Design and analysis of automatic seed sowing machine

Abstract
This study introduces an innovative mechanism designed to automate the seed sowing
process, aimed at increasing precision and efficiency in agricultural practices. The proposed
seed sowing robot integrates advanced mechanical systems with automation technology to
streamline the planting phase, which is crucial for crop establishment. The primary focus of
the robot's design is to minimize human labour, reduce seed wastage, and achieve uniformity
in seed distribution and depth placement.

The object features a robust frame, a seed dispensing unit, and a propulsion system
consisting of wheels and a sprocket-chain assembly to ensure mobility and consistent
operation across various soil types. The effectiveness of the machine performance is critically
dependent on the durability and weight of its structural components; therefore, the study
involves a comparative analysis of three distinct materials: steel, stainless steel, and
aluminium alloy (Al alloy). Each material is evaluated based on criteria such as strength,
corrosion resistance, weight, and cost. The analysis aims to identify the optimal material for
the sprocket and frame that balances the machine longevity and functionality while
maintaining economic viability.

Results to be calculated:

 Deformation,
 stress,
 strain,
 safety factor
 1.INTRODUCTION
In the current generation most of the countries do not have sufficient skilled man power
especially in agricultural sector and it affects the growth of developing countries. The main
requirement of Automation is to reduce man power in our country; the buzzword in all
industrial firms generally involves electrical, electronic component as well as mechanical
part. Automation saves a lot of tedious manual work and speeds up the production processes.
So it is a time to automate the sector to overcome this problem. In India there are 70% people
dependent on agriculture. Seed has been an important agricultural commodity since the first
crop plant was domesticated by pre-historic man. In this model seed sowing process is
automated to reduce the human effort and increase the yield. The plantation of seeds is
automatically done by using DC motor.

Cropping is important and tedious activity for any farmer, and for large scale this activity is
so lengthy also it needs more workers. Thus agriculture machines were developed to simplify
the human efforts. In manual method of seed planting, we get results such as low seed
placement, less spacing efficiencies and serious back ache for the farmer. This also limited
the size of field that can be planted. Hence for achieving best performance from a seed
planter, the above limits should be optimized. Thus we need to make proper design of the
agriculture machine and also selection of the components is also required on the machine to
suit the needs of crops. The agriculture is the backbone of India. And for sustainable growth
of India development of agriculture plays vital role. The India has huge population and day
by day it is growing thus demand of food is also increasing. In agriculture we saw various
machines. Also there traditional methods are there. Since long ago in India traditional method
is used. Also India has huge man power. This manual planting is popular in villages of India.
But for large scale this method is very troublesome. The farmer has to spend his more time in
planting. But time available is less for him. Thus it requires more man power to complete the
task within stipulated time which is costlier. Also more wastage happens during manual
planting. Hence there is need of developing such a machine which will help the farmer to
reduce his efforts while planting. This process of using machines is called as mechanization.
Along with mechanization automation also helps to increase the efficiency of the process.

The robotic system is an electromechanical (conveys a sense that it has agency of its own)
and artificial agent which is steered by DC motor which has four wheels. The farm is
cultivated by the machine, depending on the crop considering particular rows & specific
columns. The infrared sensor detects the obstacles in the path and it also senses turning
position of vehicle at end of land. The seed block can be detected and solved using water
pressure. The machine can be controlled remotely and solar panel is used to charge DC
battery. Assembly language is used in programming the microcontrollers. The
microcontroller is used to control and monitor the process of system motion of vehicle with
the help of DC motor. As agriculture is extensively supported by technical means like
seeding, mowing or harvesting machines, it is widely considered to be a field with a high
potential for robotic application as it is a small step from these semi automatically operated
machines to fully autonomous robots in both greenhouse and open field applications. Robots
are available on all development levels from experimental to market-ready in several
agricultural applications but most of them are in research, where institutes have made
progress to extend the existing agricultural machines to robotic systems. Most of the robots
considered in this publication are developed for harvesting. Seeding is not yet as important
since there are already good tractor based seeding systems. In horticulture there are
significantly less robotic applications as in agriculture.

Traditional Sowing Methods:

Traditional methods include broadcasting manually, opening furrows by a country plough

and dropping seeds hand, known as ‘ Kera’, and dropping seeds in the furrow through a
bamboo/mental funnel attached to a country plough( Pora). For sowing in small areas
dibbling i.e., making holes or slits by a stick or tool and dropping seeds by hand, is practiced.
Multi row traditional seeding device with manual metering of seeds are quite popular with
experienced farmers.

Traditional sowing methods have following limitations;

1) In manual seeding, it is not possible to achieve uniformity in distribution of seeds. A

farmer may sow at desired seed rate but inter- row and intra – row distribution of seeds is
likely to be uneven resulting in bunching and gaps in field.

2) Poor control over depth of seed placement.

3) It is necessary to sow at high seed rates and bring the plant population to desired level by
thinning.

4) Labor requirement is high because two persons are required for dropping seed and
fertilizer. 5) The effect of inaccuracies in seed placement on plant stand is greater in case of
crops sown under dry farming conditions. During kharif sowing, placement of seeds at
uneven depth may result in poor emergence because subsequent rains bring additional soil
cover over the seed and affect plant.

