Optimization and Test of Structural Parameters of Flat Hob Chopper

In order to reduce the chopping power consumption of a flat hob chopper (referred to herein as chopper) on the premise of ensuring the chopping effect of the chopper, the mathematical model of optimal design of chopper is established in this paper with the minimum chopping power as the objective. With the help of MATLAB software, the mathematical model is solved. The chopping power curves of each point on the chopper blade edge line before and after the optimization of structural parameters are generated. The results indicate that when the coordinate value of point A on the blade edge line on the Z axis is 0.7 m; the included angle between the bottom surface of the blade and the axis of the cutter roll is 6°. When the radius of the chopper is 0.11 m, the chopper can obtain the theoretical minimum chopping power. The analysis result of chopping power curve is the chopping power after structural parameter optimization is reduced by about 25.50% compared with that before optimization. The choppers before and after the optimization of structural parameters was trial manufactured and sequentially mounted on the performance test bench of the chopping system of the forage ramie harvester. The test results show the standard-length rate of ramie stalk chopped by the choppers before and after the optimization of structural parameters were 92.96% and 92.84%, respectively, which were extremely close to each other, indicating that the optimization of structural parameters has no influence on the chopping effect of the chopper. The chopping power of the chopper is reduced by 22.25% after optimization, which is close to the software analysis value (25.50%), indicating that the optimization result is accurate and reliable. This study can provide parameter foundation and an optimization method for lowering chopping power consumption of the chopper.