National University of

Science and Technology

TOPIC

STUDENT NAME: MANDISI M MOYO

SUPERVISOR: ENG G CHIRINDA

BEng Final Presentation

Department of Industrial and
Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering
 Presentation Outline
• Background
• Problem statement
• Justification
• Aim
• Objectives
• Literature Review(Synthesis)
• Methodology/Concept development
• System Development
• Prototype

BEng Final Presentations Think in Other Terms

Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Background
• The preparation of French fries requires the potatoes to be
sliced into thin, uniform strip.
• Lack of reliability of electricity to power electrical machines.
• Cost of importing machines from other countries abroad.

BEng Final Presentations Think in Other Terms

Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Problem Statement
• The current practice of manually slicing potatoes is time-
consuming and results in inconsistent and unevenly cut fries,
leading to customer dissatisfaction and decreased profitability.
• Therefore, there is a need for the design of a cost-effective and
efficient potato slicing machine that can be used by small to
medium food outlets in Zimbabwe to improve their french
fries' quality and production capacity

BEng Final Presentations Think in Other Terms

Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Justification
• Queuing theory suggests that reducing waiting times in food
outlets can increase customer satisfaction and reduce customer
defections.
• Hence the project will help food outlets to reduce the waiting
time for customers, which will increase their satisfaction and
loyalty.
• Also machines help reduce worker fatigue and injuries

BEng Final Presentations Think in Other Terms

Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Literature Review (Synthesis)

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Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Aim
• To design a french fries potato slicing machine for small to
medium food outletsin in Zimbabwe.

BEng Final Presentations Think in Other Terms

Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Objectives
• Design a feeding mechanism
• Design a slicing mechanism
• Design transmission to linkup the driving, slicing and feeding
mechanisms.
• Develop a prototype

BEng Final Presentations Think in Other Terms

Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Methodology
• Establish of design requirements
• Conceptual Design
• Evaluation of design concepts
• Selection of the preferred design
• Detailed design
• Simulation
• Optimization
• Final Design
• Testing and validation

BEng Final Presentations Think in Other Terms

Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Concept development
• Concept generation will be done considering different aspects
namely the feeding mechanism, slicing mechanism and driving
mechanism.

BEng Final Presentations Think in Other Terms

Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Feeding Mechanism
• Concept1 :Vibratory Feeder
• A vibratory feeder uses vibration to move potatoes along a
trough or conveyor belt, ensuring consistent spacing and
reducing the risk of jamming or blockage.

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Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Advantages
• Enhanced feeding efficiency
• Gentle handling potatoes
• Versatile feeding Capabilities
• Efficient material separation

BEng Final Presentations Think in Other Terms

Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Disadvantages
• Initial cost and complexity
• Maintenance and Cleaning

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Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Continuation
• Concept 2: Conveyor Belt
• A conveyor belt could be used to transport potatoes from a
loading area to the slicing mechanism. This would require a
system to prevent the potatoes from rolling off the belt and
ensuring that they are evenly spaced out.

BEng Final Presentations Think in Other Terms

Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Advantages
• Efficient and continuous way of feeding goods
• Rapid and consistent movement of materials

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Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Disadvantages
• Not suitable for fragile material

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Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Continuation
• Concept 3 : Gravity-fed hopper
• This is a simple mechanism where potatoes are loaded into a
hopper at the top of the machine and allowed to feed into the
slicing mechanism via gravity. This would require some sort of
mechanism to ensure that the potatoes are evenly distributed in
the hopper, such as a rotating agitator.

BEng Final Presentations Think in Other Terms

Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Advantages
• Simple and low cost
• Energy efficiency
• Versatility

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Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Disadvantages
• Limited control
• Flow issues
• Requires more space

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Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Continuation
• Concept 4: Robot Arm
• A robotic arm could be used to pick up potatoes from a loading
area and transport them to the slicing mechanism. This would
require sophisticated sensing and gripping mechanisms to
ensure that the potatoes are picked up and positioned correctly.

