MIE.17 – Portable Slurry Composition Meter

Selecting the appropriate joint compound is essential for achieving high-quality drywall finishing, emphasizing the importance of having a reliable tool that one can depend on to ensure that the compound is prepared properly and meets industry standards. Companies in drywall applications want to measure the viscosity of these compounds in the field, although current measurement techniques are impractical. This need in the industry led the team to be tasked by United States Gypsum (USG), one of the largest distributors of wallboard and gypsum products in the Unites States, to develop a portable battery powered device which can assist in determining the compound’s properties by outputting a power value. The team will design a device that will have a spindle attached to it and will output a value once it is inserted into the joint compound mixture. That measured value can then be utilized to determine the viscosity and the features of the joint compound mixture. The device will incorporate a user-friendly interface to ensure ease of use operation and accurate measurements in different field conditions. The final design of the device will be something that can be easily transported in a backpack, weighs less than 20 pounds, and can be facilitated for on-site use rather than in a laboratory as commonly used right now.