Cassava Harvester to Replace Manual Labor

Fourth-year agricultural engineering students invented a cassava harvester prototype machine, in an effort to replace manual labor with automation. The team comprises Chakapan Petchklom, Anuwat Charoensuk, Kanitson Kaewsai, Wuttichai Chaosuan, and the advisor, Dr. Kiattisak Saengpradit.

The prototype machine features a multi-blade system for cutting and a conveyor system for transporting cut cassava plants to the area where they are laid out horizontally in rows. A hydraulic motor provides the source of power for the blade system and the conveyor system. The multi-blade system featu

res 30 circular saws, with 20cm. in diameter each, arranged into top and bottom rows. The bottom blades are set slightly forward, in order to cut the trunk first, then the tip. Circular blades yield cleaner cuts and less damage to the plant. The PTO (power takeoff) is used to send power from the hydraulic motor to the blades and conveyor systems.

Initial testing using three speed levels (1,500, 2,000, and 2,500 cycles per minute) showed that the most efficient speed is 2,500 cycles per minute. At this speed, the harvester covered an area of 1 rai in 1 hour, with 22 percent damage to the crop, and consumed the fuel at 7 liters per hour. After the initial testing, the team made an improvement to the conveyor system, specifically the speed of the hydraulic motor, in order to slow down the transport function and achieve a more organized way of arranging the harvest onto the collector tray. A speed control valve was installed, to allow adjustment of the motor speed.

The cassava harvester prototype costs 560,000 baht to produce. For more information, contact the team at 093 013 7113 or 089 580 2706.