Chapter 1: Introduction

Situational Analysis
Not too long ago, everyday life was filled with burdensome, time-consuming chores that left
little time for much more than completing these tasks. People were Limited to whatever their
physical capacities were. All this changed dramatically as new Technologies developed. Modern
technology has most improved our lives through convenience, Efficiency, and accessibility.
Modern technology has created many conveniences in everyday life from waking up to Music
to having coffee ready to getting to work and doing a day’s work. The efficiency provided By
technology gives people more time to enjoy life and pursue personal development, and the
Accessibility has broadened options for travel, school, and work. Life has been improved with
Modern technology through convenience, efficiency, and accessibility.
Another major area that began to show signs of profound change in the 18th century was
agriculture. Stimulated by greater commercial activity, the rising market for food caused by an
increasing population aspiring to a higher standard of living. Agriculture in the Philippines has
always been associated with manual labor and backward traditional farming methods. For the
Department of Agriculture (DA), the stigma of farming being a poor man’s job doesn’t make it
easier to fulfill its mandate of reaching food security or attracting more people to join the
sector. However, progress is already creeping into the sector slowly but surely. In the past few
years, both the government and the private sector made efforts to address self-sufficiency in
important food staples through the introduction of hybrid seeds, innovative farming techniques
and technology to the agriculture sector.
(https://www.bworldonline.com/special-reports/2018/07/26/175993/in-the-philippines-
technology-is-seeping-into-agriculture/)
In agriculture, there are certain parameters to be considered such as the type of crop,
properties of soil, climate etc. Depending upon these parameters, farmers decide which crop is
to be cultivated at what time of the year and place. Moreover, to yield a high-quality product,
suitable soil, climate and season are not sufficient. It requires a set of procedures which needed
to be followed. From soil preparation, sowing, manuring, irrigating, weeding and harvesting.
After that process it will take time before it became a raw product. The harvested grain will
undergo drying and sweeping method to eradicate unwanted particles.
After farmers harvest their product they have to dry the grain. In drying processes there is not
enough drying and blower machine in the vicinity. Few have but not all can afford it. So they
dried their crops along the highway or in the field where in sunlight can do the work. In that
their crops is expose in many unnecessary material that will contaminate the crops. From dried
leaves, stone and other known agent from the environment.
So to eradicate the unwanted particles that is being mixed in during drying method the
researcher introduces the Multi-functional grain vacuum and blower.The machine can suck any
types of grains that being dried in the blazing sun. This machine is highly efficient and can be
customized to meet the users’ conveying needs. It can also be used in conjunction, which can
be operated by a single unit or by a combination of units. It may also include combining with
other pieces of equipment to form a conveying system to meet various needs. The machine will
help the farmer in collecting their grain product in efficient way. It is equip with a vacuum,
blower and segregation tool that will removes dust and contaminated agent from the grain as it
is being processed through the machine. This will save time and money for the farmer from
going to some blowing machine in the area.
Julius Ceasar L. Nebab of Buenavista, Claveria Cagayan pioneer the fabrication of mechanized
vacuum grain collector, this being his requirement in the pursuit of his degree in Bs agricultural
engineering at the cagayan state university sanchez-mira campus. Nebab, who belong to the
prime batch and who just graduated this june 2017 was awarded best in an undergraduate
thesis. The same study bagged the best paper in technological category and he was adjudge
best in student research during the 2017 university RDE search. His adviser, Engr. Shirly O.
Agcaoili, monitored the development and fabrication of the said machine.
Grain product is one of the most important raw ingredient in producing consumable food in
terms of human and animal consumption. Around the globe it is traditionally food for the
people and animals. Grains are naturally high in fiber, helping you feel full and satisfied —
which makes it easier to maintain a healthy body weight. Whole grains are also linked to a
lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers and other health problems. Specially our
most and common product is rice which is the primary staple food for more than half the
world’s population.
With the use of the machine
Statement of Objectives
This study aimed to develop a Multi-functional grain vacuum and blower.
Specifically, it achieved the following objectives:
1.To design and construct a Multi-functional grain vacuum and blower.
2.To evaluate the Multi-functional grain vacuum and blower in terms of the:
Level of Technical Soundness,
Level of Technical Performance, and
Level of Acceptability.
3.To prepare an operating manual for the Multi-functional grain vacuum and blower

