After discussions with the lab manager, Mr Tony Gan, we realised that our idea is too complex for a group of engineering first-timers. We should have known… since those industrial machines costs $1000++. We also guessed they used pneumatic machines for its high speed… 

 

We would require too many motors and control systems to ensure a precise, automated process. He also pointed out that we need to think of the motion needed for each process. 

Specifically, the problems are: 

Station 1: it is difficult to devise a machine that launches the skin onto a circular plate; the skin could stick together in the process of launching. 

Station 2: difficulty in finding a dispenser that quickly presses the meat while shaping the base of the dumpling. Searching online, there is no seller of dumpling meat dispensers. >:(

Stations 3 and 4: need to devise the motion control and the number of sequences needed to close and unload the dumplings, regardless of their shape 

On his advice, we went back to the drawing board, first creating a process-focused block diagram.