VSRD International Journal of Mechanical, Civil, Automobile and Production Engineering, Vol.

V Issue III March 2015

e-ISSN : 2249-8303, p-ISSN : 2319-2208 VSRD International Journals : www.vsrdjournals.com

/1

RESEARCH COMMUNICATION

EDUCATIONAL MULTIMEDIA ON HYDRAULICS AND

PNEUMATICS
1

Dipak Vinayak Shirbhate*, 2D.S. Ingole and 3Uday A. Mehare

Research Scholar, 2Professor, 1,2Department of Mechanical Engineering,
PRMIET&R, Amravati, Maharashtra, INDIA.
3
Head of Department, Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Vikramshila Polytechnic, Darapur, Maharashtra, INDIA.
*Corresponding Authors Email ID: dipakshirbhate@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Mechatronics is widely thought subject in all most all the universities in Mechanical and Production Engineering stream across India.
Low cost automation using hydraulics and pneumatic circuit is becoming popular in all sectors of Industry. This paper outlines how the
Flash capabilities can be utilized for effective teaching of complex hydraulics and pneumatic circuits which by other means will not be
that much effective. The paper also gives emphasis on how the "teaching learning process" can be strengthened by using such new
teaching aids for effective teaching. The multimedia is not only useful for college but also to industry which wants to give quality
training of hydraulic and pneumatic circuits to their employees.
Keywords: Mechatronics, Machine Tool Control (MTC), Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Multimedia, Flash, CBT (Computer Based
Training).

1. INTRODUCTION
Machine Tool Control (MTC) / Mechatronics / Low
cost Automation Using Hydraulics and Pneumatics are
the subjects that deals with mainly hydraulic and
pneumatic circuits, again contain pressure boosters, air
compressor and accessories, hydraulic power devices,
hydraulic fluids, piping, air filters, regulators and
lubricator, directional control valves, flow controls,
pressure controls, rotating and non rotating cylinders,
pneumatic motors and tools, Rotary hydraulic Motors and
Hydraulic transmission, accumulators .
In MTC (Machine Tool Control) we have limited our
scope to Hydraulic and Pneumatic circuits. While,
studying Hydraulic and Pneumatic circuit theoretically
from books, it is difficult while reading because one has
to assume the flow of fluid or air in the circuit. The
students does not get perfect idea about the circuits, there
may be certain doubt in the mind the student. To clear this
doubt, we have undertaken Educational Multimedia on
MTC which mainly comprise two Dimensional
Simulation of Hydraulic and Pneumatic circuits.
Browsing Educational Multimedia: The entire contents
are arranged on one auto run CD ROM with pages linked
together by hyperlinks for easy navigation form one page
to another. Every page is flash page with .swf extension
which can be opened in any browser like Internet
Explorer, Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Opera. Below is the
screenshot of display as soon as CD Rom is inserted into
drive. The first screen shows college logo with animated
college name title. Tab below click here to enter will
take user to next page.

Fig. 1: Snapshot showing first page when multimedia

is inserted into CD ROM drive
Background music of sholey theme is given to first
page so as that user can adjust his PC or Laptop volume
level to appropriate audio able level.
The second page gives appropriate credits to the
developer by displaying thumbnail images of guide, co
guide and projectees.

Dipak Vinayak Shirbhate, D.S. Ingole and Uday A. Mehare

VSRDIJMCAPE, Vol. V (III) March 2015 / 2

Fig. 2: Snapshot showing second page showing

thumbnails photographs of Guide, Co-Guide and
Projectees

Fig. 4: Snapshot Showing 15 Pneumatic Circuits When

Mouse Pointer Pointed To It

Clicking on Enter to diagram will take the user to third

page shown as below :

The right side displays 11 hydraulic circuits when mouse is

pointed to it as shown below :

Fig. 3: Snapshot Showing Third Page Which Displays

Tabs like Troubleshooting, Sign and Conventions and
Glossary
The pneumatic and hydraulic circuits are classified in
separate parts, left portions displays 15 pneumatic circuits
when mouse pointer is pointed to it as shown below:

Fig. 4: Snapshot Showing 11 Hydraulic Circuits When

Mouse Pointer Pointed To It
Every number is supported by Text information with short
description of the circuit when pointer is pointed to that
particular number as shown below:

Dipak Vinayak Shirbhate, D.S. Ingole and Uday A. Mehare

VSRDIJMCAPE, Vol. V (III) March 2015 / 3

Significance of Start, stop and working tabs :

