Muhammet Uludag and Osman Ulkir
In this study, experimental studies were carried out using different process parameters of the soft pneumatic gripper (SPG) fabricated by the fused deposition modeling method. In…
Abstract
Purpose
In this study, experimental studies were carried out using different process parameters of the soft pneumatic gripper (SPG) fabricated by the fused deposition modeling method. In the experimental studies, the surface quality of the gripper was examined by determining four different levels and factors. The experiment was designed to estimate the surface roughness of the SPG.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology consists of an experimental phase in which the SPG is fabricated and the surface roughness is measured. Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) flex filament material was used in the fabrication of SPG. The control factors used in the Taguchi L16 vertical array experimental design and their level values were determined. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to observe the effect of printing parameters on the surface quality. Finally, regression analysis was applied to mathematically model the surface roughness values obtained from the experimental measurements.
Findings
Based on the Taguchi signal-to-noise ratio and ANOVA, layer height is the most influential parameter for surface roughness. The best surface quality value was obtained with a surface roughness value of 18.752 µm using the combination of 100 µm layer height, 2 mm wall thickness, 200 °C nozzle temperature and 120 mm/s printing speed. The developed model predicted the surface roughness of SPG with 95% confidence intervals.
Originality/value
It is essential to examine the surface quality of parts fabricated in additive manufacturing using different variables. In the literature, surface roughness has been examined using different factors and levels. However, the surface roughness of a soft gripper fabricated with TPU material has not been examined previously. The surface quality of parts fabricated using flexible materials is very important.
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Mehmet Kivanc Turan, Muhammet Üsame Sabirli, Altug Bakirci, Emirhan Kartal and Fatih Karpat
This study aims to investigate the effects of five different printing parameters, namely, printing speed (PS), printing temperature/nozzle temperature/extrusion temperature…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the effects of five different printing parameters, namely, printing speed (PS), printing temperature/nozzle temperature/extrusion temperature, heated-bed temperature, raster angle (RA) and layer height (LT), on mechanical properties.
Design/methodology/approach
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards were used for the specimen design. Then, the Taguchi method was used for the design of the experiment and an L16 orthogonal array was preferred. Tensile, Shore D and surface roughness tests were conducted on polylactic acid test specimens. The test results were analyzed using the signal-to-noise ratio and analysis of variance (ANOVA).
Findings
As a result of the study, it was seen that RA is the most important parameter for the tensile strength, PS is for the hardness and LT is for the surface roughness. According to the ANOVA results, the effects of the RA, PS and LT on the maximum tensile strength, hardness and surface roughness were 41.59%, 69.51% and 44.6%, respectively.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the most comprehensive parameter optimization studies for additive manufacturing in the literature because it includes five different printing parameters and three mechanical test procedures.
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Muhammet Bastug, Ihsan Seyit Ertem and Hasan Kagan Keskin
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the causes, processes of writer’s block experienced by a group of classroom teacher candidates and its impact on them.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the causes, processes of writer’s block experienced by a group of classroom teacher candidates and its impact on them.
Design/methodology/approach
The phenomenological design, which is a qualitative research design, was preferred in the research since it was aimed to investigate the causes, processes of writer’s block experienced by a group of classroom teacher candidates and its effects on the students.
Findings
As a result of the data analysis, it is possible to suggest the limitations of subject and time, problems in the process of writing teaching since primary school, anxiety of being controlled and assessed by grades, fear of being criticized, negativity of classroom settings, lack of information about writing, not being able to read and shortcomings in the vocabulary as the causes of writer’s block.
Research limitations/implications
The research has some limitations. First, the research is only in the phenomenology design. Quantitative research is needed to determine the more common effects of outcomes. The other one is a limitation on the participants. A group of adult teacher candidates constitute the participants of this research. Writer’s block of students at different age levels can be examined longitudinally. Nevertheless, the results of the research have the theoretical implications for teaching writing. It specifically guides to understand and eliminate negative affective factors related to writing.