TIME AND PLACE OF STUDY

This study will basically have focused on the design and development as well as the evaluation
of the Multi-functional grain vacuum and blower machine. The activities were undertaken by
the researchers at the laboratory and machine shop of the Bachelor of Science in Electro-
Mechanical Technology Department of the College of Technology, Don Mariano Marcos
Memorial State University Mid La Union Campus, City of San Fernando, La Union during the
whole Semester of the School Year 2022-2023.
Definition of Terms
For better understanding at this study, the following terms were defined operationally:
Vacuum is one of the mechanism of the Multi-functional grain vacuum and blower which collect
grain to put it on the sack
Construction is the process of putting together the different parts of the Multi-functional grain
vacuum and blower
Design refers to the creation of drawing plan or blueprint for the fabrication of the Multi-
functional grain vacuum and blower
Blower is one of the mechanism of the machine that will drive out the unnecessary materials or
defective grain following the process of vacuum scooping to sacking
Level of acceptability is the end users satisfaction of the machine. The indications were
fabrication cost, maintenance cost, durability, affordability, environmental friendliness, and
user friendliness
Level of technical performance refers to the degree by which the Multi-functional grain vacuum
and blower can accomplish it’s task measured against the standard of durability of parts, safety
of operation, speed, and accuracy
Operation manual is the users guide that contains the instructions/directions for the proper use
and maintenance of the Multi-functional grain vacuum and blower
Grain any food made from wheat, rice, cornmeal, barley, soybean, or any other dried grain
products. In this study, dried grain products are the one to be collected and clean
Multi-functional grain vacuum and blower is the output of the study. It is the machine that
easily collect dried grain products efficiently free from unwanted agents during drying
processes
Chapter 2: Methodology
Research Design
The researcher use the project-development and descriptive-evaluative research design;
Project development is the process that makes a machine improvement from the concept
through construction. In this study the researcher design and fabricated the machine according
to the specification. Construction and assembled all the parts in conformity to the design. The
machine was tested and determine the problems and defects until the machine perform well
and considered the Multi-functional grain vacuum and blower to be functional.
Descriptive research is the collection of data describing some phenomenon that may or may
not quantifiable such as close-end scale, open-ended survey questions, observation, and
interview. The purpose of research is to evaluate or measure the results against some know or
hypothesized standards. The descriptive-evaluative research is used in this study to determine
the level of performance, the level of functionality, and the level of acceptability of the Multi-
functional grain vacuum and blower. It involves the description, recording, analysis and
interpretation of what it is. It is used in many kind of investigation due to its applicability to
solve different kind of problems.
The questionnaire was used to determine the level of technical performance, level of
economic/financial viability and the level of acceptability of the Multi-functional grain vacuum
and blower. The questionnaire was lifted from research work of Cabidog and company (2018)
which was validated and tested for the evaluation of Vacuum grain collector and distributor.
Materials and procedure
Table 1 present the quantity, unit name and description, and cost of supplies and materials for
the equipment . These were purchased from the local market.
Table 1. Supplies and Material

Quantity Unit Name and Unit cost (PHP) Total cost (PHP)
Descriptions
5HP single
cylinder gas
engine
Belts
Wheels
Bolt and nuts
Paint
Bearing
Angle bar
Paint brush
Cutting disc
 Hacksaw blade
Flexible vacuum
hose
Grinding disc
Welding rod
Flat sheet
Rivet nut
PVC pipe

Table 2. Project Cost

Sources Cost (PHP)

Supplies and materials
Labor cost
Overhead cost
Total project cost

Table 2 shows the total project cost amounting to P0,000. P0,000 was utilized for the
procurement of supplies and materials. The labor cost of the construction of the machine is
P0,000 which is 00% of the total cost of supplies and materials. Finally, the overhead
amounting to P0,000 is computer based on the 00% supplies and materials.
Table 3. Tools and Equipment

Tool’s and Equipment Function

1. Tools
Pull-push rule used for measuring long,
short, straight lengths.
Hand vise used to hold small pieces of
work, especially metal, when
drilling
Wrenches used for gripping, fastening,
turning, tightening and
loosening things like pipes,
pipe fittings, nuts and bolts
Drill bit used to originate or enlarge
circular holes in solid
material
Hammer Used for general carpentry,
framing, nail pulling, striking,
and so on
Rivet used to drive rivet nut
2. Gadget
 Eye googles intended to shield the eyes
against liquid or chemical
splash, irritating mists,
vapors, and fume
Head shield intended to protect the
wearer's partial or entire face
and the eyes from hazards
Gloves Protect and comfort hands
against cold or heat, damage
by friction, abrasion or
chemicals, and disease; or in
turn to provide a guard for
what a bare hand should not
touch
Apron used to keep clothes clean &
tidy
3. Equipment
Electric drill used for drilling circular holes
in material, or for inserting
screws and other threaded
fasteners into material
Electric grinder used for a variety of metal
fabrication jobs that include
cutting, grinding, deburring,
finishing and polishing
Electric arc welding is a device used for fusing
metals

