Design and Development of Engine Driven Warqe (Ensete Ventricosum) Decorticating Machine
Merga Workesa,
Girma Gebresenbet,
Abebe Fanta,
Ashenafi Chaka
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 2, March 2021
Pages:
17-27
Received:
4 April 2021
Accepted:
27 April 2021
Published:
22 June 2021
Abstract: Warqe processing is carried out dominantly by women using traditional tools such as a bamboo scraper and wooden plank. The processing practice of warqe into food remained traditional and inefficient. The decortication process through which the separation of fiber and core takes place has been time consuming, much energy demanding and cause drudgery, and unhygienic due to the use of traditional decorticator that consisting of bamboo scraper and wooden plank. In light of the above, effort was made to develop mechanical warqe decorticator in order to improve the processing performances. The objective of this work was to design, fabricate the essential components, assemble, test and evaluate the performance in terms of decortication efficiency, throughput capacity, reliability, simplicity, safety, and cost. The functional parts of the machine included drum beater, breastplate, reduction gears, diesel engine, collecting box, chain and sprocket, feeding table, pulleys, transmission belts, rollers, engine seat, and bearings. The machine was manufactured using locally available materials to minimize cost. The design can further be improved to have better decorticating efficiency and throughput and low cost through the use of materials like aluminum and plastics rather than stainless steel and there is also the possibility of improving on the design and fabrication in view simplifying for mass production which can also attract private manufacturers.
Abstract: Warqe processing is carried out dominantly by women using traditional tools such as a bamboo scraper and wooden plank. The processing practice of warqe into food remained traditional and inefficient. The decortication process through which the separation of fiber and core takes place has been time consuming, much energy demanding and cause drudgery...
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Investigation on the Surface Roughness When Cutting Hard Material with Plasma Arc Cutting
Omar Monir Koura,
Sarah Atef Afifi,
Mervat Tawfik,
Samah Samir Mohammed
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 2, March 2021
Pages:
28-33
Received:
24 June 2021
Accepted:
16 July 2021
Published:
24 July 2021
Abstract: Surface quality represented in the primary surface texture is the main parameter when dealing with surfaces in relative rotary and sliding motions. In conventional machining processes, if further quality in surface roughness is required, finishing and superfinishing machining operations are available. In case of extremely high resistive, hard and high strength materials conventional machining are highly uneconomical. The solution was found in cutting such hard materials is by using non-traditional processes. Plasma arc cutting was one solution. However, the surface quality as a response of the parameters involved in this process, namely gas pressure, cutting speed and standoff distance is not in the high finished quality. The aim of this paper is studying the effect of the cutting conditions of plasma arc cutting on the primary surface texture as assessed by the International standard Arithmetical Mean Average “Ra” for the produced parts. Experimental work was carried out on specimen made of Hardox400. The effect of the three considered parameters of plasma arc cutting were studied on the responded surface roughness. Results were analyzed using Minitab17 and binomial regression equations were deduced. Cutting speed showed greater effect on surface roughness and all has showed that surface roughness ranged from 5 to 5.5 μm.
Abstract: Surface quality represented in the primary surface texture is the main parameter when dealing with surfaces in relative rotary and sliding motions. In conventional machining processes, if further quality in surface roughness is required, finishing and superfinishing machining operations are available. In case of extremely high resistive, hard and h...
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