ABSTRACT

Coir is a course fiber obtained from the tissues surrounding the seed of

the coconut palm, Cocos nucifera. It is then processed to form various materials

such as coir bhoovastra , mulch door mat , mattress or pad, coir blanket, and it

can be molded to pots. It is also a vital component in holding the soil together

thus controlling erosion in agricultural purposes.

This study aimed to develop a pneumatically controlled coir pad making

machine. Specifically, the first objective of this study was to design a coir pad

making machine considering material specifications and system components.

The second objective was to fabricate the machine according to the design

specifications. After the fabrication, the next objective was to conduct preliminary

testing in order to establish the different parameters such as feeding capacity,

operating speed, operating pressure and operating time. The fourth objective

was to evaluate the performance of the machine to determine the qualities of the

coir pad and production rate and finally, to provide an operational and safety

manual of the machine.

After several trials and testing, the machine performed at a maximum

feeding capacity of 200 grams, operating speed of 27 rpm, operating pressure of

100 psi, and operating time of 2.55 minutes. The average thickness and

compressed density of the coir pad produced was 14.0958 millimeters and

0.0623 g/cm3, respectively. The machine established a production rate of 0.3924

coir pad / minute.