Garri Processing Machine P07403: Sustainable Design and Product Development Track Anne Froustet (IE), Coleman Glasgow (ME), Alissa Albert (IE), Joey Lawson (ME) Guide: Dr. Taylor Sponsor: Mechanical Engineering department
Project Background & Purpose Garri, the staple carbohydrate of West Africa, produced from cassava roots Time consuming and labor intensive process Design and manufacture a machine to improve upon current processing methods Our target customer is lower class families, making up approximately 30% of the Nigerian population. Goal:To improve the quality of life for approximately 8-million Nigerian families by providing more efficient, economical methods for garri processing.
Customer Needs & Product Specifications Reduce Peeling Time 25% of original Eliminate Reliance on Rented Grater Affordable to Lower Class Families $30 USD User Friendly 75% min rating Safe Barriers over sharp components It takes a family of six approximately 2-4 days to process 300-400 cassava roots, producing 50 kg
Selected Concept Peeler Support System Accommodates Larger Sizes Torsion Spring Prongs Clamp
Peeler Strengths and Weaknesses + Fast + Easy operation + Simple/intuitive use - Prongs - Odd Shapes
Selected Concept Grater Safety Shield Chute Clamp
Grater Strengths and Weaknesses + Safety - Handle - Bearings
Manufacturing & Assembly Steel bar stock: Drilling, welding Steel can & cardboard tube Adhesives, machine screws Nylon bearings and handles
Prototype Testing Time Trials User Studies Product Comparison Acquire parts from outside vendors/sources and manufacturers/tool shops Time Trials User Studies Product Comparison
Peeler - Test Results Design Specification: Target: 15 seconds / 6” cassava Marginal: 30 seconds / 6” cassava
Peeler - Test Results Force Required to Operate Intuitive Use Product Preference Design Specification: Target: 100% User Acceptance Marginal: 75% User Acceptance
Grater - Test Results Design Specification: Target: 30 seconds / 6” cassava Marginal: 60 seconds / 6” cassava
Grater - Test Results Force Required to Operate Intuitive Use Product Preference Design Specification: Target: 100% User Acceptance Marginal: 75% User Acceptance
Improvements/Future Work Peeler: Hammock Tolerance To-Scale Model Prongs Increase Tension (arm)
Improvements/Future Work Grater: Handle Radius To-Scale Model Sharper Cone/Custom Accommodates Motor (Optional) Address other processing methods involved in garri production
Acknowledgements Much thanks to all those who assisted with and contributed to the progress of the Garri Processing project including the Mechanical Engineering Department, Dr. Edward Hensel, Dr. James Taylor, Eze Kamanu, and Maggie Masella.
Questions and Comments Thank you!