Manual Width and Thickness Sizer for Bamboo

Abstract

This paper presents the innovative design of a table tool for the purpose of width and thickness sizing of bamboo stripes. The bamboo cutting tool has been designed keeping in mind the rural craftsmen of Northeast India, whose livelihood involves wide use of bamboo, as a construction material in ethnic furniture, handicrafts, products, artifacts, etc. The replacement of traditional bamboo tool in the context was based on the premise of physiological discomfort and difficulty in precision faced by these craftsmen during the bamboo cutting and crafting process. The study of ergonomic interventions with respect to enhancing tool uses comfort over prolonged work duration, to incorporate innovative elements in the new bamboo cutting and trimming tools. The tool was tested and the new bamboo cutting tool design, as a working prototype, in comparison to the existing equipment, to evaluate how the tool prioritizes the physical health of the craftsmen, besides enhancing the quality and productivity of bamboo material craftsmanship.