Rehabilitación y rediseño de un dinamómetro mediante ingeniería inversa y economía circular

Abstract

The project aims to refurbish an academic dynamometer in one of ESPOL's existing mechanical engineering laboratories, which has been out of service since 2018. Its current condition limits the performance of essential practical work for learning how to measure forces and torques. Reverse engineering and circular economy were proposed as a sustainable solution. The overall objective was to restore its functionality using reused components and locally accessible processes. In addition, the condition of the equipment was diagnosed in order to redesign and manufacture missing parts, validate its operation, and document the process. The results allowed for the specification of torque and power values of 125 Nm and 76 hp, respectively, which showed that the Toyota 20R engine delivered 83% performance compared to its condition when new. In the end, the dynamometer was functionally rehabilitated, a detailed technical guide was developed, and a structured educational practice was proposed. This strategy allows for an approximate investment of $2,000, compared to the $20,000 that would be required to purchase equipment with similar characteristics, representing a savings of nearly 90%. The project demonstrates that it is possible to recover equipment using sustainable methods with innovation within the university environment. Key words: Sustainability, innovation, redesign, refurbishment, reverse engineering.