Design, fabrication, and performance evaluation of a soybean threshing machine
Frederick Abangba Akendola1, Clement Adekunle Komolafe1, Abdulai Ayirebi Ankrah1 and Obed Ofori Yemoh1
Department of Mechanical Engineering,Faculty of Engineering, University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa,Ghana1
Corresponding Author : Frederick Abangba Akendola
Recieved : 30-June-2024; Revised : 12-January-2025; Accepted : 16-January-2025
Abstract
Soybean (Glycine max) is a staple crop with significant nutritional value and serves as a key industrial raw material for animal feed producers. However, in Ghana, soybean production is predominantly carried out manually. The objectives of this study are to: (1) design a soybean thresher using engineering design principles and theories, (2) fabricate the machine utilizing appropriate engineering technologies, and (3) evaluate its performance using design of experiment (DOE) methodologies. The study was done by using computer-aided design (CAD), and dynamics (kinematics) of machinery in the design, machining, sheet metal forming and fastening (welding and the use of bolts and nuts), whereas the DOE technique was used for evaluating the machine’s performance. The outcome of the study presents a mechanical soybean thresher, which is ergonomically friendly. The performance evaluation of the machine revealed that the thresher achieved a throughput ranging from 81.2 to 96.4 kg/h and an efficiency of 74.62% to 93.67%, with minimal grain damage proportions between 2% and 4.7%. A strong positive correlation coefficient of 0.85 was observed between operating speed and efficiency, and 0.9 between operating speed and capacity. The study provides predictive models to support precise machine design decisions and offers guidance for future machine designs, with a high coefficient of determination ranging from 0.7219 to 0.8041. Additionally, boxplot analysis indicates a median grain damage proportion of 2.7% with minimal variability, which validates the machine's reliability under controlled operating speed conditions. These findings highlight the machine’s operational stability, user-friendliness and minimal fatigue impact, ensuring high-quality soybean processing. Therefore, an efficient, ergonomically friendly, locally developed soybean threshing machine was designed, enabling reliable predictions and decisions within optimal operating conditions.
Keywords
Soybean thresher, Performance evaluation, Engineering design, Design of experiment, Ergonomic design, Predictive modelling, Machine efficiency.
Cite this article
Akendola FA, Komolafe CA, Ankrah AA, Yemoh OO. Design, fabrication, and performance evaluation of a soybean threshing machine. International Journal of Advanced Technology and Engineering Exploration. 2025;12(122):53-73. DOI : 10.19101/IJATEE.2024.111101148
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