DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF PEDAL OPERATED SESAME OIL EXTRACTION MACHINE

Sesame seed oil is an essential edible oil in Ethiopia, but small-scale extraction is constrained by inefficient manual and animal-powered methods or expensive motorized machines that require electricity. This study aimed to design, fabricate, and evaluate a pedal operated sesame oil extraction machine (POSOEM) suitable for rural and semi-urban communities. The research followed a structured methodology including customer needs identification, conceptual and detailed design, component analysis using ANSYS stress simulation, and prototype manufacturing. Experimental testing was carried out using Taguchi’s orthogonal array with three control parameters: particle size, roasting time, and moisture content. Results showed that the machine achieved an average oil yield of 62%, capacity of 19.25 kg/hr, extraction rate of 7.74 l/hr, and extraction efficiency of 31%. The POSOEM demonstrated higher throughput, low energy requirements, and social benefits. The study concludes that a pedal operated solution provides an affordable, sustainable, and energy-independent alternative for smallholder farmers and local processors.