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Manual Cashew Shelling Machine

Overview

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The study explores various methodologies to gather insights and understand the social and economical aspects of the cashew production industry; uses ergonomic, survey-based tools to assess musculoskeletal risk from work postures and explains the physical degradation caused by CNSL in a small-scale production facility in Dapoli, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. Based on these observations, a prototype of a hand-operated cutting and separation machine has been designed that carefully removes the kernel from inside the cashew nut. The design utilizes the physics of rotary to linear motion to drive different parts of the machine through one single continuous rotational motion by hand. The result yielded a significant 60% improvement in overall body posture risks (REBA) and a maximum of 99.99% reduction (in SI) in localized physical fatigue in the hands and wrists.

Details

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Duration: 3 weeks
Name: Human Factors in Interaction Design
Deliverables: A physical prototype that improves the ergonomic principles of human interaction.

What’s in here?

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1. Introduction
2. Problem Statement
3. User Research
4. Ideation
5. Final Prototype
6. Usability Testing

Coming Soon...

Team Members

Project

Manual Cashew Shelling Machine

Industry

Agricultural and Horticultural

Type of Work

Research and Prototype Design

Cashew Prototype View 1

Cashew Prototype View 2

Cashew Prototype View 3

Have you ever wondered?

where did that
bowl of

cashews
come from?

they're a...
fruit*

* but

it's this little guy

**dried up

which contains

The Cashew

Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) is a dark, reddish-brown, highly viscous fluid contained within the spongy honeycomb structure of the cashew nut shell. • Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) is a dark, reddish-brown, highly viscous fluid contained within the spongy honeycomb structure of the cashew nut shell. •

Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) is a dark, reddish-brown, highly viscous fluid contained within the spongy honeycomb structure of the cashew nut shell. • Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) is a dark, reddish-brown, highly viscous fluid contained within the spongy honeycomb structure of the cashew nut shell. •

Cashew
Nut
Shelling
Liquid is

0%

Anacardic Acid

0%

Cardol Acid

0%

Others

What happens due to raw CNSL exposure?

Left Hand CNSL Damage

Right Hand CNSL Damage

Pronounced erythema, edema (swelling), and intense itching.

Symptoms

4

Unfortunately, CNSL exposure wasn’t the only issue cashew shelling workers had to worry about. • Prolonged exposure to a work environment that forces them to maintain poor posture can lead to musculoskeletal disorders. •

Unfortunately, CNSL exposure wasn’t the only issue cashew shelling workers had to worry about. • Prolonged exposure to a work environment that forces them to maintain poor posture can lead to musculoskeletal disorders. •

Musculo-
skeletal
Disorders

Manual Cashew Sheller Posture

Manual Cashew Sheller Skeleton

Manual Cashew Shelling Machine Posture

Manual Cashew Shelling Machine Skeleton

Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) Score of 6

Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) Score of 6

Investigate further: change maybe needed

Further investigation required: change soon

REBA Score of

Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) Score of 10

High risk. Investigate and implement soon

Manual
Cashew Sheller

Manual Cashew
Shelling Machine

SI of 207.97 (left hand) and 56.63 (right hand)

QEC (Quick Exposure Check)

The job is probably
hazardous

High risk factors that
could lead to injury

Cashew Farmers and Pickers in Forest

For them, cashew is more than a million dollar export deal;

Young Worker Shelling Cashews

Cashew Shelling Workers

It’s a livelihood.