Design and Fabrication of a Cassava Root Picking Machine

Abstract

The main objective of this research to design and fabricate the cassava roots picking machine for cassava roots picking, reduce time and overcome the labour shortage problem in agricultural sector. Preliminary, the study of the necessary information to collect the data for designing of the prototype include, the currently cassava roots picking method, and the preferred cassava variety in Thailand, Kasetsart-50 was selected to study crop properties. The machine consisted of the main frame, the pressing unit, the cylinder saw unit, the feeding unit, power transmissions unit, and a tractor PTO was used as a power source. The whole stump with cassava root was fed manually on the feeding unit, and pressed to the cylinder saw unit that was installed at the center of feeding unit by pressing unit, and then the cassava roots were cut and discharged to the discharge chute, cassava stump was fallen through the feeding unit. For performance evaluation, two types of pressing unit (flat and step type) were used, The highest picking quality of the picking unit were found at the cylinder saw speed was more than 1,000 rpm, and operated with second pressing unit. The percentage of picking was 94.5-97.9%, working capacity was between 313-376kg/hr, and fuel consumption of the speeds range tested was between 5.2-6.1l/hr.