CHAPTER 2

In line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved by the

year 2030, there are four goals in which, the machine design project can perform. These

specific goals are namely:

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.

With this Sustainable Development Goal, it can be said that the innovation of the tree

spade beings a small-scale machine can do greater things. Given its small size, it can be a

stepping stone for future motives to help in transplanting bigger plants without harming them

along the way. Most importantly, future improvements can be also made along the way. With a

rapidly growing demand for alternative ways of moving plants without harming them, as they are

the primary source of oxygen for terrestrial beings to exist. As also, it can provide a better

industry as more tree spades need to be developed, thus a need for an industry for it and, a

new infrastructure be built on it creating jobs for all without harming the environment. It is

important to take care of the environment.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

As urbanization is important for life to prosper, the need for settlements to be quickly

established must be dealt with swiftly. But in order to preserve the environment and the natural

plants around, the tree spade can help in moving the plants, small trees easily without them

being damaged in the uprooting process. This can also help for transportation of plants or small

trees to other areas in which a design for a green city; making a blend of both urban and

plant-friendly cities. Along with the invention of the tree spade, the moving of different plants will

no longer be bothersome.

SDG 13: Climate Action

Climate action is deemed an important goal as with climate change happening due to

different practices and habits made by people that's why measures must be made to mitigate

this problem. Communities continue to grow meaning people need more land in order to further

cater the needs of people. Instead of cutting the trees to have land to build infrastructure, this

machine will be able to transfer and to relocate the tree into another area without damaging and

destroying the tree. This method can prevent the time spent to grow a tree from a seedling thus

has less effect on the climate.

SDG 15: Life on Land

A tree spade machine promotes the direct involvement of people to the wellbeing of

plants. By being able to strategically place and move trees, the people of a community can

effectively increase the chances of survival of trees as well as manage the health of the soil in
the community. By monitoring the soil in the land, the community may also be able to stabilize

the land in such a way that prevents hazards such as landslides or injury due to falling trees.

The scale model of a tree machine can be used on smaller plants and could also be

used for planting seeds.

II. Designs incorporated

The design of the machine is based on life sized tree spade machine. A tree spade is a

machine used to transport trees. The machine is capable of digging, moving as well as

re-planting the tree. The scale model tree spade machine made by the group is designed to

transport plants which are no more than 1.5in in diameter. The machine is also designed to be

able to dig as deep as 1.5in into the ground.

The group used a cone shape and cut it in half and into two(2) pieces; as opposed to the

usual design of having four(4) parts for the scoop This design change simplifies the overall

design of the claw by reducing the moving parts, therefore reducing the motors needed to drive

each arm. The arms are also 3D printed to ensure the accuracy of the part based on the design.
III. DESIGN METHODOLOGY

Forces the component experiences

Figure 1.

The group uses a 2-part cone shaped shovel. The shovels are connected to and arm

which moves diagonally on a C shaped frame. The frame is intentionally C shaped so as to hold

the trunk of the tree to be transported.

To actualize the diagonal movement of the shovel arms, a motor is mounted directly on

top of the arm which is directly coupled to a screw. The screw is mounted parallel to the shovel

arm to maintain the linear motion of the part. The screw is paired with a nut which is mounted on

the frame. The mechanism is designed to convert the rotary motion of the motor to a linear

motion on the shovel arms.

Forces:

1. Compressive/tensile force - The shovel arms experience compressive stress when the

machine digs into the ground. While retracting, the shovel arms will experience tensile

stress caused by the resistance caused by the surrounding soil on the shovel.

2. Torsion - ​The motor has a shaft which is coupled to the screw of the mechanism. Under

load, the shaft and the screw both experience torsion.

Material selection

For the main component of the shovel arm, the group has opted to 3D print the

components. A nylon filament was selected mainly of its strength, durability and its light-weight.

FILAMENT TYPE NYLON PETG

TENSILE STRENGTH ✔ ✘

DURABILITY ✔ ✔

The group chose to 3D print the component due to its unusual shape which would have

been challenging to fabricate, also 3D printing ensures the accuracy of the output based on the

design. 3D printing is also a cheaper option as prices for the filament per kilogram costs ​₱1,300

based on prices of suppliers found in Shoppee, in which, the shovel arm weighs less than 1

kilogram.

Codes and Standards

For the tree spade project to perform efficiently and prolong lifespan, standards such as

the ​ASTM A291/A291M – “Standard Specification for Steel Forgings, Carbon and Alloy, for
Pinions, Gears and Shafts for Reduction Gears” would be used. This is for the sake to create a

safe design for community usage, and withstand such problems to be encountered in the

environment. Along with the ​AGMA 912 – “Mechanisms of Gear Tooth Failures”, where failure is

not an option in the design of the gear tooth.

Another code to be noted is the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

Standard B106.1M:1985​, for the shafting design of the tree spade. Lastly, considering the

column design, ​ASME Section VIII Division 1 & IS 2825​ is consulted.