Assessment of Screw Types for the Development of Continuous Combined Grater-Presser Machine for Cassava Grates Processing

This study was conducted to develop a machine that continuously operates two processing operations (grating and pressing) for cassava grates production. Due to a lack of concrete literature for the type of screws to be used for the continuous dewatering operation for cassava, three types of screws were evaluated to identify which is the most suitable screw to be used. The screws were tested using five (5) kg cassava tubers as input materials and the capacity and rate of moisture removal were measured as a response. The variable pitch screw failed to show its performance due to the failure occurs during evaluation. A t-test analysis was used to analyze the significant difference between the remaining two screws. The analysis shows that the tapered screw shaft shows the most promising results having an average output capacity of 5.35 kg/hr and rate of moisture removal of 4.69 kg/hr.