Start tab will start simulation of circuit with supported
commentary for better understanding. Stop tab will stop
simulation but commentary will go on. Working tab will
take user to written text page description for better
understanding as shown below:

Fig. 5: Snapshot Showing Change in Color Along With

Short Description Of The Circuit Associated With That
Number When Mouse Pointer Pointed To It. For
Example Number 14 Is Associated With Simulation and
Description of Use of Air Valve to Control Main
Hydraulic Valve
Clicking on highlighted number 14 opens the circuit with
name use of air valve to control main hydraulic valve
as shown below :

Fig. 6: Snapshot Showing Schematic Diagram Of

Pneumatic Circuit Use of Air Valve to Control Main
Hydraulic Valve

Fig. 7: Snapshot Showing Text Description Page

Appeared After Clicking On Working Tab
Back tab will take user again back to previous page
exactly similar to internet browsing (Alternately back tab
on browser can be used)
Troubleshooting
Tab:
This
troubleshooting with CD-ROM drive:

tab

describes

Fig. 8: Snapshot Showing Display of Troubleshooting

with Cd Tab
This page mainly describes users query related with
troubleshooting with following questions such as Why
diagrams do not open on another PC? Which software

Dipak Vinayak Shirbhate, D.S. Ingole and Uday A. Mehare

VSRDIJMCAPE, Vol. V (III) March 2015 / 4

should be installed prior to running CD ROM? Etc.

Sign and Convention Tab : This describes sign &
conversions used in circuits such as Conversion Factors,
Fluid Circuit Failures, Standard Symbols For Hydraulic
and Pneumatic Components etc.

Fig. 10: Snapshot Showing Display Of Page Under

Glossary Tab
2. BENEFITS OF USING MULTIMEDIA
Organizations that use multimedia systems can experience
both economic benefits and qualitative benefits. Perhaps
the most attractive reasons for using multimedia - and the
hardest to assess - are the new business opportunities that
may open up. This section outlines the benefits
experienced and expected from the use of multimedia.

Fig. 9: Snapshot Showing Display of Page under Sign

and Convention Tab
Glossary Tab : This tab shows Glossary of Fluid
Power Terms used as shown below:

3. TRAINING
Although multimedia systems were initially very expensive
to develop, early users of training systems reported overall
economic benefits from the use of the technology.
Successful organizations need to maintain high levels of
staff training and development. Through reductions in the
expenses associated with holding conventional training
courses, the costs of developing a multimedia training
system can be recouped within a few years. These savings
in training costs are achieved because:
Each course can be used by many more people;
Time spent away from the office, including travel
time, can be reduced;
Employees can work at their own pace so the average
training time per employee is reduced;
Full-time classroom instructors are no longer required;
Expensive demonstrations can be used without
jeopardizing safety.
4. TRAINING USING MULTIMEDIA
The Need for Training:
Training in on-the-job technical skills takes place at or
near the workplace. Staff learn how best to use their
equipment in order to increase productivity.
Training in on-the-job interpersonal skills takes place
at or near the workplace. Staff learns how to
communicate, work with others both within & outside

Dipak Vinayak Shirbhate, D.S. Ingole and Uday A. Mehare

the organization.
Open learning covers training away from the working
area, in a designated training centre. Staff can work
undisturbed and at their own pace.
Training the trainers helps trainers to understand the
concepts, technologies and benefits of open and
distance learning.

Multimedia in Training:
Computers have been used for training employees since the
1970s, using text-based and linear programs. They were
followed in the 1980s by courses on interactive videodisks.
These early CBT courses were developed to meet the needs
of a particular company. Some were developed by in-house
teams, while others were commissioned from specialist
companies. In either case, a long development process was
involved and costs were correspondingly high.
Cost Benefits:
Using an interactive multimedia training system in the
office will clearly provide significant savings in travel
costs as well as reducing the amount of time for which staff
are away from their desks.
5. WHY MTC IS FIRST CHOICE FOR
MULTIMEDIA?
Machine Tool Control (MTC) is a subject that deals with
mainly hydraulic and pneumatic circuits, again contain
pressure boosters, air compressor and accessories,
hydraulic power devices, hydraulic fluids, piping, air
filters, regulators and lubricator, directional control valves,
flow controls, pressure controls, rotating and non rotating
cylinders, pneumatic motors and tools, Rotary hydraulic
Motors and Hydraulic transmission, accumulators Etc.
In MTC we have only taken the Hydraulic and Pneumatic
circuits, because while studying Hydraulic and Pneumatic
circuit theoretically from books, it is difficult while reading
because one have to assume the flow of fluid or air in the
circuit. The students does not get perfect idea about the
circuits, there may be certain doubt in the mind the student.
To clear this doubt we took MTC (Hydraulic and
Pneumatic circuits) for our project with multimedia.
We tried to simulate Hydraulic and pneumatic circuit and
with the help of "Flash software . By this process, we can
demonstrate, how the fluid (shown in red color as per
convention) enters the circuit with the help of hydraulic
pump. How it pushes the fluid upward and how the various
control valve operates, how fluid goes into cylinder and
perform desired operation as per the circuit design. Red
color is used to show flow of hydraulic fluid as per
convention.
In pneumatic system, We tried to demonstrate how air from