Working principle

Mobility and Navigation:

 The machine is equipped with a wheel-and-sprocket system that allows it to traverse

the field. The wheels are driven by a motor through a chain connected to the
sprockets, which are integral components of the propulsion system.

 Navigation may be guided by GPS or pre-programmed routes to ensure precise travel

paths for uniform seed distribution.

Seed Dispensation:

 Seeds are stored in a hopper and are released one by one or in predetermined
quantities through a controlled mechanism that may involve a rotating disc with
pockets or a vibratory plate.

Seed Placement:

 As the machine moves, seeds are dispensed into the prepared furrow or hole. The
depth and spacing are controlled to adhere to agronomic best practices for the type of
seeds being sown.

Mechanical Property Management:

 Throughout the operation, the machine frame and sprocket must endure the stresses
and strains of the work. The materials used for these components are chosen based on
their deformation characteristics, stress tolerance, strain response, and safety factors
to ensure they can handle the load without failure.

Material selection
Steel
Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon and other elements. Because of its high tensile
strength and low cost, it is a major component used
in buildings, infrastructure, tools, ships, automobiles, machines, appliances, and weapons.
 Iron is the base metal of steel. Iron is able to take on two crystalline forms (allotropic
forms), body centered cubic (BCC) and face centered cubic (FCC), depending on its
temperature. In the body-centred cubic arrangement, there is an iron atom in the centre of
each cube, and in the face-centred cubic, there is one at the center of each of the six faces of
the cube. It is the interaction of the allotropesof iron with the alloying elements, primarily
carbon, that gives steel and cast iron their range of unique properties.
In pure iron, the crystal structure has relatively little resistance to the iron atoms
slipping past one another, and so pure iron is quite ductile, or soft and easily formed. In steel,
small amounts of carbon, other elements, and inclusions within the iron act as hardening
agents that prevent the movement of dislocations that are common in the crystal lattices of
iron atoms.
The carbon in typical steel alloys may contribute up to 2.14% of its weight. Varying
the amount of carbon and many other alloying elements, as well as controlling their chemical
and physical makeup in the final steel (either as solute elements, or as precipitated phases),
slows the movement of those dislocations that make pure iron ductile, and thus controls and
enhances its qualities. These qualities include such things as the hardness, quenching
behavior, need for annealing, tempering behavior, yield strength, and tensile strength of the
resulting steel. The increase in steel's strength compared to pure iron is possible only by
reducing iron's ductility.
Steel was produced in bloomery furnaces for thousands of years, but its large-scale,
industrial use began only after more efficient production methods were devised in the 17th
century, with the production of blister steel and then crucible steel. With the invention of
the Bessemer process in the mid-19th century, a new era of mass-produced steel began. This
was followed by the Siemens-Martin process and then the Gilchrist-Thomas process that
refined the quality of steel. With their introductions, mild steel replaced wrought iron.
Further refinements in the process, such as basic oxygen steelmaking (BOS), largely
replaced earlier methods by further lowering the cost of production and increasing the quality
of the final product. Today, steel is one of the most common man-made materials in the
world, with more than 1.6 billion tons produced annually. Modern steel is generally identified
by various grades defined by assorted standards organizations.

Heat treatment
There are many types of heat treating processes available to steel. The most common
are annealing, quenching, and tempering. Heat treatment is effective on compositions above
the eutectoid composition (hypereutectoid) of 0.8% carbon. Hypoeutectoid steel does not
benefit from heat treatment.
Annealing is the process of heating the steel to a sufficiently high temperature to
relieve local internal stresses. It does not create a general softening of the product but only
locally relieves strains and stresses locked up within the material. Annealing goes through
three phases: recovery, recrystallization, and grain growth. The temperature required to
anneal a particular steel depends on the type of annealing to be achieved and the alloying
constituents.
Quenching involves heating the steel to create the austenite phase then quenching it in
water or oil. This rapid cooling results in a hard but brittle martensitic structure. The steel is
then tempered, which is just a specialized type of annealing, to reduce brittleness. In this
application the annealing (tempering) process transforms some of the martensite into
cementite, or spheroidite and hence it reduces the internal stresses and defects. The result is a
more ductile and fracture-resistant steel
Stainless steel

Stainless steel is a family of iron-based alloys that contain a minimum of approximately

11% chromium, a composition that prevents the iron from rusting, as well as providing heat-
resistant properties. Different types of stainless steel include the elements carbon (from
0.03% to
greaterthan1.00%), nitrogen, aluminium, silicon, sulfur, titanium, nickel, copper, selenium, ni
obium, and molybdenum. Specific types of stainless steel are often designated by a three-
digit number, e.g., 304 stainless.

Stainless steel's resistance to ferric oxide formation results from the presence of
chromium in the alloy, which forms a passive film that protects the underlying material from
corrosion attack, and can self-heal in the presence of oxygen. Corrosion resistance can be
increased further, by:

 increasing the chromium content to levels above 11%;

 addition of 8% or higher amounts of nickel; and

 Addition of molybdenum (which also improves resistance to "pitting corrosion").

The addition of nitrogen also improves resistance to pitting corrosion and increases
mechanical strength. Thus, there are numerous grades of stainless steel with varying
chromium and molybdenum contents to suit the environment the alloy must endure.

