The distribution of NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium) fertilizer in oil palm plantations is still largely carried out manually, which often leads to dosage inaccuracy, fertilizer waste, and higher labor requirements. One effort to overcome this problem is to develop a semi-automatic fertilizer spreader machine equipped with a reliable power transmission system. This study aims to design and analyze the transmission system of a semi-automatic NPK fertilizer spreader machine so that it can operate efficiently, stably, and safely. The research method included a literature review, theoretical transmission design, and component analysis using mechanical calculation and static simulation. The transmission system is driven by a 3 HP single-phase AC electric motor rotating at 1,000 rpm, combined with a pulley and V-belt mechanism. The driver pulley has a diameter of 150 mm and the driven pulley has a diameter of 100 mm, producing a transmission ratio of 0.67. Static simulation was carried out to evaluate the von Mises stress, displacement, and factor of safety (FOS) of the pulley components made of AISI 1020 low carbon steel to ensure structural reliability under actual operating conditions. The design results show that the driver pulley rotating at 1,000 rpm drives the driven pulley at 1,500 rpm, with a V-belt linear speed of 7.85 m/s, a belt length of 1,234 mm, and a shaft center distance of 655.77 mm. The simulation results show maximum von Mises stresses of 6.329 MPa on the driver pulley and 5.814 MPa on the driven pulley, with minimum FOS values of 48 and 60, respectively, both of which are far above the minimum safety limit. This study confirms that proper selection of pulley diameter and V-belt dimensions significantly affects transmission efficiency, which is estimated to be in the range of 90%-95%. Therefore, the results can serve as a useful reference for the development of an efficient and easy-to-maintain semi-automatic fertilizer spreader machine for small- to medium-scale oil palm plantations.
Antonio Suryapradja, Supriyono· Journal of Multidisciplinary...· 0 citations
The transmission shaft is one of the most critical mechanical components in a solar-powered automatic fish feeder because it transfers rotational power from the DC gear motor to the feed-spreading mechanism while supporting combined torsional and bending loads during operation. An inappropriate shaft design may lead to excessive stress, deformation, and structural failure, reducing the reliability and operational lifespan of the feeding system. Therefore, this study aims to design and evaluate the structural performance of the transmission shaft using analytical calculations and finite element analysis (FEA). The shaft was designed using AISI 1045 medium-carbon steel with a diameter of 12.7 mm based on classical machine design equations. A three-dimensional model was developed using SolidWorks 2021 and analyzed through static structural simulation under operational loading conditions. The evaluated parameters included equivalent Von Mises stress, total displacement, and factor of safety. The analytical calculation produced a maximum equivalent stress of 8.62 MPa, while the finite element simulation predicted 22.566 MPa, both of which remained considerably below the yield strength of AISI 1045 steel. The theoretical and simulated maximum displacements were 0.009 mm and 0.001 mm, respectively, indicating excellent structural rigidity. Furthermore, the analytical and numerical factors of safety were 66.25 and 61.756, demonstrating that the shaft possesses a substantial safety margin against yielding under the specified loading conditions. The comparison between theoretical calculations and finite element simulation confirms that the proposed shaft design is structurally reliable and capable of safely transmitting power in a solar-powered automatic fish feeder. The findings of this study provide a practical engineering reference for the design and optimization of transmission shafts employed in automatic aquaculture feeding systems and other rotating mechanical applications.
Dwi Putra Putra Hendriansyah, Supriyono· Journal of Multidisciplinary...· 0 citations
The traditional rice drying process is still widely applied by farmers in Indonesia; however, this method is highly dependent on weather conditions, requires a long drying time, and produces non-uniform grain quality. These conditions drive the need for a rotary system rice dryer machine capable of operating stably without depending on the weather, where the frame, as the supporting structure for all main machine components, plays a crucial role in the safety and stability of the system during operation. This study aims to design and analyze the strength of the rotary system rice dryer machine frame to determine the stress distribution, deformation, and structural safety factor before it is realized in the manufacturing stage. The three-dimensional model of the frame was created using SolidWorks 2024 software with ASTM A36 steel material having an angle iron profile measuring 40 x 40 x 3 millimeters. The structural analysis was conducted statically with a fixed support boundary condition on the frame legs, while loading was applied to the drum mount, drum cover, drive motor, and blower using the finite element method approach. The simulation analysis results were then compared with theoretical manual calculations to verify the accuracy of the results. The simulation results showed a maximum von Mises stress value of 37.87 megapascals, a maximum deformation of 0.158 millimeters, and a safety factor of 6.6. The manual calculation produced comparable values, namely a von Mises stress of 43.20 megapascals, a deformation of 0.162 millimeters, and a safety factor of 5.79. The agreement between the two approaches indicates that the simulation results are valid and theoretically justifiable. Based on these findings, the frame design is declared safe, stable, and feasible for realization in the manufacturing stage, thus capable of supporting a more efficient rice drying process that does not depend on weather conditions. The results of this study are expected to serve as a reference in the development of more efficient and safe rice dryer machine frame designs in future research.
Zaky Raihan Dany, Supriyono· Journal of Multidisciplinary...· 0 citations
Post-harvest paddy drying is a critical stage in maintaining grain quality, requiring continuous moisture content reduction from an initial range of 22–28% down to a safe storage level of 13–14%. This study aims to design and evaluate the structural integrity of a V-belt transmission system for a rotary paddy drying machine to ensure optimal operational rotation and long-term mechanical reliability. The transmission system was developed using analytical kinematic and dynamic calculations, followed by three-dimensional solid modeling and static structural finite element numerical simulations executed in SolidWorks. The analytical results demonstrate that a 0.75 kW electric motor operating at 1400 rpm, coupled with a 1:4.5 transmission reduction ratio, successfully steps down the output speed to a target drum rotation of 10–20 rpm while delivering a linear belt speed of 6.59 m/s and an operational torque of 5.12 N·m. Static structural simulation on the 225 mm driven pulley constructed from Aluminium Alloy 1060 reveals a maximum equivalent Von Mises stress of 8.811 MPa, utilizing only 31.96% of the material yield strength (27.57 MPa) and ensuring operation strictly within the elastic deformation regime. The maximum structural displacement at the outer rim is recorded at 2.863 mm, maintaining safe alignment without inducing belt slippage. Furthermore, the evaluation yields a minimum Factor of Safety of 26.444, which substantially exceeds standard mechanical engineering design thresholds and guarantees high resistance against startup shock loads. In conclusion, the designed V-belt transmission system meets all kinematic, dynamic, and structural requirements, demonstrating high mechanical safety and complete feasibility for physical prototype fabrication.
Rio Ardra Ramadhan, Supriyono· Journal of Multidisciplinary...· 0 citations
