METHODOLOGY

Materials

The following were the materials used by the researcher during the

implementation of the device.

Arduino Nano, as shown in Fig. 2, is an open-source platform used for

building electronics projects. Arduino consists of both a physical

programmable circuit board (often referred to as a microcontroller) and a piece

of software, or IDE (Integrated Development Environment) that runs on your

computer. It was used to write and upload the computer code to the circuit of

the machine.

Fig. 2. Arduino nano

AC motor, as shown in Fig. 3, converts the alternating current into

mechanical power by using an electromagnetic induction phenomenon is

called an AC motor. This motor is driven by an alternating current. It was used

to operate electric current in a wire winding to generate force in the form of

rotation a shaft.
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Fig. 3. AC Motor

Push-button, as shown in Fig. 4, is a simple switch mechanism that

the machine uses to start the cutting process. Buttons are typically made out

of hard material, usually plastic or metal. It was used to start the machine.

Fig. 4. Push button

Liquid-Crystal Display (LCD) with I2C, as shown in Fig. 5, is an

electronic display module and found a wide range of applications. A 16x2

LCD means it could display16 characters per line and there are two such

lines. It was used to display the machine’s status and the time duration.
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Fig. 5. LCD with I2C

Circular Blades, as shown in Fig. 6, it was used to chop, slice or copra

meat. Blades are typically made from materials that are harder than those they

are to be used on.

Fig. 6. Circular blades

Pulley, as shown in Fig. 7, it was used as a wheel on a shaft to support

the movement and change direction of the belt that was connect to the AC

motor.
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Fig. 7. Pulley

Belt, as shown in Fig. 8, it was used as the source of motion to transfer

power efficiently from the AC motor. Belt are looped over pulleys that are

connected to the shaft.

Fig. 8. Belt

Case, as shown in Fig. 9, was used as

housing or covering which protects parts of the machine.

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Fig. 9. Case

Linear actuator 12V 12inch, as shown in Fig. 10, it was used to pull

the lower door if the laser sensor had detected the copra meat so that it will

fall into the blades. It also closes the lower door after cutting operation

finished.

Fig. 10. Linear actuator 12V 12inch

Power supply, as shown in Fig.11, was used as a component that

supplies power to at least one electric load.

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Fig. 11. Power supply

Motor driver module, as shown in Fig. 12, it was used to receive a

signal from the Arduino and transmits the signal to the motor.

Fig. 12. Motor driver module

Matrix PCB, as shown in Fig. 13, it was used to electronic components

to run the hardware of the machine. Its layer is coated with copper and allows

proper soldering so that components are connected.

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Fig. 13. Matrix PCB

Buck Converter Adjustable Power Module, as shown in Fig. 14, it

was used to convert the high voltage to a low voltage.

Fig. 14. Buck converter adjustable power module

Solid State Relay, as shown in Fig. 15, is used to control the switch

electrical power of the machine or motor to either on or off state when a small

external voltage is applied across its control terminals.

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Fig. 15. Solid state relay

Laser Sensor, as shown in Fig. 16, is used for detecting presence

based on position or light intensity. Benefits include long range, a visible beam

spot and precise detection. It was used to detect the copra meat that is

loaded.

Fig. 16. Laser sensor

Hall effect sensor, as shown in Fig. 17, is a device that is used to

measure the magnitude of a magnetic field. It was used for the state of the

upper and lower door.

Fig. 17. Hall effect sensor

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Methods

Device Analysis

Fig. 18 shows the integration of the different mechanisms of the

system. The input will be the push button and sensor. The user will press the

push button to start the machine and the laser sensor will detect if there is

copra meat being loaded. The microcontroller was the brain of the machine

and will be the one that gives commands to all the components that were

connected to the circuit. Circular blades were used to cut the copra meat. The

LCD was for displaying the time consumed and the machine’s status if it is

ready or still in operation. The solid state relay controlled the switch electrical

power of the machine or motor to either “on” or “off” state.

Input Process Output

PUSH BUTTON LCD

MICROCONTROLLER

SENSOR RELAY WITH MOTOR

Fig. 18. Block diagram of the Automated Copra Meat Cutting Machine
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Development of the Program

Fig. 19 shows the flowchart of the program which was coded in Arduino

IDE (Integrated Development Environment). Arduino software was used to test

if the program had no error and after testing, the program was uploaded to the

microcontroller. The sequence of the operation that was performed by the

machine is explained below in details:

1. Start the machine by pushing the “start” button.

2. The LCD will display if the machine is ready.

3. Copra meat will be manually placed in the hopper.

4. The cutting operation will automatically start if the sensor detects that

the lid cover is closed in the hopper.

5. If the cover was closed without copra meat, the machine will not

operate.

6. During the cutting operation, the produced copra meat that was cut

will be directed to a plastic container.

7. The user will continuously pour up to 3 kg of copra meat.

8. If the sensor cannot sense any more copra meat, the machine will

have a 5-second delay and will automatically stop the cutting

operation.

9. Lastly, the LCD will display the time consumed by the cutting

operation.
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Y
Start

Is lower door Does the hopper

Initialize sensors D
open? has the copra?

N N

Is lower Is lower door

Y Closing the lower door A Closing the lower door B
door open? close?

System is ready

Is upper Does the hopper Does the start Does AC Start the timer and
Y Y Y Powering the AC motor Y
door close? has copra? button pressed? Motor Start? opening the lower door

N N N D
E
Hopper is empty System error, Check the
N
AC motor

Stop
Does the hopper Please Close the Upper
Y B
has copra? door

B
N

Hopper is empty

Fig. 19. System flowchart

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Research Design

The study used experimental research design to evaluate the time

efficiency of the device in cutting the copra meat as compared to the

conventional method by performing ten (10) trials.

Data Gathering Procedure

In gathering the data, developed machine was tested to determine the

time efficiency of the device in cutting the copra meat into smaller pieces. 10

trials were performed following the mechanics on how to test the machine.

After de-shelling copra meat, the researcher used weighing scale to get the 3

kilos on every trial. During the trial, the machine was tested first. After makilo,

pinaandar ang machine then gi load na ung 3 kls. When the lower door was

opened the timer starts as well as the cutting operation. After the cutting

operation, the AC motor stops and the time duration displays. It was not easy

for the researcher to gather the data using machine because marami pang

nasayang na copra meat during trials bago na achieve ang tamang function

nito. It consumes a lot of time pag may mga nakasabit pa na copra meat sa

sensor. Pero later on naayos rin ang pag trial at nakapag gather rin ng tamag

data gamit ang machine. Another 10 trials were performed by the skilled labor

using conventional method. It was also 3 kilos on every trial. The timer will

start when the labor starts cutting the copra meat using machete and ends

after the 3 kilos was done. Tatlong labor ang na hire during sa pag conduct
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ng 10 trials. In every trial iba iba ang time ng pagtapos nilang mag cut. It

depends upon the speed of their hands on cutting it and may iba ring copra

meat na maliliit na sizes kaya mas mabilis na siyang i cut. Fig. 20 shows the

actual testing of the machine as well as the cutting process using conventional

method.

Fig. 20. Actual testing of the machine as well as the cutting process using

conventional method.

Statistical Analysis

The data gathered was analyzed and interpreted using t-test method.