Resistance to corrosion and staining, low maintenance, and familiar luster make stainless
steel an ideal material for many applications where both the strength of steel and corrosion
resistance are required. Moreover, stainless steel can be rolled into sheets, plates, bars, wire,
and tubing. These can be used in cookware, cutlery, surgical instruments, major appliances,
construction material in large buildings, industrial equipment (e.g., in paper mills, chemical
plants, water treatment), and storage tanks and tankers for chemicals and food products. The
material's corrosion resistance, the ease with which it can be steam-cleaned and sterilized,
and the absence of the need for surface coatings have prompted the use of stainless steel in
kitchens and food processing plants.

Aluminum alloy
Aluminium alloys (or aluminum alloys; see spelling differences) are alloys in
which aluminium (Al) is the predominant metal. The typical alloying elements
are copper, magnesium, manganese, silicon, tin and zinc. There are two principal
classifications, namely casting alloys and wrought alloys, both of which are further
subdivided into the categories heat-treatable and non-heat-treatable. About 85% of
aluminium is used for wrought products, for example rolled plate, foils and extrusions. Cast
aluminium alloys yield cost-effective products due to the low melting point, although they
generally have lower tensile strengths than wrought alloys. The most important cast
aluminium alloy system is Al–Si, where the high levels of silicon (4.0–13%) contribute to
give good casting characteristics. Aluminium alloys are widely used in engineering structures
and components where light weight or corrosion resistance is required.
Alloys composed mostly of aluminium have been very important in aerospace
manufacturing since the introduction of metal-skinned aircraft. Aluminium-magnesium alloys
are both lighter than other aluminium alloys and much less flammable than alloys that contain
a very high percentage of magnesium.
Aluminium alloy surfaces will develop a white, protective layer of aluminium oxide if left
unprotected by anodizing and/or correct painting procedures. In a wet environment, galvanic
corrosion can occur when an aluminium alloy is placed in electrical contact with other metals
with more positive corrosion potentials than aluminium, and an electrolyte is present that
allows ion exchange. Referred to as dissimilar-metal corrosion, this process can occur as
exfoliation or as intergranular corrosion. Aluminium alloys can be improperly heat treated.
This causes internal element separation, and the metal then corrodes from the inside out.
Aluminium alloy compositions are registered with The Aluminum Association. Many
organizations publish more specific standards for the manufacture of aluminium alloy,
including the Society of Automotive Engineers standards organization, specifically its
aerospace standards subgroups
Engineering use and aluminum alloys properties
Aluminium alloys with a wide range of properties are used in engineering structures. Alloy
systems are classified by a number system (ANSI) or by names indicating their main alloying
constituents (DIN and ISO). Selecting the right alloy for a given application entails
considerations of its tensile strength, density, ductility, formability, workability, weldability,
and corrosion resistance, to name a few. A brief historical overview of alloys and
manufacturing technologies is given in Ref. Aluminium alloys are used extensively in aircraft
due to their high strength-to-weight ratio. On the other hand, pure aluminium metal is much
too soft for such uses, and it does not have the high tensile strength that is needed for
airplanes and helicopters.
Aluminum alloys versus types of steel
Aluminium alloys typically have an elastic modulus of about 70 GPa, which is about one-
third of the elastic modulus of most kinds of steel and steel alloys. Therefore, for a given
load, a component or unit made of an aluminium alloy will experience a greater deformation
in the elastic regime than a steel part of identical size and shape. Though there are aluminium
alloys with somewhat-higher tensile strengths than the commonly used kinds of steel, simply
replacing a steel part with an aluminium alloy might lead to problems.
With completely new metal products, the design choices are often governed by the choice of
manufacturing technology. Extrusions are particularly important in this regard, owing to the
ease with which aluminium alloys, particularly the Al–Mg–Si series, can be extruded to form
complex profiles.
In general, stiffer and lighter designs can be achieved with Aluminium alloy than is feasible
with steels. For instance, consider the bending of a thin-walled tube: the second moment of
area is inversely related to the stress in the tube wall, i.e. stresses are lower for larger values.
The second moment of area is proportional to the cube of the radius times the wall thickness,
thus increasing the radius (and weight) by 26% will lead to a halving of the wall stress. For
this reason, bicycle frames made of aluminium alloys make use of larger tube diameters than
steel or titanium in order to yield the desired stiffness and strength. In automotive
engineering, cars made of aluminium alloys employ space frames made of extruded profiles
to ensure rigidity. This represents a radical change from the common approach for current
steel car design, which depend on the body shells for stiffness, known as unibodydesign.
Aluminium alloys are widely used in automotive engines, particularly in cylinder
blocks and crankcases due to the weight savings that are possible. Since aluminium alloys are
susceptible to warping at elevated temperatures, the cooling system of such engines is
critical. Manufacturing techniques and metallurgical advancements have also been
instrumental for the successful application in automotive engines. In the 1960s, the
aluminium cylinder heads of the Corvair earned a reputation for failure and stripping
of threads, which is not seen in current aluminium cylinder heads.
An important structural limitation of aluminium alloys is their lower fatigue strength
compared to steel. In controlled laboratory conditions, steels display a fatigue limit, which is
the stress amplitude below which no failures occur – the metal does not continue to weaken
with extended stress cycles. Aluminium alloys do not have this lower fatigue limit and will
continue to weaken with continued stress cycles. Aluminium alloys are therefore sparsely
used in parts that require high fatigue strength in the high cycle regime (more than 107stress
cycles).
 Problem Statement
A significant challenge in the design of a seed sowing machine is ensuring the
durability and strength of the sprocket and frame while also considering the overall weight of
the machine. A heavier machine may lead to soil compaction, which can negatively impact
seed germination and growth. Conversely, a machine that is too light may lack the necessary
stability and robustness for reliable operation in diverse agricultural environments. The
material choice for these components is crucial to address these conflicting requirements and
to ensure the robot can withstand the stress and environmental conditions encountered during
the sowing process.
 Aim of the project
The primary objective of this project is to calculate and analyse the mechanical performance
parameters of the seed sowing machine structural components—specifically, the sprocket and
frame seed roller when analysing with different materials: steel, stainless steel, and
aluminium alloy. This analysis will focus on the following key mechanical properties:

