Innovation is needed to improve the performance of the arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea L.) grinding machine and arrowroot pulp pressing in the production of arrowroot flour at the An-Nur MSMEs. Until now, arrowroot grinding using a rotary crusher and pressing using a centrifugal separator has not been optimal. The objective of this study is to innovate the rotary crusher machine with a pulper machine, the centrifugal separator with a starch-fiber separator, and to combine these two machines into a single unit. The innovation is aimed at increasing production capacity, pulping efficiency, and the efficiency of fiber and slurry separation in arrowroot pulp. The innovation stages include discussions with partners, designing the machine in accordance with the results of discussions with partners, preparing materials and tools, assembling machine components based on technical drawings, assembling and testing the machine (production capacity, pulping efficiency, and separating efficiency). The machine innovation resulted in the following specifications: the pulper machine uses a 1/2 HP electric motor, a 65 mm pulley diameter, and an ADV 125 V-belt. The starch fiber separator machine uses a 1 HP drive motor, a 200 mm pulley, and an A65 belt. UCP 25 bearings are mounted on a 130×130×8 mm angle iron frame with a low carbon steel cover. Dimensions (Length × Width × Height) = 700×350×1300 mm. This machine has a production capacity of 53.33 kg/hour, an average pulping efficiency of 94.45% and an average fiber separation efficiency of 68%. The machine's performance can increase production capacity by 77.76% compared to the previous machine used by the partner.
Hartati et al. (Wed,) studied this question.