Innovative fabrication methods for agricultural equipment: The case of a 3-D printed paddy drum seeder-cum-fertilizer applicator

Abstract

Rice is a vital staple for nearly half of the global population. It is sown through methods like transplanting and direct-seeded rice (DSR). However, DSR offers more benefits than transplanting methods. While DSR offers advantages such as reduced labour and environmental impact, the separate manual application of fertilizers poses a significant challenge. Innovative 3D printing technology, also known as additive manufacturing, has sparked a transformative shift across multiple industries, facilitating the production of complex three-dimensional structures based on digital blueprints. Its recent application within the agricultural sector has demonstrated significant potential in the fabrication of vital components for farm machinery. Considering this, an attempt has been made to develop components of a four-row manual-operated paddy drum seeder-cum-fertilizer applicator using 3D printing technology in the Farm Power and Soil Dynamics laboratory of the Division of Agricultural Engineering, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi. The paper explores the 3D printing techniques used for fabricating a complex drum seeder, utilizing a 3-D printer with a bed size of 220×220×240 mm. The drum of the seeder comprises two truncated seed chambers and a central cylinder chamber for efficient seed and fertilizer application in two rows. The process involves printing 14 components, including square guides for the drive shaft, truncated conical and cylindrical chambers, hoppers, lids, and orifice covers for each chamber, with printing durations ranging from 1 to 40 hours. The study highlights the significant advantages of 3D printing technology in the fabrication of the drum seeder. The resulting four-row paddy drum-seeder-cum-fertilizer applicator effectively addresses key challenges by integrating fertilizer application with the drum-seeding process. The cost of fabrication of 3-D printed drums was Rs. 3290.4 which is 40% of the total cost of equipment. The cost of operation of a paddy drum seeder-cum-fertilizer applicator per hectare is 2.55 times less than the earlier reported cost of operation with a four-row paddy drum seeder.