Design of a Pedal Powered Machine to Enhance Shear Nut Processing
Date
2022
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Ashesi University
Abstract
Shea nut is a very important commodity across many parts of the African Continent. The
Shea tree has numerous socio-cultural and economic benefits to people living in its
geographic area and to the nation at large. Despite the fact that the shea nut industry has
contributed significantly to the economic growth of the nation, the method
(manual/traditional) by which shea products are processed is tedious and time-consuming
which need to be addressed. The current work focused on designing a pedal powered
machine that would enhance shea nut roasting. Conceptualization was achieved with free
hand sketches and 3d models using SolidWorks. Methodology involves numerical
calculation, static analysis, fatigue analysis, vibrational simulation, in SolidWorks. The
results showed that the stress on the shaft lies at the edges of the fins, and the factor of
safety obtained after design lied between 1.9 to 5.5. Also, the result showed the minimum
natural frequency of the cylinder to be ranging from 2947.5 Rad/sec and the maximum
being 13449 rad/sec.
The result implies that the shaft design was safe as far as the factor of safety is concerned
and excessive vibrations beyond the minimum frequencies might lead to structural and
functional issues.
Description
Capstone Project submitted to the Department of Engineering, Ashesi University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, May 2022
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Citation
Aboagye, B. (2022). Design of a Pedal Powered Machine to Enhance Shear Nut Processing. Ashesi University.