Restoring Thin Cylinder Apparatus for Sustainable Engineering Education

This study documents the successful restoration and modification of an obsolete 2003 TecQuipment SM1007 Thin Cylinder Apparatus to revive its utility for engineering laboratory education. The equipment was originally rendered non-functional by software compatibility issues where the original data acquisition software was restricted to obsolete Windows XP systems and sensor deterioration. It was refurbished by installing six new KR120-5P-23 uniaxial strain gauges (120 Ω resistance, 2.00 gauge factor) and integrating an existing TDS-303 portable data logger. The refurbishment procedure involved surface preparation of the aluminium cylinder using 70% ethanol solution and fine-grade sandpaper, pre-installation gauge resistance verification with a DT-832 digital multimeter, and bonding with a cyanoacrylate adhesive. This targeted physical intervention bypassed the outdated computer-dependent setup at a direct material cost of approximately RM 150, representing an estimated material-cost reduction of over 99% compared to purchasing a new commercial system (estimated at RM 80,000 to RM 90,000 in 2025). A performance evaluation was executed across six pressure levels up to 3.05 MPa for validation, by comparing the experimental hoop, longitudinal, and angular strain values against the original manufacturer's benchmark reference data. The results confirm that the modified apparatus exhibits a highly linear strain pressure response that mirrors the reference standard. Five of the six gauges recorded average Relative Percentage Deviation (D) well under 20% (ranging from 11.66% to 17.16%). A higher D of 48.39% for Gauge 3 was isolated as a mathematical consequence of a tiny reference strain denominator near the zero-strain axis, rather than sensor malfunction. Additionally, a minor physical pressure deviation identified at 2.49 MPa was hypothesized to stem from mechanical aging of the hydraulic system rather than instrumentation error. These findings suggest that in-house upcycling represents a practical circular-economy pathway to facilitate experiential laboratory education in resource-constrained academic settings.

Circular Economy; Thin Cylinder Apparatus; Strain Gauge; Engineering Education; Equipment Refurbishment

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