# Low-cost oscillating sieving shaker machine for granulometry analysis in food science

## TL;DR

A low-cost, open-source oscillating sieving shaker was developed for food powder analysis, offering a cost-effective alternative to expensive commercial devices.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is a low-cost, open-source oscillating sieving shaker with validated performance for food granulometry.

## Key findings

- The device achieved accurate and reproducible particle size distributions for food materials like soy lecithin and potato starch.
- The fabrication cost was USD 143.78, significantly lower than commercial alternatives costing USD 2,800–3,700.
- Thermal stability was confirmed with maximum temperatures below the glass-transition limits of PLA and PETG.

## Abstract

This article presents the design, fabrication, and validation of a low-cost oscillating sieving shaker machine developed for laboratory-scale granulometric analysis of powdered and solid food materials. The system integrates 3D-printed PLA components, an aluminum modular frame, and a dual gear-motor mechanism that generates controlled oscillatory motion for particle size classification. Designed under open-source and affordability principles, the device was constructed using locally available materials and standard FDM-printing parameters. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of critical components printed in PLA, PETG, and ABS confirmed safe elastic behavior under a representative 5 kg load, with stresses below 21 MPa and displacements under 1.7mm. A thermal-impact study established a linear correlation between load, motor current, and temperature (R2 ≈ 0.99), with a maximum temperature of 28.8 °C—well below the glass-transition limits of PLA and PETG—ensuring thermally stable operation. Performance tests performed according to ASTM C136/C136M-19 on soy lecithin, potato starch, and ascorbic acid confirmed accurate and reproducible particle-size distributions consistent with literature values. The total fabrication cost of USD 143.78 represents a significant reduction compared to commercial shakers (USD 2,800–3,700). This work validates an open-source, cost-effective, and reproducible device suitable for educational and research laboratories requiring reliable granulometric control in food powder analysis.