Design modification of locally manufactured forage chopper

• Main Authors: Pratiwi, Diah Kusuma, Gunawan, Arifin, Amir, Barlin, Adanta, Dendy, Astuti
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cutting; Design modifications; Energy consumption; Flywheels; Fuel consumption; Human performance; Kinetic energy; Mechanical components; Power consumption; Shear forces; Taguchi methods
• ISSN: 0094-243X; 1551-7616
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0115849

The mechanical forage chopper trend has risen in Indonesia, as has the population of forage choppers manufactured and sold by local workshop sellers with little scientific or engineering background. Indeed, excessive weight, poor machine performance, human injury, and a high fuel consumption rate have been significant issues with conventional forage choppers. A look at the traditional design reveals that it lacks flywheels and is similarly poorly constructed. This study evaluated for required power at various thresher rotating speeds of 1000, 1200, and 1400 rpm and different flywheel diameters. The Taguchi method was used to design the experiment, and the results were evaluated using the same method. The result shows that a lower force allows for more compact mechanical components in chopping machines. In certain circumstances, even though the shearing force is minor, power consumption may be considered if the matching cutting velocity is high. New design’s outcomes appear that the forage chopper will generate more kinetic energy at speeds as low as 1000 rpm than the conventional version. Operating conditions at lower rpm are expected to result in a significant reduction in fuel consumption.