Title

Design, Construction and Testing of a Walnut Cracker

Author(s) Information

Michael Dasso, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis ObispoFollow

College - Author 1

College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences

Department - Author 1

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering Department

Degree Name - Author 1

BS in BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Date

6-2012

Primary Advisor

Andrew Holtz

Abstract/Summary

This senior project involves the design, construction and testing of a walnut cracker for Beecher Lane Walnut of Stockton California. This prototype cracker is one piece of a walnut processing system to package walnuts. Beecher Lane Walnut currently utilizes a conical cracker design whereas this new design entails a twin barrel configuration.

The goal of this project was to design, construct and test a prototype walnut cracker that would help determine the variables necessary to yield the highest percentage of walnut halves.

The testing of this walnut cracker involved two varieties: Eureka and Chandler. Testing indicated the optimal output of walnut halves for the Eureka variety was with the parameters of 15^o and a speed of 200 rpm. The higher of the two produced 30.4% halves out of a 100 walnut sample run. The data from the Chandler testing proved to be somewhat inconclusive: however, further testing may be done to fine tune the specified variable surrounding the highest yielding combination.

URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/braesp/37