*Article* **Parameter Optimization of Reciprocating Cutter for Chinese Little Greens Based on Finite Element Simulation and Experiment**

**Wei Wang 1, Xiaolan Lv 2,3 and Zhongyi Yi 2,3,\***


**Abstract:** Optimizing the working performance of the cutting device for harvesting Chinese little greens is crucial to reducing energy consumption in cutting and improving cutting quality. To explore the mechanical characteristics of leafy vegetables in cutting, the dynamic process of cutting Chinese little greens with a cutter was simulated numerically by using the finite element method based on theoretical analysis. In the numerical simulation, the response-surface methodology (RSM) and central composite rotatable design (CCD) were used to describe the influence rule of sliding–cutting angle (*X*1), oblique angle (*X*2), and the average cutting speed (*X*3) on cutting stress. Then, the stress distribution pattern produced by the cutting blade and the stalks were evaluated by using different working parameters. Subsequently, taking the minimum cutting stress as the target value, the best combination of cutter structure and working parameters were obtained: the sliding–cutting angle was 29◦, the oblique angle was 38◦, and the average cutting speed was 500 mm/s. At the condition of optimal parameter combinations, the ultimate cutting stress of the upper cutting blade was 0.95 Mpa and that of the bottom cutting blade was 0.77 Mpa. A cutting test was carried out by using a bench test of the cutting performance, and the mechanical properties of cutting at different cutting speeds were studied. Test results showed that at the optimal cutting speed of 500 mm/s, the cutting stress on the cutter was relatively small and the cutting effect reached the best value. The finite element simulation of cutting the little greens reduced the test cost and provided a reference for the development of a cutting device with low power consumption.

**Keywords:** cutting system; numerical simulation; response-surface methodology; parameter optimization; mechanical properties