 Deformation: Assessing how the materials deform under operational loads, which is
critical to ensure the robot maintains its structural integrity and functional accuracy
during the seed sowing process.

 Stress: Determining the stresses that each material undergoes, particularly when
subjected to the dynamic loads during movement and the static loads when the robot
is stationary. Understanding stress distribution is vital to prevent material failure.

 Strain: Evaluating the strain that materials experience under stress, which is important
for predicting how the structural components behave under the expected working
conditions.

 Safety Factor: Calculating the safety factor for each material to ensure that the design
is within the safe limits of operation. The safety factor will help in ensuring that the
materials chosen will not fail unexpectedly during their service life and will provide a
measure of reliability.
 Objectives
 Optimize the design of the seed sowing robot for durability and reliability.

 Ensure the machine structure is sufficiently robust to withstand the demands of

agricultural environments.

 Select the most appropriate material that offers the best combination of strength,
weight, and cost.

 Enhance the machine operational efficiency and longevity, thereby increasing the
value of this agricultural innovation.
 LITERATURE REVIEW
A. U. Malik and etc. This research paper presents seed sowing machine. In this they
present objective of seed sowing machine design, factors affecting seed emergence, some
mechanisms. The basic objective of sowing operation is to put the seed and fertilizer in rows
at desired depth and seed to seed spacing, cover the seeds with soil and provide proper
compaction over the seed. From this we know that mechanical factors effects on seed
germination like uniformity of depth of placement of seed, uniformity of distribution of seed
along rows. In this power transmission mechanism, seed meter mechanisms, plunger
mechanism etc. mechanisms‟ are used. The working as machine is pushed; power wheel is
rotating which transmit power to plunger through chain and sprocket mechanism. From this
we get idea that if we use the belt having small holes with defined thickness then it is
beneficial for or project.

D. Ramesh and H. P. Girish Kumar: -DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF BANDING

AND SEEDINGMACHINE. The basic objective of sowing operation is to put the seed and
fertilizer in rows at desired depth and seed to seed spacing, cover the seeds with soil and
provide proper compaction over the seed. In this multipurpose seeding machine equipment
consists of cylindrical shape container in which the seeds can fill. The container is attached
on the four wheeled carrier assembly. It consists of metering plate bevel gear mechanism and
two holes at the bottom depending on seed size. The working as plate will rotate in container
when the bottom holes of container and meter plate hole coincide seeds will flow through
pipe to soil. Here the metering plate gets rotating motion by bevel gear assembly and the
bevel gears get the motion by rear wheels with the help chain and sprocket assembly.

Laukik P. Raut and etc. This paper represents the method used and the design of the
machine. In this paper main objective is to make seed sowing simple and easy for the
farmers. The design is simple and the machine is locally manufactured with light materials.
The main objective is to make it affordable to the farmers so that they can manually do their
own work without depending on labor. The above-mentioned machine increases the
efficiency of seed sowing so there by reducing the wastage of seeds and thus improving
overall yield.

Mahesh R. Pundkar and A. K. Mahalle the seed sowing cum fertilizer drilling
machine completes the task of soil drilling, seed sowing, fertilizer spreading and soil
marinating as it proves itself for a multipurpose usage. The machine comes with its biggest
advantage that it is a nonelectrical, manual or mechanically operated machine. It is also a
comparatively less time-consuming machine than the previous methods used for farming and
crops cultivation.

Pranil V. Sawalakhe and etc. This paper represents the method used and the design of
the machine. In this paper main objective is to make seed sowing simple and easy for the
farmers. The design is simple and the machine is locally manufactured with light materials.
The main objective is to make it affordable to the farmers so that they can manually do their
own work without depending on labour. The above-mentioned machine increases the
efficiency of seed sowing so there by reducing the wastage of seeds and thus improving
overall yield.

Umed Ali Soomro and etc. The paper is to compare conventional sowing methods and
modern methods. The required row to row spacing, seed rate, seed to seed spacing can be
achieved by proposed machine. The machine reduces the human efforts.

