Design and Development of a Plate Cam Using 3D Printing Technology for Seed Sowing Applications

International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056

Volume: 13 Issue: 04 | Apr 2026 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

Design and Development of a Plate Cam Using 3D Printing Technology for Seed Sowing Applications

MR. KOPPUL SWAPNIL SHRINIWAS 1 , MR. KOKAL AMIT RAGHVENDRA2 , MR. LONDHE VISHAL JAYANT 3 , MR. SHAIKH GOUSPAK SAMEER 4 , MR. YEMUL VYANKATESH BHASKAR 5 , MR. B.S. Swami 6

1 MR. KOPPUL SWAPNIL SHRINIWAS (Diploma Student Mech. Engg. Dept.SPM Polytechnic Kumathe, Solapur)

2 MR. KOKAL AMIT RAGHVENDRA (Diploma Student Mech. Engg. Dept.SPM Polytechnic Kumathe, Solapur)

3 MR. LONDHE VISHAL JAYANT (Diploma Student Mech. Engg. Dept.SPM Polytechnic Kumathe, Solapur)

4 MR. SHAIKH GOUSPAK SAMEER (Diploma Student Mech. Engg. Dept.SPM Polytechnic Kumathe, Solapur)

5 MR. YEMUL VYANKATESH BHASKAR (Diploma Student Mech. Engg. Dept.SPM Polytechnic Kumathe, Solapur)

6 Mr. B.S. Swami (Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering Department, SPM Polytechnic, Kumathe, Solapur)

Abstract - The plate cam (disc cam) is a vital mechanical component used to convert rotary motion into controlled reciprocating or oscillatory motion. This research focuses on the design, development, and performance evaluation of a plate cam fabricated using 3D printing technology for application in a seed sowing machine. The cam profile was designed using CAD software based on motion requirements such as lift, dwell, and return periods. The model was fabricated usingtheFusedDepositionModeling(FDM)process with PLA material.

The developed cam mechanism was integrated with a seed metering system to achieve controlled seed dispensing. Experimentalresultsindicatesmoothmotiontransfer,uniform seed spacing, andsatisfactorydimensionalaccuracy.Thestudy demonstrates that 3D printing offers a cost-effective, rapid prototyping solution for mechanical components. However, limitations in material strength restrict its use to low-load applications. This work highlights the potential of additive manufacturing in agricultural machinery and mechanical design education.

Key Words: Plate Cam, 3D Printing (FDM), Seed Sowing Machine, Cam and Follower Mechanism, PLA Material

1.INTRODUCTION

1.1 Overview of Plate Cam

Aplatecamisarotatingmechanicalelementusedtoconvert rotarymotionintoreciprocatingoroscillatingmotion.Itis widely used in machines requiring precise timing and motioncontrol.

1.2 Role of Cam in Mechanical Systems

Camscontrolmotionbasedontheirprofileandareusedin:

i.Internalcombustionengines

ii.Textilemachinery

iii.Packagingsystems

iv.Agriculturalequipment

They can generate: Uniform velocity motion, Simple harmonicmotionandAcceleratedmotion

1.3 Cam and Follower Mechanism

Cam Rotation → Follower Movement → Output Motion

i.Camrotatescontinuously

ii.Followermovesbasedoncamprofile

iii.Motionistransferredtoworkingmechanism

1.4 Application in Seed Sowing Machine

In seed sowing machines, precise seed placement is required.Thecamhelps:

i.Controlseeddispensing

ii.Maintainuniformspacing

iii.Reduceseedwastage

1.5 Introduction to 3D Printing

3Dprinting(AdditiveManufacturing)buildsobjectslayerby layerfromadigitalmodel.

International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056

Volume: 13 Issue: 04 | Apr 2026 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

Steps:

i.CADmodeling

ii.STLconversion

iii.Slicing

iv.Printing

1.6 Advantages of 3D Printing

i.Lowcost

ii.Rapidprototyping

iii.Easydesignmodification

iv.Minimalmaterialwastage

1.7 Design Parameters of Cam

i.BaseCircle

ii.Lift(Stroke)

iii.DwellPeriod

iv.RiseandReturn

2. Methodology

2.1 Design and Development Approach

Themethodologyforthedesignanddevelopmentofthe plate cam begins with the identification of the functional requirements of the seed sowing machine. The system requirescontrolledandintermittentmotiontoensureproper seeddispensing,uniformspacing,andminimalseeddamage. To meet these requirements, a plate cam (disc cam) mechanism was selected due to its simplicity, compact design,andabilitytoproducepreciseandrepeatablemotion.

