Soil tillage is a very energy-intensive operation. A general expectation is to reduce energy consumption and reduce soil compaction with as few turns and interventions as possible. Thus, more and more attention is being paid to the use of active tillage machines. The aim of the present work is to test a new approach to optimize PTO-driven tilling machine operations regarding energy consumption. A real, active tillage machine, the MSS-140 type spading machine, was investigated in the Matlab^® Simscape™ environment. The solid model of the spading machine was built using actual dimensions. The work done by a single spade is broken down into elementary processes. The acting forces on the implement, in each elementary process for different advancing speeds, were modelled and calculated. The model is suitable for illustrating the dynamics of loads and for calculating the mechanical work. The model was also tested in comparison with real fuel consumption. The consumed fuel quantity was measured and the energy requirement for the model calculated at three advancing speeds. A comparison between the measured and calculated energy consumption values was made: the calculated results are similar to the measured values; the mean difference is 9.91%, with a standard deviation 3.3%.

The paper introduces the use of a novel drive module with one translational and one rotational degree of freedom. The mechanism of the presented system has a timing belt setup, which enables a parallel drive of two DOF. Based on this mechanism the possibilities to build a low (2, 3 and 4) DOF manipulator are systematic presented, followed by the mathematical models for the geometry and kinematics. The advantages of the new mechanisms are underlined by presenting numerical results

The aim of the paper is to present an evaluation of a new mixed CAD modeling method, capable to universally build surfaces and solid models of gears. The proposed CAD solution builds gear models, primary not for a visual simulation of the gearing processes, but for complex gearing- and FEA studies in virtual environment. Localization of the contact paths of gear pairs, virtual kinematic evaluations, rapid verification of newly developed gear types and FEA analysis requires satisfactorily precise surface and solid models. The known NURBS modeling methods are mainly based on the analytical equations of the flanks of the teeth surfaces. The bottom and tip surfaces of the teeth, are very important in meshing and FEA studies, and generally cannot be built from the meshing equations. As the new mixed modeling method proposes a simplified and quick CAD modeling procedure, with flexible modeling options like rapid tool profile modifications, an evaluation of the obtained models must be made, from both: generating time and precision point of view. For this purpose, a model of a spur cylindrical gear (generated by a convolute helical hob) is built using the Solid Boolean Subtraction method and is compared with the gear generating process using a new mixed CAD method

The Mixed CAD Generating Method, developed by the first author and presented in previous papers, is able to generate gear teeth gaps from a special points cloud. The generation method requires only a few specific points from the cutting edges of the generating tools. These points can be obtained in a first approach through a simple drawing of the cutting edges. The drawings can use either mathematical equations, or simply the construction and design principles of the cutting tools. In the case of multi-edge cutting tools of a higher level of complexity, or in case of the absence of the edge equations, there exists a simpler approach. It consists in building a solid model, or obtaining the solid model of the tools from the tool’s designer or manufacturer. In these cases, the generating points are downloaded from the solid model. This paper presents two possibilities of obtaining these points with usual CAD methods.