Table 3 shows all the tool and equipment used in the construction of the Multi-functional grain
vacuum and blower. These tools and equipment were located at BSEMT Department of College
of Technology, DMMMSU Mid La Union campus where the researcher conduct the project
study. These materials is utilized after asking permission and granted by the department
Chairman, with the supervision of the researcher adviser. Some tools and power tools were
utilized by the researcher as personal property for faster and easy fabrication of Multi-
functional grain vacuum and blower in main parts and sub-parts. The equipment available at
the BSEMT Department where the researcher find it very useful, especially, the arc welding
machine, also the lathe machine in turning, boring, and facing the Multi-functional grain
vacuum and blower.
Figure 1 shows the flowchart that illustrating the stages in the development of the Multi-
functional grain vacuum and blower. First, the researcher plan the steps and the resources
needed in development of the machine. This include the design, material, and tool’s timeline in
the fabrication, test and revision, and evaluation. Second is the conceptualization of the design.
The researcher basing the design to a typical grain bagger and introduce the modification to
make the machine noble, useful, functional, eco-friendly, and acceptable. The third stage will
be the purchasing of the supplies and materials from the local market.
Next stage following the purchase of materials will be the actual fabrication of the parts of the
machine. Each of the researcher is a given task to perform to test their fabrication at the shop
of EMT Department with supervision and assistance of our adviser. The fabrication will in
accordance to the design. After some period of time the machine were assemble, test, and
revise to determine its functionality and to make necessary modification. Finally, the evaluation
of the machine will be conduct by the invite expert.
Figure 1 shows the Flow Chart of the Multi-functional grain vacuum and blower. There are 6
steps. Step 1 was the planning in which the researcher plan to make a Multi-functional grain
vacuum and blower to make the farmers work easy to sack free from unwanted particles mixed
in; Step 2 was the Designing in which the researcher desired to make a safety and good design
for the machine; Step 3 the purchasing of the supplies and materials in which the researcher
find the most affordable but durable materials for the machine; Step 4 was the assembling in
which the researcher follow the plan of the proper design and foundation of the machine; Step
5 was the Test and Revision of the developed machine; and Step 6 was the evaluation of the
Multi-functional grain vacuum and blower
 Planning Revising and testing

Designing Evaluating

Purchasing Final Output

Fabricating

Figure 1. Flowchart in the development

Data analysis
To conduct the descriptive-evaluative phase of the study, the researcher used a questionnaire
to determine the Multi-functional grain vacuum and blower level of technical soundness, level
of technical performance, and level of technical acceptability. The questionnaire was floated to
the expert evaluator from the BSEMT faculty to check on the validity of it.
The questionnaire consist of four parts. The first part is the name and the qualifications of the
evaluators. The second part includes the indicator to determine the level of the technical
soundness of the design and sub-indicators, and speed and accuracy. The third part include the
indicator to determine the level of technical performance and sub-indicators. And, the fourth
part includes the indicator to determine the level of acceptability such as it’s maintenance cost,
fabrication cost, durability, affordability, environmental-friendliness, gender-neutral, user
friendliness, the design, and sub-indicators.
Frequency counts and weighted mean we’re used to asses the level of technical soundness,
level of technical performance, and level of acceptability, of the Multi-functional grain vacuum
and blower. The following categories were utilized to qualify and assign descriptive equivalent
of the perception evaluators.

Level of technical soundness

Point of value Rating scale Descriptive Descriptive meaning

equivalent
5 4.20-5.00 Very high functional The machine is
functioning very well
4 3.40-4.19 Highly functional The machine is
functioning well
enough
3 2.60-3.39 Moderately The machine is
functional functioning good
2 1.80-2.59 Slightly functional The machine is
functioning slightly
good
1 1.00-1.79 Not functional The machine is not
functioning
Level of technical performance

Point of value Rating scale Descriptive Descriptive meaning

equivalent
5 4.20-5.00 Excellent The machine can
suck grains and
extract dirt efficiently
4 3.40-4.19 Very good The machine can
suck grains and
extract dirt
3 2.60-3.39 Good The machine can
suck grains and
extract dirt
appropriately
2 1.80-2.59 Fair The machine can
suck grains
1 1.00-1.79 Poor The machine is not
functional

Level of acceptability

Point of value Rating scale Descriptive Descriptive meaning

equivalent
5 4.20-5.00 Very high The machine is not to
acceptability expensive and
exceedingly with
accurate design
4 3.40-4.19 High acceptability The machine is not to
expensive and
accurate in design
3 2.60-3.39 Acceptable The machine is quite
affordable and with
quite accurate design
2 1.80-2.59 Slightly acceptability The machine is lightly
affordable and not so
accurate in design
1 1.00-1.79 Not acceptable The machine is not
affordable and not
accurate in design