Comparative testing of a floating and a conventional fixed base cutter.

A novel system for controlling base cutter cutting height was designed and manufactured in an attempt to improve the performance of commercial sugarcane chopper harvesters. The system differed from previous attempts to control base cutter height by suspending the base cutter gearbox and associated components as a discrete module incorporating a passive height control system. The advantages offered by this system include the potential for rapid response to cutting height requirements, the elimination of the secondary effects of base cutter height adjustments on topper height setting and, being fully automatic, the system does not require additional hydraulic or mechanical control. This paper reviews the results of a testing program undertaken on the floating base cutter system during the 2000-2001 harvesting season (April to September 2000) with machines working in commercial cane fields. The results of the trial program indicated that the mineral trash levels (soil in cane) in loads transported from field to mill were consistently lower , from machines fitted with the floating base cutter system relative to standard machines. The amounts of roots and stools removed from the field were also lower with the floating base cutter. However, under the conditions of the tests, statistical significance was not achieved.