Volume 20, Issue 54, July - December, 2023

Development of a rice grinding machine using Hem-Fir wood material

Adedipe JO¹, Odetoyinbo AP²

¹Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, Nigeria
²Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

This study presents the development of a rice grinding machine using Hem-Fir wood material. The motivation behind this project was the health risks associated with the use of metal grinding machines, which expose consumers to heavy metal intake. The study aimed to create a simple grinding machine suitable for home use and low-income farmers, with minimal exposure to metals. Hem-Fir wood, a hybrid species of lumber known for its durability and versatility, was chosen as the construction material for the machine. The report provides detailed information on the materials and methodology used in the development of the machine, including the design considerations for its components. The machine consists of an electric motor, a frame made of Hem-Fir wood, a hopper for grain feeding, a grinding chamber, and grinding discs. The principle of operation involves the rotational motion of the grinding discs, which grind the grains fed through the hopper. The performance of the machine was evaluated based on workability, weight change, grinding efficiency, and cost. The results demonstrated that the machine effectively grinds rice with a minimal material loss of less than 1%. The machine had an estimated efficiency of 94% and a production cost of N35,000, making it a cost-effective alternative to existing grinding machines. Overall, this study successfully developed a rice grinding machine using Hem-Fir wood material, offering a solution with reduced health risks and competitive efficiency.

Keywords: Grinding machine, Hem-Fir, Performance, Efficiency, Cost

Indian Journal of Engineering, 2023, 20(54), e33ije1668

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi/v20i54/e33ije1668

Published: 12 July 2023