Additively manufactured metal tools for the next step in sustainable tillage

Important results from the project

The fundamental problem that the project focuses on is that the wear of soil preparation tools hinders efficient and sustainable agriculture. These are initially given an efficient geometry, but wear changes their shape and size, which alters soil flows, reduces the efficiency of soil and organic matter decomposition and increases operating costs. The project has resulted in 2 test methods to increase the understanding of wear and new wear-resistant tool materials produced with AM technology.

Expected long term effects

Improved knowledge of what determines the wear rate in different soils with different rock content and moisture levels, is expected to enable improvements and adaptations of both the shape and material of the tools, especially if they are produced using AM techniques. Slower wear results in more efficient soil processing (tillage), with lower fuel consumption, and higher crop yields. In addition, less steel is lost as wear particles to the fields, which is impossible to recycle.

Approach and implementation

The project was carried out as a collaboration between three partners; Uppsala University´s tribology group, experts in abrasion and wear-resistant materials, VBN Components, a leading company in AM for hard, wear-resistant steels, and Väderstad Components, a leading manufacturer of wear parts for soil tillage machines, such as cultivators. All three with a deep interest in contributing to reducing abrasion, through material development, tool manufacturing, advanced testing and wear analysis.