PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A LOCALLY DEVELOPED CASSAVA CHIPPING MACHINE

A cassava chipping machine was designed and constructed, and its performance evaluated. The results showed that motor speed has significant effects on chipping capacity, chipping efficiency, and chips geometry. The higher the motor speed, the higher the chipping capacity and the lower the chipping efficiency of the machine. The machine has a maximum capacity of 245 kgh –1 at 500 rpm, and maximum chipping efficiency of 92.6% at a speed of 300 rpm. The overall best performance of the machine is obtained at a speed of 400 rpm with chipping efficiency of 86.5% and chipping capacity of 240 kgh –1 . OPSOMMING Die vertoning van ‘n prototype spaandermasjien is bepaal na ontwerp en vervaardiging. Die resultate toon dat motorsnelheid ‘n betekenisvolle invloed het op spaanderuitset, spaanderrendement en spaandervorm. Hoer snelheid verhoog die spaanderuitset, maar tegelyke tyd verlaag die prosesrendement. Die maksimum prosesuitset is 245 kilogram per uur teen 500 omwentelinge per minuut. In den breede is die beste vertoning by 40 omwentelinge per minuut by ‘n rendement van 86.5% en ‘n uitset van 240 kilogram per uur.