Development of Double Mould Vibration – Compactor Block Moulding Machine for Developing Countries

This work looked at the design and manufacturing of a low cost and easy to maintain vibrationcompaction block moulding machine that can accommodate two different sizes of mould 9 inch (0.46 × 0.23 × 0.22 ) and 6 inch blocks(0.46 × 0.15 × 0.22 ). It is borne out of the desire to solve housing problem in developing countries through reduction in the cost of the building materials like the block. It was designed to compact sandcrete block with strength of 0.99N/mm which is the same as those made from the universal block making machines but performed better when water absorption was less than 7%. It can produce about 400 blocks in an 8hours working day. It therefore occupies about 1/3 the space taken and cost of N50,000 which is 1⁄4 of the price of Universal Block Maker. The Vibrator Compactor Block Moulding Machine (VCBMM) was also used to produce sandcrete blocks which when tested had a strength of 0.95N/mm. The water absorption tests carried out on the sandcrete blocks absorbed 6.5 times more water. Therefore, the use of the sandcrete blocks from the VCBMM is recommended for use in all regions. The VCBMM was designed to be highly versatile and to be power driven by diesel motors. Provision was made on the sandcrete mould for sliding plates to be introduced into the mould holes so that 6 inch blocks (0.46 × 0.15 × 0.22 ) and 9inch blocks ( 0.46 × 0.23 × 0.22 ) are produced interchangeably. KEYWORD: Mould, Block, Vibration, Compactor, Machine