Practical implications
The results of this research have practical implications in terms of classroom practices. The results of the study show that there are practical implications for what should be considered in classroom writing teaching and to prevent the writer’s block.
Originality/value
Writer’s block is an affective state and the examination of it is important in terms of writing instruction. Many students suffer from writer’s block. However, this subject is neglected by writing researchers and educators. The authors expect the results to guide teachers and writing education researchers. Because of these reasons, this study is important and gives good contribution to literature.
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Muhammet Deveci, Ibrahim Zeki Akyurt and Selahattin Yavuz
The purpose of this paper is to present a new public bread factory location selection for Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM).
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a new public bread factory location selection for Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM).
Design/methodology/approach
A two-stage methodology is proposed to determine the location for the public bread factory facility. This framework is based on both geographic information systems (GIS) and multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques. The first stage of the methodology aims to decrease the number of possible alternative locations to simplify the selection activity by applying GIS; the second stage utilises interval type-2 fuzzy MCDM approach to exactly determine the public bread factory site location.
Findings
In this study, the authors present weighted normalised-based interval type-2 hesitant fuzzy and interval type-2 hesitant fuzzy sets (IT2HFSs)-based compressed proportional assessment (COPRAS) methods to overcome facility location selection problem for a fourth public bread factory in Istanbul.
Practical implications
The results show that the proposed approach is practical and can be employed by the bakery industry.
Originality/value
In this study, the authors present a two-stage methodology for public bread factory site selection. In the first stage, the number of alternatives is reduced by the GIS. In the second stage, an interval type-2 fuzzy set is implemented for the evaluation of public bakery factory site alternatives. A new integrated approach based on COPRAS method and weighted normalised with IT2HFSs is proposed.
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Prabhjot Kaur, Keshav Malhotra and Sanjeev K. Sharma
Taking an evidence from social exchange theory, this research examines the mediating role of affective commitment in the correlation between internal branding, employee engagement…
Abstract
Purpose
Taking an evidence from social exchange theory, this research examines the mediating role of affective commitment in the correlation between internal branding, employee engagement and job satisfaction. The moderating role of work environment on the link between internal branding and affective commitment is also studied in this research.
Design/methodology/approach
The data were collected by using well-structured research measures from 215 employees working in the BPO sector of India (Punjab and Chandigarh). The hypotheses were developed, and the conceptual model was validated by applying structural equation modeling. The data were analyzed by using two statistical packages, namely SPSS and AMOS.
Findings
The findings suggest that internal branding has a significant positive relationship with employee engagement, job satisfaction and affective commitment. The mediating effect of affective commitment on the relationship between internal branding and employee engagement was full, whereas on the relationship between internal branding and job satisfaction, it was partial. Work environment also moderated the relationship of internal branding with affective commitment.
Research limitations/implications
The current study offers significant lessons to management thinkers, human resource (HR), organizational branding and marketing manager. However, BPO sector should be aware about the critical role played by internal branding to enhance affective commitment, employee engagement and job satisfaction of the employees. The role of affective commitment is also taken into account to study the effect of internal branding on employee engagement and employee's job satisfaction. For itself, internal branding cannot be considered as in isolation and is doubtful to be efficacious if the work environment is not encouraging to an employee as well as to the brand values.
Practical implications
This study offers significant lessons to management thinkers, HR, organizational branding and marketing manager. However, BPO sector should be aware about the critical role played by internal branding to enhance employee engagement, job satisfaction and affective commitment of the employees. An important role of affective commitment is also taken into account to study the effect of internal branding on employee engagement and employee's job satisfaction. For itself, internal branding cannot be considered as in isolation and is doubtful to be efficacious if employees are not provided an encouraging work environment.
Originality/value
Existing researches on internal branding are theoretical in nature and overlook the empirical impact of internal branding on employee engagement, job satisfaction and affective commitment from the BPO employees' perspective. The study also offers an empirical examination of potential mediator and moderator for internal branding.