Machinery & Energetics

Design and modification of a combined grass cutting and grinding machine

Khandakar Akhter Hossain, Md. Jobayer Mia, Mohammad Farhad Hossen, Md. Masudur Rahman
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Abstract

Efficient preparation of livestock feed remains a major challenge for small and medium farmers in Bangladesh, where manual fodder cutting, and separate grinding processes require considerable time, labour, and cost. Rising feed prices and limited access to affordable mechanised equipment make the development of locally manufacturable multipurpose machinery highly relevant for the agricultural sector. This article aimed to design, fabricate, and evaluate a combined grass-cutting and grinding machine suitable for practical use in Bangladesh. The study used field visits, focus group discussions, Computer-aided design-based modelling, prototype fabrication, and performance testing to assess the machine’s design, operation, and user suitability. The developed machine integrates grass cutting and grain grinding in a single compact system powered by a 3 HP electric motor. Unlike many conventional machines that depend on belt-pulley arrangements, the proposed design uses a spur gear transmission system to improve durability, stability, and power transfer. The gear arrangement provides a final reduction ratio of 0.846, producing a driven shaft speed of approximately 1,015-1,523 rpm and a blade tip speed of about 15.9-23.9 m/s. Trials with fresh grass, straw, and lentils showed that the machine could process 180-200 kg/hr of grass, 150-170 kg/hr of straw, and 50-60 kg/hr of lentils into fine powder. The chopped output was uniform, feeding was smooth, and the protective casing helped improve operational safety. The design also supports blade sharpening, local fabrication, and lower maintenance requirements. The results can be applied in small-scale livestock farming, feed preparation centres, and rural machinery workshops to reduce labour, improve feed processing efficiency, and support agricultural mechanisation

Keywords

grass cutter; grinder; agriculture; agricultural machinery; feed preparation

Suggested citation
Hossain, K.A. , Mia, M.J. , Hossen, M.F. , & Rahman, M.M. (2026). Design and modification of a combined grass cutting and grinding machine. Machinery & Energetics, 17(2), 22-38. https://doi.org/10.31548/machinery/2.2026.2
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