Design and Development of a Manual Potato Slicer Prototype Based on the Concept of Uniform Circular Motion

Abstract

The potato slicing process is a critical stage in potato chip production because slice uniformity significantly influences frying efficiency and product quality. However, conventional manual slicing methods remain widely used by small-scale food producers, resulting in inconsistent slice thickness, low productivity, and increased physical effort. This study aimed to design, fabricate, and evaluate a manually operated potato slicer prototype based on the principle of uniform circular motion. The prototype was developed using an engineering design approach involving conceptual design, fabrication, assembly, and functional performance testing. The prototype consists of a supporting frame, potato holder, rotating shaft, circular disc, stainless-steel blades, protective cover, bicycle hub, clamp, and manual crank mechanism. Performance evaluation was conducted by testing three blade-position configurations, namely close, medium, and wide, to produce different slice thicknesses. The results demonstrated that the prototype operated effectively under all testing conditions, producing stable rotational motion and continuous slicing without the need for electrical power. Each blade configuration successfully generated thin, medium, and thick potato slices while maintaining consistent operational performance and rotational stability. The multi-blade rotating disc increased slicing continuity and improved processing efficiency compared with conventional manual cutting. Furthermore, the prototype illustrates the practical application of fundamental physics concepts, including torque, angular velocity, rotational motion, and mechanical energy transfer, making it suitable not only for small-scale food processing but also as a contextual learning medium in physics education. Overall, the developed prototype provides a simple, low-cost, and environmentally friendly alternative for manual potato slicing while demonstrating the practical implementation of uniform circular motion in engineering design. Future studies are recommended to improve ergonomic aspects, optimize blade adjustment mechanisms, and evaluate quantitative performance parameters under various operating conditions.