Mangesh Koli1, Umesh Kori2, Ahmadakar3, Abdulrahman4 (Volume 5 Issue 2, Mar-

April 2017) [01]. Agriculture is the backbone of Indian economy. About half of the total
population of our country has chosen agriculture as their chief occupation. The modern
techniques presently used are tractors for ploughing the field, production of pesticides,
invention of tube-wells etc. Since water is the main necessity in this scenario, techniques
were discovered which would help in watering the field easily, consume less water and
reduce human efforts. Agro-Technology is the process of applying the technology innovation
occurring in daily life and applying that to the agriculture sector which improves the
efficiency of the crop produced and also to develop a better Mechanical machine to help the
agriculture field which reduces the amount and time of work spent on one crop. Hence in this
work of project we decided to design a better mechanical machine which is available to the
farmers at a cheaper rate and also which can sow and seed the crop at the same time. This
project consists of the better design of the machine which can be used specifically for sowing
of soybean, maize, pigeon pea, Bengal gram, groundnut etc.
Atul B. Akad1, Sonal Salunke2, Sunaina B. Gawde3, Prof.G.L. Suryawanshi4 (Volume 5,
Issue 7, July 2016)[02]. In the Indian nurseries, often used conventional seeding operation
takes more time and more labor. The seed feed rate is more but the time required for the total
operation is more and the total cost is increased due to labor, hiring of equipment. The
conventional seed sowing machine are less efficient, time consuming. Today‟s era is
marching towards the rapid growth of all sectors including the agricultural sector. To meet
the future demands, we have to implement the new techniques will increase the overall
production. As day by day the labor availability becomes the great concern for the farmers
and labor cost is more, this machine reduces the efforts and total cost of sowing the seeds and
fertilizer placement. Theoretical studies regarding pneumatic equipment for sowing small
seeds in cups, highlighting the advantages of this type of equipment with superior parameters
obtained from the considered crops. Equipment can be used in narrower spaces, being easily
to handle and use, of driving the vacuum generator can be done electrically. By using this
equipment, the productivity will increase, the space of establishing the seedlings will reduce,
and the seeds norm will diminish.

Amol B. Rohokale1, Pavan D. Shewale2, Sumit B. Pokharkar3, Keshav K. Sanap4, (Volume

5, Issue 2, Feb 2014) [03]. Agriculture is demographically the broadest economic sector and
plays a significant role in the overall economy of India. For the growth of Indian economy,
mechanization is necessary. The main purpose of mechanization in agriculture is to improve
the overall productivity and production. Planting is conventionally done manually which
involves both animate (humans and draught animals), this result in higher cost of cultivation
and delay in planting. The main purpose of this paper is to compare between conventional
sowing method and new proposed machine which can perform number of simultaneous
operations. The required row to row spacing, seed rate, seed to seed spacing and fertilizers
placement varies from crop to crop can be achieved by the proposed machine. This machine
reduces the sowing time, human efforts and labor cost.
Sagar R. Chavan1, Prof: Rahul D. Shelke2, Prof: Shrinivas Zanawar3, (Volume 4, Issue 02,
February 2015) [04]. This article addresses improvement in agriculture processes like
automatic planting of seeds on ploughed land by using robot. We have developed a robotic
vehicle having four wheels and steered by DC motors. The seed planting mechanism is fitted
on the vehicle to plant the seeds in uniform manner. The enhanced agriculture robotic system
architecture gives us the opportunity to develop a complete new range of agricultural
equipment based on small smart machines. The machine will cultivate the farm by
considering particular rows and specific column at fixed distance depending on different
seeds. The obstacle detection problem will also be considered, sensed by infrared sensor.
Forward movement of the vehicle can be defined by defining delay to microcontroller.
Turning of the vehicle can be obtained by position encoder circuit which is fixed to one of the
wheels. The complete assembly can be powered by using 12V rechargeable battery. The
battery can be charged by using solar panel which is also mounted on robot. Assembly
language is used in programming the microcontrollers. The whole algorithm, processing,
monitoring is designed with dc motors, sensor and encoder circuit. The result obtained
through activation unit is also presented.
 Components used

Sprockets

A sprocket or sprocket-wheel is a profiled wheel with teeth, cogs, or even sprockets

that mesh with a chain, track or other perforated or indented material. The name 'sprocket'
applies generally to any wheel upon which radial projections engage a chain passing over it.
It is distinguished from a gear in that sprockets are never meshed together directly, and
differs from a pulley in that sprockets have teeth and pulleys are smooth.

Sprockets are used in bicycles, motorcycles, cars, tracked vehicles, and other
machinery either to transmit rotary motion between two shafts where gears are unsuitable or
to impart linear motion to a track, tape etc. Perhaps the most common form of sprocket may
be found in the bicycle, in which the pedal shaft carries a large sprocket-wheel, which drives
a chain, which, in turn, drives a small sprocket on the axle of the rear wheel. Early
automobiles were also largely driven by sprocket and chain mechanism, a practice largely
copied from bicycles.

Sprockets are of various designs, a maximum of efficiency being claimed for each by
its originator. Sprockets typically do not have a flange. Some sprockets used with timing belts
have flanges to keep the timing belt cantered. Sprockets and chains are also used for power
transmission from one shaft to another where slippage is not admissible, sprocket chains
being used instead of belts or ropes and sprocket-wheels instead of pulleys. They can be run
at high speed and some forms of chain are so constructed as to be noiseless even at high
speed.

In the case of bicycle chains, it is possible to modify the overall gear ratio of the chain
drive by varying the diameter (and therefore, the tooth count) of the sprockets on each side of
the chain. This is the basis of derailleur gears. A multi-speed bicycle, by providing two or
three different-sized driving sprockets and up to 11 (as of 2014) different-sized driven
sprockets, allows up to 33 different gear ratios. The resulting lower gear ratios make the bike
easier to pedal up hills while the higher gear ratios make the bike more powerful to pedal on
flats and downhill’s. In a similar way, manually changing the sprockets on a motorcycle can
change the characteristics of acceleration and top speed by modifying the final drive gear
ratio

Chain

A chain is a series of connected links which are typically made of metal. A chain may consist
of two or more links.

