Design and Fabrication of An Automated Glass Bottle Cutter for Reuse and Recycling Bottle Glass Products

Abstract

The glass bottle cutter has a substantial commercialisation potential, as present trends indicate a growing interest in repurposing waste materials. This apparatus enables communities to manufacture new items from discarded glass bottles, including drinking glasses, ashtrays, and vases. Disposal at recycling centres or craft stores is essential for businesses such as restaurants and bars that often produce excess glass waste. Hence, this apparatus is resilient and long-lasting, designed to handle significantly larger amounts more efficiently than manual glass bottle cutters, which require scoring the bottle and alternating between hot and cold water. The main goals of this project are to develop a prototype for a glass bottle-cutting machine and to manufacture the machine according to the designed prototype. The manufacturing process encompasses measuring, cutting, welding, and drilling, with the machine predominantly constructed from metals. It employs a DC motor to facilitate the rotation of the diamond blade, substituting conventional wheel cutters. This design markedly diminishes the necessity for physical labour and enables bottles to be severed in under one minute. The cutter accelerates the procedure, yielding a superior finish with reduced physical exertion. The design and analysis of the prototype have been successful. Potential enhancements may involve the integration of a safety button, applying a coolant to inhibit the dispersion of glass dust, and including a polishing mechanism for smoother edges. These upgrades would boost the machine's efficiency and desirability.

Manuscript Received: 3 December 2024, Accepted: 4 February 2025, Published: 15 March 2025, ORCiD: 0000-0002-9700-0714