After selecting the cam type, a suitable follower mechanism,suchasarollerorflat-facedfollower,waschosen to ensure smooth contact and reduce wear. The next step involveddeterminingkeydesignparameters,includingbase circleradius,lift(stroke),andmotiontiming(rise,dwell,and returnperiods).Theseparametersweredefinedbasedonthe displacementrequirementsoftheseedmeteringmechanism. Toachievesmoothmotionandminimizevibration,simple harmonicmotion(SHM)wasselectedasthemotionlaw.The camprofilewasthendevelopedusinggraphicalmethodsby dividing the cam rotation into equal angular intervals and plottingthecorrespondingfollowerdisplacement.Thepoints werejoinedsmoothlytogenerateanaccuratecamprofile. ThedesignedprofilewasmodeledusingCATIAsoftware, wherea2Dsketchwasfirstcreatedandthenconvertedintoa 3D model through extrusion. The finalized model was exportedinSTLformatforfurtherprocessingin3Dprinting.

2.2 Fabrication, Assembly and Testing

ThefabricationofthecamwascarriedoutusingtheFused Deposition Modeling (FDM) process, a widely used 3D printingtechnique.PLA(PolylacticAcid)wasselectedasthe materialduetoitslowcost,easeofprinting,andsufficient strengthforprototypedevelopment.TheSTLfileofthecam wasimportedintoslicingsoftware,whereparameterssuch aslayerheight,printingspeed,temperature,andinfilldensity wereset.Thecamwasthenprintedlayerbylayerusinga3D printer.

International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056

Volume: 13 Issue: 04 | Apr 2026 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

Afterprinting,post-processingoperationssuchasremoval of support material and minor surface finishing were performed to improve dimensional accuracy and surface quality.Thefabricatedcamwasthenmountedonashaftand assembledwiththefollowermechanism.Thisassemblywas integratedintoaseedsowingsetuptoevaluateitsfunctional performance.

The system was tested under working conditions to analyzeparameterssuchassmoothnessofmotion,vibration, noise,andaccuracyofseeddispensing.Thecammechanism successfully converted rotary motion into controlled reciprocating motion, ensuring uniform seed placement. Basedontheobservations,minormodificationsweremade to improve performance. This iterative process helped in optimizingthedesignandachievingreliableoperationofthe system.

3. RESULTS AND APPLICATIONS

3.1 Results

(a) Fabrication Results

i.Accurateshapeobtained

ii.Goodsurfacefinish

iii.Properalignment (b) Functional Performance

i.Smoothfollowermotion

ii.Nojerksobserved

iii.Effectivemotiontransfer

3.1.1 Working Concept

Motor → Cam → Follower → Seed Metering → Seed Placement

3.1.2 Seed Sowing Performance

(a)Uniformseedspacing (b)Controlleddispensing (c)Improvedefficiency

3.1.3-Dimensional Accuracy

3.2 Applications

(a) Agricultural

Seedsowingmachines,Grainsortingsystems (b) Mechanical Systems

Enginevalvemechanisms,Packagingmachines (c) Automation

Conveyorsystems,Indexingmechanisms (d) Educational Labexperiments,Demonstrationmodels

3.2.1 Advantages

i.Lowcost

ii.Lightweight

iii.Easymodification

3.2.2 Limitations

i.LowstrengthofPLA

ii.Wearovertime

iii.Notforheavyloads

International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056

Volume: 13 Issue: 04 | Apr 2026 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056

Volume: 13 Issue: 04 | Apr 2026 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

4.

CONCLUSIONS

The study successfully demonstrates the design and developmentof a plate camusing 3Dprintingtechnology. Thecameffectivelyconvertsrotarymotionintocontrolled intermittentmotionrequiredforseedsowingapplications. The system exhibited smooth operation, accurate seed placement,andgoodfunctionalperformance.

TheuseofPLAmaterialandFDMtechnologyprovedtobe economical and efficient for prototype development. However,limitationsinstrengthandwearresistancerestrict itsusetolight-loadapplications.Overall,theintegrationof cam mechanisms with additive manufacturing offers a promisingapproachforlow-costagriculturalsolutionsand educationalpurposes.

5. REFERENCES

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[9] Brown, R., CAD/CAM Integration with Additive Manufacturing.

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[11] ASTMStandardsforPLAMaterials.

[12] ISOStandardsforMechanicalDesign.

[13] Wong,K.V., Additive Manufacturing Review,2012.

[14] Patil,R., Economical 3D Printer Using FDM,2017.M. Young,TheTechnicalWriter’sHandbook.MillValley, CA:UniversityScience,1989.

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