MIE.41 – John Deere – Large Planter Row Spacing

• Liam Davis
• Mark Gardocki
• German Moreno
• Pratik Nangare
• Jil Patel
• Muhammad Raja

John Deere – Seeding Moline has had issues with consistently and accurately spacing Row Units on their large Planters to the proper customer specifications. The customer requirements are dependent on machine configuration, customer field conditions and seed type. Improper spacing of row units results in either internal cost of repairs within the factory, or downtime for the customer as they wait to have their planter fixed at a local dealer. Designing a solution that provides consistently accurate row spacing would drive significant cost savings and an increase in customer satisfaction. The current process used on the assembly line for spacing the row units involves stamping the bare frame with a large gauge that is hammered to create indentations at the proper spacing. This process is not only dangerous to the operator, but also inaccurate. The indentations that result from this process are shallow, and often get filled with paint after the frame is painted. To overcome this problem, the team conducted market research by attending the 12th annual ASSEMBLY Show in Rosemont, IL. The team also conducted research on current manufacturing methods. As a result of the market research, a technological solution as well as two mechanical solutions were proposed. From a mechanical approach, a hoist bracket gauge and W-Bracket Design Change help increase the accuracy of row spacing during assembly or by changing the frame design, respectively. The Wide Area CMM (Coordinate Measuring Machine) is an advanced technology, resulting in increased accuracy and accountability. Keyence, a vendor specializing in vision systems, performed a live demonstration of using the CMM technology on the large planter to ensure that the product capabilities met the application. An ANSYS simulation was run on the W-Bracket Design Change to validate its safety. The proposed solutions were compared using QFMEA, PFMEA, safety and cost scoring to determine the benefits of choosing each idea individually. The team collaborated with experienced Quality Engineers at John Deere to accurately score each of the proposed solutions. Each proposed solution can solve the problem that John Deere is facing on its assembly line. The method that each solution uses is unique, and the scoring for the solution reflects the advantages and disadvantages of choosing one over the other. John Deere required the team to propose multiple solutions with their scoring to their leadership team. At the conclusion of the project, the lead Engineers and corporate advisors at the Seeding Moline factory location will decide upon which solution(s) they choose to pursue based on their current business needs.