 Those designed for lifting, such as when used with a hoist; for pulling; or for securing,
such as with a bicycle lock, have links that are torus shaped, which make the chain
flexible in two dimensions (The fixed third dimension being a chain's length.)
 Those designed for transferring power in machines have links designed to mesh with the
teeth of the sprockets of the machine, and are flexible in only one dimension. They are
known as roller chains, though there are also non-roller chains such as block chain.

Two distinct chains can be connected using a quick link which resembles a carabiner with a
screw close rather than a latch.
Power transfer

 Bicycle chain, transfers power from the pedals to the drive-wheel of a bicycle, thus
propelling it
 Chain drive, the main feature that differentiated the safety bicycle
 Chain gun, type of machine gun that is driven by an external power source, sometimes
connected by a chain, to actuate the mechanism rather than using recoil
 Chain pumps, type of water pump where an endless chain has positioned on it circular
discs
 Chainsaw, portable mechanical, motorized saw using a cutting chain to saw wood
 Flat chain, form of chain used chiefly in agricultural machinery
 Ladder chain, a light wire chain used with sprockets for low torque power transmission
 O-ring chain, a specialized type of roller chain
 Roller chain, the type of chain most commonly used for transmission of mechanical
power on bicycles, motorcycles, and in industrial and agricultural machinery
 Timing chain, used to transfer rotational position from the crankshaft to the valve and
ignition system on an internal combustion engine, typically with a 2:1 speed reduction.

Chain drive

Chain drive is a way of transmitting mechanical power from one place to another. It is often
used to convey power to the wheels of a vehicle, particularly bicycles and motorcycles. It is
also used in a wide variety of machines besides vehicles.

Most often, the power is conveyed by a roller chain, known as the drive chain or transmission
chain, passing over a sprocket gear, with the teeth of the gear meshing with the holes in the
links of the chain. The gear is turned, and this pulls the chain putting mechanical force into
the system. Another type of drive chain is the Morse chain, invented by the Morse Chain
Company of Ithaca, New York, United States. This has inverted teeth.

Sometimes the power is output by simply rotating the chain, which can be used to lift or drag
objects. In other situations, a second gear is placed and the power is recovered by attaching
shafts or hubs to this gear. Though drive chains are often simple oval loops, they can also go
around corners by placing more than two gears along the chain; gears that do not put power
into the system or transmit it out are generally known as idler-wheels. By varying the
diameter of the input and output gears with respect to each other, the gear ratio can be altered.
For example, when the bicycle pedals' gear rotate once, it causes the gear that drives the
wheels to rotate more than one revolution.

The oldest known application of a chain drive appears in the Polybolos, a repeating
crossbow described by the Greek engineer Philon of Byzantium (3rd century BC). Two flat-
linked chains were connected to a windlass, which by winding back and forth would
automatically fire the machine's arrows until its magazine was empty.
Although the device did not transmit power continuously since the chains "did not transmit
power from shaft to shaft, and hence they were not in the direct line of ancestry of the chain-
drive proper", the Greek design marks the beginning of the history of the chain drive since
"no earlier instance of such a cam is known, and none as complex is known until the 16th
century." It is here that the flat-link chain, often attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, actually
made its first appearance."

The first continuous and endless power-transmitting chain was depicted in the
written horological treatise of the Song Dynasty (960–1279) Chinese engineer Su
Song (1020-1101 AD), who used it to operate the armillary sphere of his astronomical clock
tower as well as the clock jack figurines presenting the time of day by mechanically banging
gongs and drums. The chain drive itself was given power via the hydraulic works of Su's
water clock tank and waterwheel, the latter which acted as a large gear.

Battery

RECHARGEBLE BATTERIES:

A rechargeable battery or storage battery is a group of one or

more electrochemical cells. They are known as secondary cells because their electrochemical
reactions are electrically reversible. Rechargeable batteries come in many different shapes
and sizes, ranging anything from a button cell to megawatt systems connected to stabilize an
electrical distribution network. Several different combinations of chemicals are commonly
used, including: lead-acid, nickel cadmium(NiCad), nickel metal hydride (Nigh), lithium
ion (Li-ion), and lithium ion polymer (Li-ion polymer).
 Fig Rechargeable Batteries

Rechargeable batteries have lower total cost of use and environmental impact than
disposable batteries. Some rechargeable battery types are available in the same sizes as
disposable types. Rechargeable batteries have higher initial cost, but can be recharged very
cheaply and used many times.

Rechargeable batteries are used for automobile starters, portable consumer

devices, light vehicles (such as motorized wheelchairs, golf carts, electric bicycles, and
electric forklifts), tools, and uninterruptible power supplies. Emerging applications in hybrid
electric vehicles and electric vehicles are driving the technology to reduce cost and weight
and increase lifetime. Normally, new rechargeable batteries have to be charged before use;
newer low self-discharge batteries hold their charge for many months, and are supplied
charged to about 70% of their rated capacity.
 Grid energy storage applications use rechargeable batteries for load leveling,
where they store electric energy for use during peak load periods, and for renewable uses,
such as storing power generated from photovoltaic arrays during the day to be used at night.
By charging batteries during periods of low demand and returning energy to the grid during
periods of high electrical demand, load-leveling helps eliminate the need for
expensive peaking power plants and helps amortize the cost of generators over more hours of
operation.

