Low-cost oscillating sieving shaker machine for granulometry analysis in food science

Area of Science:

• Food Science and Technology
• Mechanical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Granulometric analysis is crucial for food powder characterization.
• Commercial sieving shakers are expensive, limiting accessibility for many laboratories.
• Open-source and low-cost alternatives are needed for reproducible particle size classification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design, fabricate, and validate a low-cost oscillating sieving shaker machine.
• To enable laboratory-scale granulometric analysis of powdered and solid food materials.
• To provide an affordable and reproducible alternative to commercial sieving equipment.

Main Methods:

• Integration of 3D-printed PLA components, an aluminum frame, and a dual gear-motor mechanism.
• Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for stress and displacement validation of printed components.
• Thermal-impact study to assess operational stability under load.
• Performance testing using standard methods (ASTM C136/C136M-19) with food powders.

Main Results:

• FEA confirmed safe elastic behavior of 3D-printed components under load.
• Thermal studies showed stable operation with temperatures well below material limits.
• Performance tests yielded accurate and reproducible particle-size distributions for soy lecithin, potato starch, and ascorbic acid.
• Fabrication cost was significantly lower (USD 143.78) than commercial alternatives (USD 2,800-3,700).

Conclusions:

• The developed open-source oscillating sieving shaker is a cost-effective and reproducible solution for granulometric analysis.
• The device meets performance standards for laboratory-scale food powder characterization.
• This validated design is suitable for educational and research laboratories seeking affordable, reliable particle size control.