Field Visit to Fluids Control and ARAI, Pune

On the 6^th and 7^th October 2017, members of the Collegiate Club of Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) of the Mechanical Engineering Department of Don Bosco College of Engineering, Fatorda visited Fluid Controls Private Limited at Pimpri-Chinchwad and Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) at Chakan and Kothrud, Pune. Students were accompanied by Prof. Chetan Gaonkar and Prof. Siddu Biradar.

Fluid Controls Pvt. Ltd. provides high pressure valve fittings used in refineries, power plants etc. with their biggest customer being the Indian Railway. Students were guided through the plant by Mr. Nikhil Borawake, R&D Fluid Controls. The plant is divided into 3 floors, namely Tool Room, Assembly Line & Testing and R&D section. In the tool room, CNC machines are used for drilling, turning, threading operations. The students were shown the apparatus used for the testing of assembled valves. Samples from various batches are taken and put through vigorous tests like Swaging and live demonstration of the same was shown. SCADA equipped Multi Test Benches are also used for tests like Hydraulic pressure test, three axis vibration tests etc.

The ARAI- Homologation and Technology Center at Chakan is a renowned institute where vehicles are put through rigorous tests to meet with the Industry norms.  It consists of three units namely the ECL unit, Fatigue testing lab and the PSL lab. Mr. Rohit Londe guided the students through the ECL unit which had a cold conditioning unit, where innumerable atmospheric conditions can be created to test the vehicle. He also gave a glimpse of the wearing test where vehicles are tested for durability over the levels of friction after each service. The students were then guided through the Fatigue Lab by Mr. Swapnil Junnare. The students were taken through the Durability Test which tests the vehicles chassis and suspension. The PSL unit gave them a glimpse of the crash test ramp which is being used to test all new cars launched. Students were guided through the PSL unit and took them through the Dummies calibration lab where test dummies of various demography were calibrated for crash tests.

The ARAI facility at Kothrud is the brainchild of the ARAI operations which also includes a training institute for testing and homologation. Students were taken through a brief presentation on CAE simulation of virtual testing of vehicles on various parameters like durability, safety etc. The students were then taken through the Safety and Homologation lab where vehicles are tested for passive safety, component verification and safety certification of components. The bustle of the Performance Testing of Engines lab (PTE) gave a brief idea of the arduous journey of engine development. Finally we were taken to the Noise and Vibration testing lab which gave a glimpse of the industry standards in Noise and Harshness and how components like mufflers, sound deadening material etc. are tested and re-engineered.