Informatics Publishing Limited

Abstract

Metal work comes along with a lot of techniques which doming is not an exception. Doming techniques use doming block and punches to create metal domes for production of unique artifacts. These doming blocks and punches come in a shape of half round. The challenge has always been getting different shapes of domes and their corresponding punches to give a variety and creativity in design of metal works and the energy one needs to give, a lot of hammer blows to be able to achieve the domed metal. This project or research seeks to design and construct a multipurpose portable device or machine for doming and punching. The portable device is going to be operated manually (mechanically), which means without electricity which is bedeviled by power fluctuations in most African countries, the device could still be operated with the needed efficiency and technique. The tip of the device is adjustable so it can be changed to get the desired shape the operator wants. There is a disc-like plate that corresponds to the tips or the punches. The device is designed to have a small cabinet of which the punches can be kept. It is designed to have a handle hanged by it side of which pressure or force is applied to create the impression or the punches desired. The material used for this device is iron the metal working technique used is welding. This study made use of quantitative research design by using descriptive and studio-based research. Findings revealed that it is possible to get domes of different shapes and sizes with their corresponding punches which can easily be used to achieve various domed designs to foster creativity in design and fabrication of metal art works. This device is designed and constructed to help metal students of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science have variety of shapes as regards doming and punching as a technique of metal work. The study recommends that metal art students and practitioners alike should make use of this device to augment the technique of metal art. Again, it is recommended that apart from the device being operated mechanically, power options such as gas could be tried so that human effort could be minimized.

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