ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING METHOD FOR STRENGTHENING SOIL TILLAGE WORKING UNITS

The functioning of agricultural machinery and equipment is an integral factor in ensuring the sustainability of production. Wear of the working units of tillage mechanisms is associated with a gradual change in their geometric and physical-mechanical characteristics, which in turn reduces the efficiency of tillage. One of the methods for solving this problem is to apply a protective layer of material that has increased wear resistance. Selective laser sintering (SLS) and plasma powder cladding are technologies for applying protective layers to the surface of agricultural machinery parts. A comparative analysis of these methods will allow us to assess their effectiveness and applicability in agricultural conditions. The results of comparing these methods will allow you to choose the optimal solution depending on the specific requirements and operating conditions of agricultural equipment. Calculation of the choice of design and material parameters shows that when using selective laser sintering as a method of strengthening the working units of soil-cultivating machines, the savings in hard alloy will be 35%. It has been established that due to the formation of a homogeneous, thin, wear-resistant, strengthening layer on the working unit, the effective shaping of its blade part occurs, which ensures the established plowing depth without violating the agrotechnical parameters of the soil cultivation process. When testing for reliability, it was determined that the wear rate of the experimental bits was significantly lower than the serial ones. The average wear rate for 8 bits is: experimental samples - 0.458 mm/ha, serial samples - 0.559 mm/ha. The effectiveness of using new materials and the method (SLS) for strengthening soil-cutting working units in comparison with hardening by the plasma method under operating conditions will ensure an increase in the service life of experimental parts by 18%.