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2025 Vol.7, Issue 4 Preview Page

Research Article

Geometric optimization and power transmission analysis of a gearbox for 2-kW semi-automatic biodegradable potted cabbage transplanter
Md Razob Ali1
,
Md Nasim Reza12
,
Md Aminur Rahman1
,
Beom-Sun Kang3
,
Hee-Bok Lee4
,
Sun-Ok Chung12*
,
Kanghee Jeong5*†
1Department of Agricultural Machinery Engineering, Graduate School, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
2Department of Smart Agricultural Systems, Graduate School, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
3HSM Co., Ltd., Cheonan 31246, Republic of Korea
4Agricultural Corporation Cheongmyeong Co., Ltd., Buyeo 33202, Republic of Korea
5Corperation X-one, Anyang 14119, Republic of Korea
*Corresponding Author
†These authors equally contributed to this study as corresponding author.
31 December 2025. pp. 314-336
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Abstract

The design and performance of multi-stage gearboxes are essential for ensuring efficiency, durability, and reliability in agricultural machinery. This study proposed a framework for geometric optimization and power transmission analysis of a three-stage spur gear reducer developed for a 2-kW semi-automatic cabbage transplanter. Gear sizing was conducted in accordance with ISO 6336, with fine sizing validated through mechanical simulation to assess bending strength, contact stress, and safety factors. Optimization considered key design parameters, including module, face width, center distance, and tooth numbers, to balance load-carrying capacity, weight, and manufacturability, yielding 386, 278, and 418 feasible solutions for the first, second, and third stages, respectively. The optimized designs achieved torque capacities of 16–17 Nm (Stage 1), 12 Nm (Stage 2), and 12–13 Nm (Stage 3), with safety factors consistently above ISO thresholds. Root safety factors exceeded 5.0 across all stages, while flank safety factors ranged from 2.0 to 2.9, indicating surface durability as the governing criterion. Power loss and efficiency, evaluated using ISO/TR 14179-2, showed total losses of 30.1 W and an overall efficiency of 95.4%, dominated by meshing losses, with bearing and shaft losses negligible. The results demonstrate that systematic gear optimization ensures high transmission efficiency, reduced mass, and robust safety margins, offering a transferable methodology for lightweight and durable drivetrain design in agricultural machinery.

Keywords
Transplanter
Gearbox optimization
Transmission efficiency
Fine sizing
ISO
Transmission error
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Information
  • Publisher :Korean Society of Precision Agriculture
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국정밀농업학회
  • Journal Title :Precision Agriculture Science and Technology
  • Journal Title(Ko) :정밀농업과학기술
  • Volume : 7
  • No :4
  • Pages :314-336
  • Received Date : 2025-09-15
  • Revised Date : 2025-09-29
  • Accepted Date : 2025-11-06
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.22765/pastj.20250022
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