The world population is growing fast and what we all have in common here on earth is that we need food to survive. Väderstad AB develops and manufacture machines that make crop production more efficient for today’s farming. This thesis’ purpose was to improve Väderstad AB’s planter Tempo by developing a floating row cleaner for it. At the time this work took place, row cleaners were bought from external manufacturers. The task was to develop an original design which was supposed to be more efficient and have a lower manufacturing cost than the purchase price for the existing product. To make sure that no solutions to the problem were lost, a systematic concept development method were used throughout the project. The achieved results were complete CAD models of the row cleaner’s design. The design was built up by two discs in V-formation suspended by a parallel linkage. The parallel linkage had an adjustable spring load. Furthermore, prototypes of the discs for the developed row cleaner was manufactured and tested in the field. Good results were achieved and the shape of the discs could be considered ready for production. It turned out that it was possible to develop a row cleaner that can handle most conditions. The proportion of standard components and already existing components at the company that were used in the final design was 67,4 percent. The price of the row cleaner was estimated to 86 percent of the fixed bought one. The alternative solutions that was investigated is also presented in the rapport. Since the project took place during a limited time some parts of the development process were not included. For example, no strength calculations were done, and no drawings were made. Recommendations and material for continued work on the design was handed over to Väderstad AB.

This master thesis was conducted during the spring of 2024 at Väderstad AB. Väderstad manufactures agricultural machines, including two types of seed drills used to plant seeds: conventional seed drills and precision planters. The primary difference lies in the seed dispensing unit, which distributes the seeds from storage before planting. Conventional seed drills utilize randomness to distribute seeds, while precision planters use a complex unit that dispenses seeds one by one. The precision seed dispensing unit comes at a higher cost and requires more space, resulting in wider row spacing compared to conventionalseed drills. A low row distance is desired to maximize crop yield. This master thesis aims to develop a seed dispensing unit which can be used for a new type of seed drill. The seed dispensing unit intends to be smaller and less costly than the ones for precision planters, while achieving a better seed distribution than the conventional seed drills. The product development was carried out through a tailored process for this project, incorporating methods such as Blackbox, Brainwriting, and Pugh’s concept selection matrix. The process generated three concepts which were modeled in CAD and printed using a 3D printer. The models underwent functional assessment and seeding capacity testing, followed by redesign, reprinting, and testing in an iterative process. The master thesis resulted in two concepts which were presented for Väderstad. The first prototype consisted of a wheel with indentations. As the wheel rotated, the indentations picked up seeds and then released them into an airflow-assisted seed transport which sent the seeds into the ground. The second prototype featured a vertical screw that rotated upwards, distributing seeds evenly against the wall. This prototype also used an airflow-assisted seed transport. Presently, Väderstad has submitted a patent application for the screw concept and will continue its development within the company. / Detta examensarbete utfördes under våren 2024 hos Väderstad AB. På Väderstadtillverkas två typer av såmaskiner som används till fröplantering: konventionella såmaskiner samt precisionssåmaskiner. Den primära skillnaden mellan såmaskinerna är fröutmatningsenheten som används till fördelning av utsäde från sålådan innan plantering. I konventionella såmaskiner används slumpen till fördelningen, medan i precisionssåmaskiner används en komplex enhet där fröna matas ut ett i taget. Precisionssåmaskinens fröutmatningsenhet är dyrare samt större. Dess storlek begränsar avståndet mellan raderna där fröna planteras. Således blir radavståndet för precisionssåmaskinen större än för konventionella såmaskinen. Egentligen eftersträvas låga radavstånd för maximal avkastning på skörden. Examensarbetet syftades till att utveckla en fröutmatningsenhet som kan användas i en ny typ av såmaskin. Fröutmatningsenheten ämnades att vara mindre och billigare än den i precisionssåmaskinen, samtidigt som den uppnår en bättre fröfördelning än den konventionella såmaskinen. Produktutvecklingsmetoden anpassades efter projektet, den använde metoder som Blackbox, Brainwriting och Pughs konceptvalsmatris. Processen genererade tre koncept som modellerades i CAD och skrevs ut med en 3D-skrivare. Modellerna genomgick funktionellbedömning och testning av utmatningskapacitet, följt av omkonstruktion, ny 3D-utskrift och testning i en iterativ process. Utifrån produktutvecklingsprocessen genererades två koncept med prototyper. Den förstaprototypen bestod av ett hjul med fack. När hjulet roteras förbi fröbehållaren fångasutsädet i facken. Därefter släpps utsädet i en luftassisterad frötransport som transporterardet till marken. Den andra prototypen bestod av vertikal skruv som drivs uppåt. Utsädettrycks då ut mot skruvens vägg vilket gör att det fördelas jämnt. När fröna matas ut ur skruven plockas de upp av en luftassisterad frötransport som för dem till marken. Idag har Väderstad patentansökt den sistnämnda idéen och kommer fortsätta utveckla den inomföretaget.