Design and Analysis of the Float for a Solar-Powered Automatic Fish Feeder

The increasing adoption of automatic feeding systems in aquaculture has created a demand for floating platforms capable of supporting feeding equipment while maintaining structural stability under operational loading conditions. This study aims to evaluate the buoyancy performance and structural integrity of an HDPE floating system designed for a solar-powered automatic fish feeder through theoretical calculations and finite element analysis. The research employed a literature review, three-dimensional modeling using SolidWorks, theoretical buoyancy analysis based on Archimedes' principle, and static structural simulation to assess the structural response of the floating system. The proposed design consisted of four HDPE floating pontoons supporting a total operational load of 87.29 N. The theoretical analysis indicated that the floating system generated a total buoyant force of 3,027.66 N, demonstrating sufficient buoyancy to support the applied load. Static structural simulation produced a maximum Von Mises stress of 0.58 MPa, a maximum displacement of 0.162 mm, and a minimum factor of safety of 48. The corresponding theoretical calculations yielded a Von Mises stress of 0.24 MPa, a displacement of 2.42 mm, and a factor of safety of 108.3. Although differences were observed between the theoretical and numerical results due to the simplifying assumptions adopted in the analytical model, both approaches confirmed that the proposed floating structure provides adequate buoyancy and structural safety under static freshwater conditions. These findings demonstrate that the designed HDPE floating system is structurally feasible for supporting a solar-powered automatic fish feeder and may serve as a reference for the development of sustainable floating aquaculture equipment. The increasing demand for processed orange juice in small and medium-scale agro-industries has highlighted the need for machinery capable of performing both juice extraction and peel-waste shredding in a single integrated system. This study aims to analyze the structural strength of the frame and assembly of a two-stage orange juicer and peel shredder machine using computer-aided simulation, ensuring that the designed structure can withstand the torsional and static loads generated during operation without experiencing structural failure. The frame was constructed from ASTM A525 galvanized steel angle profile measuring 50 x 50 x 4 mm, selected for its adequate mechanical strength, ease of fabrication, and economic availability. The research combined a literature review, three-dimensional modeling in SolidWorks 2022, and static structural simulation, followed by manual theoretical calculations of von Mises stress, displacement, and safety factor for verification purposes. The total static load applied to the frame, derived from the combined mass of the motor, hopper, squeezing cylinder, filter, shaft, and collection tank, was 310 N. The simulation results showed a maximum von Mises stress of 25.7 MPa, well below the material yield strength, indicating that the structure remained within its elastic limit. The maximum displacement obtained was 0.296 mm, and the resulting safety factor reached 8, both of which fall within acceptable design limits. Manual calculations produced higher stress and displacement values than the simulation, with discrepancies attributed to simplifying assumptions inherent to analytical beam theory. Based on these results, the frame design of the orange juicer and peel shredder machine is considered structurally safe and feasible for the intended operating conditions. Keywords Automatic Fish Feeder; Buoyancy Analysis; Floating System; HDPE; SolidWorks Simulation Galvanized Steel; Von Mises Stress; Safety Factor