DEVELOPMENT OF A MACHINE FOR CUTTING SUGAR CANE BUDS

Abstract

This research aims to manufacture and test a machine for cutting sugar cane buds to develop mechanization of the stage of preparing sugarcane seedlings in the nursery. The developed machine consists of a frame, cutting unite, electric motor, and power transmission system. This machine will save the time, effort and costs spent on cutting reeds by traditional methods at farmers. The machine cuts the sugarcane stalks that are used as seeds and which contain undamaged buds, the operator cuts the groups of sprouts by the bud cutting machine. The machine has been tested at three transmission ratios to cutting rate of R1 = 22, R2 = 32, and R3 = 40 buds/min. The results of preliminary tests revealed that the machine achieved the skipping, percentage of damaged, cutting efficiency, and productivity was (4.09, 7.19, 11%), (2.37, 5.39, and 8.99%), (97.63, 94.61, 91%), (1266, 1782, 2136 bud/hr.) at the cutting rate R1, R2, and R3 respectively. The total costs for operating the machine are 50.3 L.E./h to at the highest cutting rate R3.