Study and Design Optimization of Autofeeder Side Cover of Ginning Machine

The process of separation of cotton from seed of cotton which is term as a ginning requires a remarkable technology to meet the continuous demand of cotton to produce the fabric. The mechanism employed for the process can be categorized according to the rate of production and volume of production of the various machine employed for the purpose. Double roller ginning machine is widely favored for higher volume of production and calls for continuous interrupted operation of ginning machine. To maintain the continuous production process of ginning it is likely to execute analysis of factor affecting the life of various component of which ginning machine is comprised one such component is Side Cover of ginning machine which provide a platform for bearing through which shaft of roller are passed. Due to continuous operation this side cover is subjected to vibration and this leads to fatigue failure of side cover. The present paper attempt to find the optimum thickness of side cover which is a sheet metal component so as to sustain the vibration generated in conventional side cover employed today. This is done by the aid of computer aided design and analysis domain by firstly employed CAD Software that is CATIA V5R21 in which sheet metal component I.e. side cover is efficiently modeled. The modeled component is rendered to change in thickness from 2.5 mm to 3.0 mm and 3.5 mm and finite element approach is used to calculate the value of fatigue stress acting on each thickness. ANSYS Workbench 14.5 provide the platform to optimize the thickness of side cover under study.