The US National Electrical Manufacturers Association has estimated that U.S.

demand for rechargeable batteries is growing twice as fast as demand for non -rechargeable.

Electric Motor

There are two electric motors in this proposed machine, a DC motor for driving the conveyor

through a chain drive and an AC motor for providing the reciprocating motion of Hacksaw

blade by means of a simple crank mechanism.

DC motor

A DC motor is any of a class of rotary electrical machines that converts direct current

electrical energy into mechanical energy. The most common types rely on the forces

produced by magnetic fields. Nearly all types of DC motors have some internal mechanism,

either electromechanical or electronic, to periodically change the direction of current flow in

part of the motor. DC motors were the first type widely used, since they could be powered

from existing direct-current lighting power distribution systems. A DC motor's speed can be

controlled over a wide range, using either a variable supply voltage or by changing the

strength of current in its field windings. Small DC motors are used in tools, toys, and

appliances. The universal motor can operate on direct current but is a lightweight motor used

for portable power tools and appliances. Larger DC motors are used in propulsion of electric

vehicles, elevator and hoists, or in drives for steel rolling mills. The advent of power
electronics has made replacement of DC motors with AC motors possible in many

applications.

A coil of wire with a current running through it generates an electromagnetic field aligned

with the center of the coil. The direction and magnitude of the magnetic field produced by the

coil can be changed with the direction and magnitude of the current flowing through it.

A simple DC motor has a stationary set of magnets in the stator and an armature with one or

more windings of insulated wire wrapped around a soft iron core that concentrates the

magnetic field. The windings usually have multiple turns around the core, and in large motors

there can be several parallel current paths. The ends of the wire winding are connected to

a commutator. The commutator allows each armature coil to be energized in turn and

connects the rotating coils with the external power supply through brushes. (Brushless DC

motors have electronics that switch the DC current to each coil on and off and have no

brushes.)

The total amount of current sent to the coil, the coil's size and what it's wrapped around

dictate the strength of the electromagnetic field created.

The sequence of turning a particular coil on or off dictates what direction the effective

electromagnetic fields are pointed. By turning on and off coils in sequence a rotating

magnetic field can be created. These rotating magnetic fields interact with the magnetic fields

of the magnets (permanent or electromagnets) in the stationary part of the motor (stator) to

create a force on the armature which causes it to rotate. In some DC motor designs the stator

fields use electromagnets to create their magnetic fields which allow greater control over the

motor.

At high power levels, DC motors are almost always cooled using forced air.
Different number of stator and armature fields as well as how they are connected provide

different inherent speed/torque regulation characteristics. The speed of a DC motor can be

controlled by changing the voltage applied to the armature. The introduction of variable

resistance in the armature circuit or field circuit allowed speed control. Modern DC motors

are often controlled by power electronics systems which adjust the voltage by "chopping" the

DC current into on and off cycles which have an effective lower voltage.

Since the series-wound DC motor develops its highest torque at low speed, it is often used in

traction applications such as electric locomotives, and trams. The DC motor was the mainstay

of electric traction drives on both electric and diesel-electric locomotives, street-cars/trams

and diesel electric drilling rigs for many years. The introduction of DC motors and

an electrical grid system to run machinery starting in the 1870s started a new second

Industrial Revolution. DC motors can operate directly from rechargeable batteries, providing

the motive power for the first electric vehicles and today's hybrid cars and electric cars as

well as driving a host of cordless tools. Today DC motors are still found in applications as

small as toys and disk drives, or in large sizes to operate steel rolling mills and paper

machines. Large DC motors with separately excited fields were generally used with winder

drives for mine hoists, for high torque as well as smooth speed control using thyristor drives.

These are now replaced with large AC motors with variable frequency drives.

If external power is applied to a DC motor it acts as a DC generator, a dynamo. This feature

is used to slow down and recharge batteries on hybrid car and electric cars or to return

electricity back to the electric grid used on a street car or electric powered train line when

they slow down. This process is called regenerative braking on hybrid and electric cars. In

diesel electric locomotives they also use their DC motors as generators to slow down but

dissipate the energy in resistor stacks. Newer designs are adding large battery packs to

recapture some of this energy.

 Conveyor motor

Brushed

The brushed DC electric motor generates torque directly from DC power supplied to the

motor by using internal commutation, stationary magnets (permanent or electromagnets), and

rotating electrical magnets.

Advantages of a brushed DC motor include low initial cost, high reliability, and simple

control of motor speed. Disadvantages are high maintenance and low life-span for high

intensity uses. Maintenance involves regularly replacing the carbon brushes and springs

which carry the electric current, as well as cleaning or replacing the commutator. These

components are necessary for transferring electrical power from outside the motor to the

spinning wire windings of the rotor inside the motor. Brushes consist of conductors.

Seed storage tank

Storage device is one of the important devices of the system. And is designed according to
weight sustained by the machine as well as the required capacity for planting. This
component is stationary. To the bottom of this tank seed sowing disc is arranged. This disc
serves the function of distribution of the seeds, as for each complete rotation of the rotating
wheel, seeds falls from the tank. Also, number of seeds falling from tank is varied according
to requirements. This disc evenly opens the way to seed hence planting is done smoothly and
accurately.