VSRDIJMCAPE, Vol. V (III) March 2015 / 5

atmosphere collected and compressed? How it is then

supplied to filter regulator and lubricator section to
perform some operations. How it goes across directional
control valves and to cylinder to perform desired action as
per the design of circuit. Blue color is used to show flow of
air as per international convention.
This multimedia helps user to understand complex
hydraulic and pneumatic circuit in more interactive way.
Simulation is an imitation of reality. A children cycling
park, with various crossings and signals, is a simulated
model of the city traffic system. In the laboratories a
number of experiments are performed on simulated models
to determine the behavior of the real system in true
environments. A simple illustration is the testing of an
aircraft model in a wind tunnel from which we determine
the performance of the actual aircraft under real operating
conditions. Planetariums represent a beautiful simulation
of the planet system. Environments in a geological garden
and in a museum of natural history are other examples of
simulation.
In all these examples, it has been tried to imitate the reality
to see what might happen under real operating conditions.
This imitation of reality which may be in the physical form
or in the form of mathematical equations may be called
simulation.

6. WHY
FLASH
IS
CHOOSEN
AS
ANIMATION SOFTWARE?
Macromedia Flash is introduced to draw interactive
graphics and animations for web sites. It can be used to
create navigation controls, animated logos, and efficient
animations with synchronized sound on the web. One can
even create a fully fledged web site using Flash with high
quality. Due to its vector approach, it takes a very little
time to download. Moreover, it also can be scaled to
viewers size without disturbing the quality of the contents.
Nowadays, lots of web developers are using flash to
fascinate their web sites. Many sites have been designed
entirely on flash. You can get flash player either with your

Dipak Vinayak Shirbhate, D.S. Ingole and Uday A. Mehare

Internet browser or with your system software. You can

even download it from Macromedia's web site
(www.macromedia.com) absolutely free. Flash player
remains in the local computer and used to play the flash
movies whenever you visit a site, which has flash
animation. Flash player can also be used as an individual
application to play flash animations.
Now, let's try to understand how do you work in flash?
Basically, you create a movie in flash by drawing objects
with the toolbar provided inside the application or by
importing the artwork done in other applications. Then you
arrange the components on the stage and animate them
using Timeline. You also specify interactivity by making
components to respond to certain events and to change in
specified ways. When the whole piece is ready, you have to
export it as a flash player movie, which can be embedded
within an HTML page. And finally, you can transfer the
movie along with the HTML page to a web server.
7.

CONCLUSION
In this project we have basically worked only for
Hydraulic & Pneumatic circuits.
It is very hard to understand working of Hydraulic &
Pneumatic circuits due to complicated arrangement
consisting various valves like pilot operated valve,
solenoid operated valve, Direction control valve, check

VSRDIJMCAPE, Vol. V (III) March 2015 / 6

valves, flow control valve ....etc.

We by using animation software "Flash" have made these
industrial circuits very easy to understand for students and
workers. This multimedia shows how these circuit works &
what happens when these complicated valves are operated?
The main objective of this project work is to support theory
in classroom to understand subject in better manner.
This educational multimedia can be use to study following
subjects:
Fluid Power System
Low cost Automation using Hydraulics and
Pneumatics
Machine Tool Control
Mechatronics etc.
Combination of audio, video and text makes this
multimedia complete in all aspects.
8. REFERENCES
[1] Project work titled Educational Multimedia on Hydraulics
and Pneumatics submitted by Mr. Ashish .R. Satao, Mr.
Nikhil Kalantri, Mr.Amit Korde,Mr. Ashish Mankar and Mr.
Govardhan Kothari under the guidance of Prof. Dipak V.
Shirbhate submitted for partial fulfillment bachelor of
Production Engineering at Sant Gadgebaba Amravati
Unversity.