DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF A SOLAR-POWERED AUTO FISH FEEDER

This research aims to design and analyze the structural strength of a solar-powered Auto Fish Feeder frame. This analysis is crucial to ensure the frame has adequate strength, stiffness, and durability when supporting a machine component load of 89 Newtons in a corrosive fish farming environment. The model was designed using CAD software, and the strength analysis was performed using Static Analysis (Finite Element Method/FEM) simulations in SolidWorks Simulation. The selected material was Galvanized Steel with a yield point (σy) of 203.943 MPa. The simulation results indicate that the frame is very safe against yield failure. The maximum Von Mises stress in the frame was recorded at 10.377 MPa, well below the material's yield point, resulting in a very high simulated Factor of Safety (FOS) of 53.271. Furthermore, the maximum displacement was very small, at 1.653 mm, indicating adequate structural stiffness. Although the frame proved strong in simulations, the results showed a significant difference (error) of 69.25% with the theoretical Von Mises stress calculations, underscoring the need to align the theoretical calculation methodology. Overall, the frame of this Auto Fish Feeder machine is concluded to be structurally feasible and safe for production, with the added benefit of galvanized steel material, which increases durability against corrosion.