Improvement in Design and Fabrication of a Double Barrel Cassava Grating Machine with Gear Drive Mechanism

Abstract

Improvement on cassava grating machines with researches on design, development, mechanization, performance evaluation, optimization, and improvement is still persistent. This is to enable performance efficiency at low cost for food productivity, security and sustainability. This has necessitated the objective of this study to design and fabricate a double barrel-cassava grating machine with spur gear drive mechanism to achieve exact velocity ratio, reliable service, large power, high efficiency and compact layout. Mechanical properties such as; malleability, brittleness, toughness, ductility, elasticity, hardness, plasticity e .t. c. chemical properties of materials were considered in the selection of different components of the machine and the shafts in order to withstand various forms of stresses, strains, torque and the frictional effect were considered to select mild steel, stainless steel and cast iron. The electric motor transmits motions to the grating barrels through the V-shape belt, pulleys shafts, gear teeth and bearings by the torque of the electric motor while the two grating barrels rotate in opposite direction through the meshing teeth of the gear drives. The grating barrels are attached to shaft and peel the cassava fed into the machine through the hopper which makes contact with the rotating grater barrel. Theoretical and design analysis including bending moment at point of loading, force exerted on shaft (vertical force), reactions at various points, transmission power were determined. The design is easy to assemble and disassemble, thereby making it user-friendly and easy to maintain. This machine can be used for domestic and commercial applications for food productivity and security.