Application of Additive Technologies for Simulating Mechanical Characteristics of Large-Fruited Cranberries

Introduction. Large-fruited cranberries have therapeutic and prophylactic properties, which cause their wide consumption. Because of reducing the areas occupied by wild cranberry, it is necessary to increase industrial cultivation of cranberries to meet public demand. The main challenge in cultivating the cranberries on industrial plantations is the use of low-performance agricultural machinery for harvesting. Therefore, improving the machinery for harvesting large-fruited cranberries is a topical scientific and technical task. Upgrading this equipment involves conducting field experimental studies, which consist in simulating the operation of the units in various operating modes. During these studies, the being upgraded machine interacts with the being harvested cranberries, the mock-ups of which with properties identical to real cranberries can be created using additive technologies. Aim of the Study. The study is aimed at expanding the capabilities of laboratory equipment and software by using additive technologies in experimental studies of the interaction between the working elements of harvesting machines and large-fruited cranberries Materials and Methods. The object of the study was the Stevens large-fruited cranberry variety. The method for determining the cranberry weight-size characteristics was based on the wet harvesting method. The weight of cranberries was determined by weighing on scales. A caliper was used to measure linear dimensions of cranberries, including length and two transverse dimensions in measurement planes positioned at 90° relative to each other. The volume of cranberries was determined by determining the volume of displaced cranberry liquid and with the use of the calculating method. 3D models were developed using FlashPrint 5 software, using a Flashforge Finder 3D printer and polylactide (PLA) plastic to print mock-ups. Results. Using additive technologies, there has been developed a method for calculating the parameters for large-fruited cranberry mock-ups. There have been created the mock-ups of cranberries maximally approximate to the originals. It has been found that an increase in the cranberry fraction size from 1 to 5 · 10–6 m3, the density of the created cranberry mock-ups decreases by 66.2% from 1367.37 kg/m3 to 461.98 kg/m3, and the volume increases by 5.3 times from 0.81 · 10–6 m3 to 4.26 · 10–6 m3. Discussion and Conclusions. The additive technologies made it possible to create from an inexpensive and long-life material highly accurate mock-ups of large-fruited cranberries fully replicate the properties of cranberries grown on a plantation. This could simplify laboratory research of the wet cranberry harvesting and reduce the financial costs of their sale.