BEng Final Presentations Think in Other Terms

Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Advantages
• It is efficient
• It is Precise
• It is safe to operate
• It is more versatile

BEng Final Presentations Think in Other Terms

Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Disadvantages
• It is expensive
• It is complex
• It has high dependence on power supply

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Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Transmission
• Concept 1: Belt drive with multiple Pulleys
• A belt drive system with multiple pulleys could be used to
transfer power from the drive mechanism to both the feeding
and slicing mechanisms. This would provide a flexible and
reliable way to transfer power between the three mechanisms

BEng Final Presentations Think in Other Terms

Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Advantages
• It is cost effective
• Less noise and vibration
• It can be adjusted speed ratios

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Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Disadvantages
• There are not syuitable for high power transmission
• Slippage
• There is always belt wear

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Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Continuation
• Concept 2 : Gear drive with multiple gears
• A gear drive system with multiple gears could be used to
transfer power from the drive mechanism to both the feeding
and slicing mechanisms. This would provide a precise and
efficient way to transfer power between the three mechanisms

BEng Final Presentations Think in Other Terms

Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Advantages
• It has efficient power transfer
• Speed is variable
• Gears are durable

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Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Disadvantages
• They produce noise and vibrations
• They need more lubrication
• It has high initial cost

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Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Continuation
• Concept 3: Chain drive with sprockets
• A chain drive system with sprockets could be used to transfer
power from the drive mechanism to both the feeding and
slicing mechanisms. This would provide a durable and
efficient way to transfer power between the three mechanisms

BEng Final Presentations Think in Other Terms

Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Advantages
• It is more durable
• There is more flexibility
• They are easy to maintain

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Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Disadvantages
• Chains produce noise and vibrations

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Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Slicing mechanism
• Concept 1: Rotary blade slicer
• This is a common type of slicing mechanism where potatoes
are fed into a circular blade that rotates rapidly, slicing the
potatoes into thin strips. This type of slicer is relatively simple
and efficient, but may produce uneven slices if not maintained
properly.

BEng Final Presentations Think in Other Terms

Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Advantages
• The design can be compact
• It is easy to install

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Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Disadvantages
• It produces noise and vibrations
• They is less flexibility, in shape, when they are used.

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Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Continuation
• Concept 2: Crankshaft(motor) Operated Mandolin Slicer
• A crank-operated mandolin slicer is a kitchen tool that features
a slicing mechanism mounted on a crankshaft, which is
powered by manual rotation or a driving motor

BEng Final Presentations Think in Other Terms

Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Advantages
• It is precise in slicing
• It is more versatile

BEng Final Presentations Think in Other Terms

Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Disadvantages
• Cleaning and maintanance can be more time consuming
because of multiple parts.

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Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Concept Screening and Selection
Vibratory Conveyor Belt Gravity-fed Robot Arm
Feeder Hopper

Evaluation
Criteria

Efficiency 0 +1 +1 +1

Cost 0 -1 0 -1

Maintainance 0 +1 +1 -1

Simplicity of 0 +1 +1 -1
Operation

Reliability 0 +1 +1 +1

Scalability 0 +1 +1 +1

Food Safety 0 +1 +1 +1

Total Score 0 +5 +6 +1

BEng Final Presentations Think in Other Terms

Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Continuation
Belt drive with Gear drive with Chain drive with
multiple pulleys multiple gears sprockets

Evaluation Criteria

Cost 0 -1 -2

Efficiency +2 +1 0

Reliability +1 +2 0

Maintenance +2 0 -1

Noise level +1 +1 0

Size and Weight +1 0 -1

Adjustability +2 0 -1

Safety +2 +1 0

Total score +11 +4 -5

BEng Final Presentations Think in Other Terms

Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Continuation
Rotary blade slicer Crankshaft operated
mandolin Slicer

Evaluation Criteria

Slicing Efficiency 0 +1

Consistency of Slice 0 -1
Thickness

Ease of Usr 0 +1

Food Safety 0 +1

Maintenance 0 +1

Cost 0 0

Total Score 0 +3

BEng Final Presentations Think in Other Terms

Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 System development
• The machine shall meet the specification below,

Specification Description
Capacity Slice potatoes at a rate of 50kg/hour
Slice thickness Adjustable from 2mm to 10mm
Materials Food-grade stainless steel
Power Source 0.5HP Electric motor with battery backup
Size Compact design suitable for small to
medium outlets
Safety Emergency stop button and safety guards

BEng Final Presentations Think in Other Terms

Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Continuation
• The system block diagram is as shown below,

Feeding
Mechanism

Driving Mechanism Transmission

Slicing Mechanism

BEng Final Presentations Think in Other Terms

Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Prototype/ simulation presentation
• Prototype

BEng Final Presentations Think in Other Terms

Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Discussion on results

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Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology
 Feedback and Discussion

BEng Final Presentations Think in Other Terms

Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Faculty of Engineering National University of Science And Technology