Design process

Frame
Sprocket

Sprocket 2
Seed Hooper
Sprocket and chain assembly
Seed sowing machine Final assembly model

Analysis results
Material properties

Steel

 Young's Modulus: 200 - GPa

 Poisson's Ratio: 0.27

 Density: Approximately 7850 kg/m³

 Yield Strength: 250 MPa

Stainless Steel

 Young's Modulus: 193 GPa

 Poisson's Ratio: 0.28

 Density: About 8000 kg/m³

 Yield Strength: 300 MPa

Aluminium Alloy

 Young's Modulus: 68.9 GPa

 Poisson's Ratio: 0.33

 Density: 2700 - kg/m³

 Yield Strength: 280 MPa.

Meshing
Boundary conditions

Results
Steel

Deformation

Stress

Strain
Safety factor

Stainless Steel
Deformation

Stress

Strain
Safety factor

Al-alloy
Deformation

Stress

Strain
Safety factor
Tables

Material Total Deformation Safety Equivalent Equivalent

(mm) Max Factor Elastic Strain Stress (MPa)
Min Max Max
Steel 2.0976 1.5110 0.000869 165.46
Stainless 2.1729 1.9749 0.000895 164.56
Steel
Aluminium 5.9012 1.8441 0.002401 162.68
Alloy

Graphs

Total Deformation (mm) Max

7

0
Steel Stainless Steel Aluminium Alloy
 Equivalent Stress (MPa) Max
166
165.5
165
164.5
164
163.5
163
162.5
162
161.5
161
Steel Stainless Steel Aluminium Alloy

Equivalent Elastic Strain Max

0.003

0.0025

0.002

0.0015

0.001

0.0005

0
Steel Stainless Steel Aluminium Alloy
 Safety Factor Min
2.5

1.5

0.5

0
Steel Stainless Steel Aluminium Alloy
 Sprocket analysis results
Meshing

Boundary conditions
Results

Steel

Deformation

Stress

Strain
Safety factor
Stainless Steel

Deformation

Stress

Strain
Safety factor
Al-alloy

Deformation

Stress

Strain
Safety factor
Tables

Total Deformation Safety Equivalent Elastic Equivalent Stress

Material (mm) Max Factor Min Strain Max (MPa) Max
Steel Sprocket 0.002368 1.8252 0.000685 136.97
Stainless Steel
Sprocket 0.002421 2.3469 0.000718 138.48
Aluminium
Alloy Sprocket 0.006400 2.1171 0.001996 141.70

Graphs

Total Deformation (mm) Max

0.007

0.006

0.005

0.004

0.003

0.002

0.001

0
Steel Sprocket Stainless Steel Sprocket Aluminium Alloy Sprocket
 Equivalent Elastic Strain Max
0.0025

0.002

0.0015

0.001

0.0005

0
Steel Sprocket Stainless Steel Sprocket Aluminium Alloy Sprocket

Safety Factor Min

2.5

1.5

0.5

0
Steel Sprocket Stainless Steel Sprocket Aluminium Alloy Sprocket
 Equivalent Stress (MPa) Max
143
142
141
140
139
138
137
136
135
134
Steel Sprocket Stainless Steel Sprocket Aluminium Alloy Sprocket
 Seed roller analysis results
Meshing

Boundary conditions

Results

Steel

Deformation
Stress

Strain
Safety factor

Stainless Steel

Deformation
Stress

Strain
Safety factor

Al-alloy
Deformation

Stress

Strain
Safety factor
 Total Deformation Safety Equivalent Elastic Equivalent Stress
Material (mm) Factor Strain (MPa)

Steel 0.002368 1.8252 0.000689 136.97

Stainless
Steel 0.009984 1.5908 0.000789 157.15

Al Alloy 0.010353 2.0701 0.001817 141.7

Graphs

Total Deformation (mm)

0.012

0.01

0.008

0.006

0.004

0.002

0
Steel Stainless Steel Al Alloy
 Equivalent Elastic Strain
0.002
0.0018
0.0016
0.0014
0.0012
0.001
0.0008
0.0006
0.0004
0.0002
0
Steel Stainless Steel Al Alloy

Safety Factor
2.5

1.5

0.5

0
Steel Stainless Steel Al Alloy
 Equivalent Stress (MPa)
160

155

150

145

140

135

130

125
Steel Stainless Steel Al Alloy
 CONCLUSION
In this project seed sawing machine modelling has been developed with the help of
solid works and then analysing with the help of Ansys workbench with different materials
(steel, & stainless streel, al-alloy). the study involves a comparative analysis of three distinct
materials: steel, stainless steel, and aluminium alloy (Al alloy). Each material is evaluated
based on criteria such as strength, corrosion resistance, weight, and cost. The analysis aims to
identify the optimal material for the sprocket and frame that balances the machine longevity
and functionality while maintaining economic viability.

From analysis results, stainless steel material most suitable compare to mild steel,
stainless steel material can withstand more load on it, and it is rust proof. While al-alloy is
having good strength to weight ratio compare to remain 2 materials. So al alloy is suggested
when it required to reduce the weight of the object.
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