Terra tractor design optimization of a low cost, low maintenance tractor

M.Tech. (Mechanical Engineering)The dissertation documents the design project of a low cost tractor prototype to be manufactured locally. The design and manufacturing of a South African tractor is part of a larger project namely “Roads for Africa” initiated by the local company Terragrader (Pty) Ltd. The design parameters of the tractor were established based on the power needs of a dirt roads refurbishing machine the “Terragrader” manufactured by the same company. Although the tractor was designed to power the Terragrader machine, it can successfully be used to power different agricultural machines or transport. The designed South African tractor has to be versatile, easy to adapt to different working conditions. The design aim is to produce a tractor able to provide adequate power at a cost of about R500 000, whereas the market offers similar machine at a much higher price starting from about R800 000. The concept of a South African tractor is not new but due to import options, there was never a known / well established South African brand. Due to the shrinkage of the South African mechanical manufacturing industry by nearly 40 % in the last years, a successful tractor design and manufacturing will contribute toward the much needed job creation. Due to its complexity the project is a combination of newly designed parts and outsourced components. The integration of design establishes the layout of the tractor with the aid of virtual 3D solid modeling