstone blocks of at least 300mm x 120mm x 120mm Must be able to use current blade [top]
Issues	At this stage, a single prototype of the cutter has been made but was not available during the site visit. Help is needed in the following areas: Analyzing current prototype to identify areas of possible improvement. Performing tests to determine performance and how it can be improved. [top]
Contacts	Project Leader: Jabu Nkosi MIT Contact: Not available (If interested, please email mit_ats@MIT.edu) ATS Contact: Jabu Nkosi <maapesa@webmail.co.za> Website (If applicable):   [top]
Diagrams / Pictures	DIAGRAMS Description (Name) [Date] Download Glass Cutter Drawing AutoCAD drawing of glass cutter prototyoe (Jabu Nkosi) [6.23.2004] *.zip (0.2 MB) PICTURES Description (Name) [Date] Download Cut Glass Photo Album Contains single picture of bottle which has had the top cut using the prototype cutter to make it into a glass (M. Zedler) [9.01.2005] *.html (Link) [top]

*.pdf - Portable Document File / *.doc - Document (Microsoft Word) / *.jpg - Joint Photographic Experts Group (Browser) / *.zip - WinZip Compressed File (WinZip)

[top]