**3.2 Making of the hydraulic press frame**

The frame of the hydraulic press machine was made from cast iron and steel parts. The design for the frame was adapted from the Potters Without borders (PWB) ceramic water filter press design (see **Figure 25**). The PWB filter press design incorporates the use of a removable car jack as its hydraulic mechanism. The design for this study has incorporated a hydraulic controller system which is comprised of a box, an industrial jack to drive the pressing mechanism which is expected to be more durable than the car jack over time and continued use; and a pressure gauge to measure the pressure applied in the pressing of each filter to enhance consistency in production.

The metal parts for the frame were sourced from Akure and Ibadan in Southwest Nigeria. Cast iron was the major material from which the parts of the frame were made. Some parts were also of made of steel. The long metal parts were cut into dimensions (see **Figures 26** and **27**) and holes were drilled through them to enable assembly of the frame using nuts and bolts. Bolting was preferred to welding in the assembly of the machine parts, to allow room for adjustments and for easy movement and transportation of the machine. The cutting and welding of the frame

**Figure 25.** *PWB design of press machine [10].*

**Figure 26.** *Cut out metal parts for the frame.*

**Figure 22.** *Cooling.*

*Design and Manufacturing*

**Figure 23.**

**Figure 24.**

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*Polished aluminium mould.*

*Cast aluminium moulds.*

**Figure 30.**

**Figure 31.**

**Figure 32.**

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*Finished ceramic water filter press.*

*Press with hydraulic system installed.*

*Testing the installed lever and jack.*

*Manufacturing a Ceramic Water Filter Press for Use in Nigeria*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.91378*

**Figure 27.** *Metal parts of frame in mock assembly.*

**Figure 28.** *Press frame with moulds mounted.*

**Figure 29.** *Installation of the lever mechanism.*

*Manufacturing a Ceramic Water Filter Press for Use in Nigeria DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.91378*

**Figure 30.** *Testing the installed lever and jack.*

**Figure 27.**

**Figure 28.**

**Figure 29.**

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*Installation of the lever mechanism.*

*Press frame with moulds mounted.*

*Metal parts of frame in mock assembly.*

*Design and Manufacturing*

**Figure 31.** *Press with hydraulic system installed.*

**Figure 32.** *Finished ceramic water filter press.*

was followed by the mounting of the moulds. The male component of the mould was bolted onto a metal plate which is welded to the headstock of the frame, and the female component was fitted via bolting onto the moveable H-slide (see **Figure 28**). The lever system which is used to control the lifting of the H-slide bearing the female mould during pressing and release of the moulds, was subsequently fixed in place (see **Figure 29**) and test run to assess the mould alignment (see **Figure 30**). The hydraulic jack was thereafter installed and tested in operation with the lever as shown in **Figure 31**. Finally, the hydraulic control box was installed and connected to the jack and the entire frame was sprayed with paint to improve its aesthetic and prevent rusting (see **Figure 32**). The making of the frame and the hydraulic control box, as well as the assembly of the moulds was done at Danzaki Engineering Services, a privately-owned mechanical engineering workshop in Akure, Nigeria.

machining/polishing. Also, there were issues surrounding the dimensions presented in the CAD sketch as generated by a draughtsman, this resulted in error in the moulds cast. This was, however, corrected by altering the dimensions of the mould during the process of machining in order to achieve even thickness around the product; and this action reduced the size of the mould and hence the resulting filter

This book chapter documents the procedure and results obtained in a study carried out to explore the local manufacturing of a ceramic filter press in order to prove the viability and cost efficiency of producing it locally as compared with the cost of acquiring the imported presses. This is in a view to encourage the set-up of more ceramic water filter producing factories in Nigeria, thereby bringing closer home the technology that would make clean, safe water more accessible and avail-

The study indicates that ceramic water filter presses with hydraulic components as well as its corresponding set of moulds can be successfully and inexpensively manufactured in Nigeria, using all materials and skills sourced locally from within

The authors would like to acknowledge the Management of the Federal University of Technology, Akure and TETFund for providing funding for this work under

We appreciate Engr. A. Smart and Engr. Idowu of EMDI, Akure, for analyzing the possible designs for the hydraulic press system with us at the commencement of this study; Mr. Yekin Obe and staff of Foundry Department, FIIRO, Lagos, for their assistance with the casting of the filter moulds; and Mr. J. O. Oke and Mr. M. Familusi of the Industrial Design Department, FUTA for their assistance in the entire course of the study and specifically for test running the equipment after its manufacture. Our appreciation also goes to Robert Pillers for reviewing the filter

press in progress and making useful inputs that led to some adjustments.

We would like to declare that there is no conflict of interest.

is shorter than other filters available.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.91378*

able to communities and households across the country.

*Manufacturing a Ceramic Water Filter Press for Use in Nigeria*

the IBR grant with reference number, VCPU/TETFund/155.

**5. Conclusions**

the country.

**Acknowledgements**

**Conflict of interest**

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