Testing of Semi automatic Vetiver Grass Roofing Material Making Machine

Abstract

The aim of this research was to develop the semi automatic vetiver grass roofing material making machine and evaluate its performance and quality of finished products.The prototype is a semi automatic operation started by feed the grass on tray of the machine. After that, mechanism powered by pneumatic actuators are folded the grass sheet and move them to sew by the electric sewing. Finally, the folded grass issewn with the wood stick. A grass weights (0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 kg) per panel and gaps of electric sewing presser foot (0 mm and 6 mm) were varied to test the operation of prototype. The results show that the 0.8 kg per panel of grass and gap 6 mm of sewing presser footis the apropriate condition of the prototype to produces the quality grass panel and the energy consumption is in range of 0.0060 - 0.0090 kWh per panel of grass. Field roof testing of grass roofting material show that the roof can resist the shower water leaking when the gap between panel rim and the slope angle of roof are not less than 15 cm and 17.35 degrees respectively. Weight of 1 kg per panel of grass gives a heigher sun light protection and it can reduce 10.85^OC of temperature between the faces of roof. The continuos test show that the average energy consumption, capacity and efficiency are 0.205 kWh hr^-1, 14.9 panel h^-1 and 85% respectively. The break even point of this prototype are 1,925 panel year^-1 when operate at 11 Months of working time.