DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF DOUBLE BLADE HEDGE TRIMMING MACHINE

ABSTRACT The designed work is a double blade hedge trimming machine used for trimming of hedges and bush. The double hedge trimmer design allows for increased coverage and efficiency when trimming larger areas or multiple hedges simultaneously. It can save time and effort compared to using a single-blade trimmer, especially in commercial landscaping or large-scale gardening projects.The essence of the machine is to improve the efficiency, reduce the time for labor and ergonomic.The double blade hedge trimming machine has a both blades angled at 90 degrees,with a cutting capacity of 34mm branch diameter. The machine consists of a bevel and spur gear directly coupled to the drive shaft of a two-stroke petrol engine of 1600W which transmit the reciprocating motion to the blades for cutting process. The blades are made up high carbon steel which offers remarkable cutting edges and high resistance to corrosion, wear and tear. The machine also comprises of a petrol engine, handles and an operational switch which regulates the speed of the blade.The machine was tested for performance and was found to have an overall efficiency of 66.67%. Feedback from operator indicated that the machine was relatively easy to handle, the vibration levels were within acceptable limits and the weight of the machine was also acceptable, but prolonged use resulted in operator fatigue. The machine maintained high speed and precision with minimal blade dulling, and blade wear was less pronounced. A review of other existing hedge trimming machines was conducted, and the concept of the machine was developed and manufactured using secondary manufacturing process