ABSTRACT

Title: AN APPLICATION OF THE PUNCHING PRINCIPLE ON A PILI NUT

CRACKING MACHINE
Author : Mikee Joy A. Alfane
Shaira Grace R. Maghanoy
Ferlyn Mae U. Peñano

Type of Document: Unpublished Undergraduate Thesis

Institution: Bicol University College of Engineering
Legazpi City
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Objective:

The traditional way of cracking pilinut called pagtilad is time inefficient and takes a lot of

experience to master. This study has design and developed a punching principle pilinut cracking

machine to overcome this problem. A pili nut cracking machine comprises of rectangular block,

spring, cam, ball bearing, bolts, washer and nuts, and pili rack. All materials used in the fabrication

are locally sourced. The designers aims to form a machine that can be cracked without damaging

its kernel, to access the performance of the punching principle pili nut cracking device in terms of

cracking rate, cracking efficiency and whole kernel recovery.

Findings

The series of experiments and tests conducted to the device showed that the average

cracking rate is 7.04 nuts/min. The trial tests for medium and large-sized Pili nuts both gained an

average number of 17.6 punches to crack five (5) Pili nut shells. The data acquired claimed that

the device can crack five shells in less than a minute. In terms of functionality and portability, the

fabricated prototype is proven to be efficient because it can crack Pili nut shells. However, the

transportation of the machine may need at least 2 persons to lift and convey to a tricycle due to

the weight of the whole machine itself. No harm was done during fabrication, trial tests and
performance tests of the said device, although due to impact force brought by the block, bits of

shell particles fly into the air in different direction.

Conclusion

The research conducted proved that the punching principle can be an alternative way in

cracking Pili nut shells. The study was intended to enhance the production rate of Pili nut shell

cracking without damaging its kernel pulp. The longitudinal way of cracking the shells found to be

more effective than the transverse method. The design layout of the device is verified economical

because of the availability of materials, minimal cost for the fabrication of the prototype since other

parts of the machine are found in junkshops.

The punching principle is effective in terms of cracking the shell with a whole kernel

recovery based from the administered series of performance tests. However, the machine needs

to be improved to increase the machine efficiency. In comparison to the computed ideal

measurements of force, torque and work required, the calculated quantities of actual capacities

of the machine paralleled the results of the series of tests conducted.