3D modeling of olive tree and simulating the harvesting forces

The paper presents the results of the study regarding the influence of shaking forces on olive tree harvesting systems. Shaking forces can be released through several methods. Important is the end result, namely the shaking force and the cadence of shaking speed. Mechanical and automatic harvesting methods collect more olives than traditional methods but may damage the olive trees. In order to prevent this damage, we need to calculate the necessary shaking force. An original research method is proposed to simulate shaking forces using a 3D olive tree model with Autodesk Inventor software. In the experiments, we use different shaking forces and various shaking speeds. We also use different diameters of the olive tree trunk. We analyze the results from this experiment to determine the optimal shaking force for harvesting olives without damaging the olive tree

Enhanced reconditioning of heavy-duty pulp industry equipment: advantages of abrasive waterjet cutting

Within a pulp industry production process, a drop in the performance of a wood log rotary debarker was identified. Such loss of performance was due to the occurrence of excessive wear of the device’s cutting blades, requiring their regular and premature replacement. The material used to manufacture the cutting blades, Hardox 500, has characteristics considered adequate for the required use. However, it was concluded that the blade manufacturing process degraded its mechanical properties, leading to its premature wear when placed in service. The present study intends to propose, characterize, and validate an alternative cutting process to manufacture the debarker’s cutting blades. Abrasive waterjet cutting technology was proposed to produce the cutting blades. The suitability of this manufacturing process is discussed considering the specified geometry and the material characteristics of the resulting cutting blades.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio