Optimizing Vibratory Sorting Machine of Crickets: Effects of Surface Friction, Oscillation Dynamics, and Energy Consumption
by
Arthit Duangchanchote
1, 
Sarawut Saenkham
1,
Siripuk Suraporn
2,
Ahmad Zainuddin
3 and
Sopa Cansee
1,*
1
Faculty of Engineering, MahaSarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44150, Thailand
2
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44150, Thailand
3
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jember, Jember Regency 68121, East Java, Indonesia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Insects 2026, 17(3), 252; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17030252
Submission received: 23 January 2026
/
Revised: 19 February 2026
/
Accepted: 24 February 2026
/
Published: 27 February 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Science of Insect Rearing Dynamics: Discovery-Based Inquiry)
Simple Summary
Cricket farmers usually sort crickets by hand, which is slow and inconsistent. This study developed a vibratory sorting machine to automatically separate crickets by size. We first measured how crickets of different sizes interact with surfaces of varying roughness, then tested the machine under different vibration speeds, tray angles, and surface textures. The optimal combination—350 rpm, a 2° tray angle, and medium roughness—achieved 95% accuracy and high throughput while using low energy. The results show that this system can significantly reduce labor and improve efficiency in commercial cricket farming.
Abstract
This study presents a two-stage, mechanics-based method for optimizing vibratory sorting machine of adult crickets for post-harvest size grading. In the first stage, the static coefficient of friction (COF) was measured for three cricket size classes across seven tray surface conditions to quantify cricket–substrate interactions relevant to vibratory transport. COF varied significantly with both morphology and surface microtexture (p < 0.0001), with intermediate roughness levels generating higher friction than smooth or highly rough surfaces. In the second stage, a factorial experiment evaluated the effects of oscillating speed (300–350 rpm), tray inclination (2°–3°), and surface roughness (G0–G5) on sorting efficiency, throughput, batch sorting time, and specific energy consumption (SEC). All main factors and most interactions significantly influenced sorting performance (p < 0.0001). The optimal operating condition—350 rpm, 2° inclination, and G2 roughness—achieved 95% sorting accuracy, 39 crickets·min−1 throughput, and the lowest SEC (0.37 Wh·cricket−1). The results demonstrate that friction–vibration coupling governs cricket transport on vibrating surfaces and provide an engineering framework for designing scalable, energy-efficient sorting systems for insect rearing and processing.
