In modern food processing industries, automation plays a vital role in ensuring consistency, hygiene, and production efficiency. Manual filling processes are not only time-consuming but also prone to inconsistencies and human error. To address these challenges, Arduino Expert developed a fully automated Meat Filling Machine Control System powered by an Arduino-based embedded platform. This system is designed for food processing automation, specifically for applications like meat or sausage filling machines, where precision, repeatability, and safety are critical.
At ArduinoExpert, we specialize in Product Design and Development, Industrial Project Development. This project is a perfect example of our expertise in Industrial Embedded Systems Development and Custom Electronics Product Development, where mechanical systems are intelligently controlled using real-time firmware and sensor feedback.
The system integrates:
- Dual stepper motors for precise rotational control
- Linear actuators for pressing and filling operations
- A Nextion touchscreen display for user interaction
- Magnetic limit switch for homing accuracy
- Emergency stop system for safety
All operations are synchronized through a carefully designed embedded program that ensures smooth, repeatable, and reliable machine performance.
Project Overview Automated Meat Filling Machine
This project implements a fully automated industrial filling machine where multiple mechanical operations are coordinated in a predefined sequence:
- Homing of stepper motor for accurate positioning
- Controlled rotational movement using stepper motors
- Linear actuator-based pressing and filling
- Multi-cycle operation based on user input
- Final closing operation
The system demonstrates real-world industrial automation logic, combining motion control, HMI interaction, and safety mechanisms.
Checkout Our Similar Industrial Project: Automated Conveyor Control and Inspection System
Components Used in Automated Meat Filling Machine
Microcontroller
- Arduino Mega (Serial2 required for Nextion)
Motion Control
- 2 × Stepper Motors
- 2 × Stepper Drivers (A4988 / DRV8825)
Linear Motion
- 2 × Linear Actuators
- L298N Motor Driver
Sensors & Safety
- Magnetic Limit Switch
- Emergency Stop Button
Interface
- Nextion Touchscreen Display (2.4”)
Power
- External 12V/24V power supply
Working Principle of Industrial Sausage Filling Machine
1. Touchscreen-Based Operation (HMI Control)
- Operator selects number of cycles via Nextion display
- Commands are sent to Arduino via Serial2 communication
- System waits for start command
This enhances usability and reduces operator complexity.
2. Stepper Motor Homing (Precision Initialization)
- Magnetic limit switch ensures reference position
- Stepper motor moves until switch is triggered
- System establishes a known starting point
This is critical for maintaining accuracy in every cycle.
3. Multi-Stage Filling Process
The machine performs the following sequence:
Step 1: Initial Movement
- Stepper motor rotates to defined angle
- Actuator performs initial press/fill action
Step 2: Repeated Cycles
- Stepper motors rotate in controlled steps
- Linear actuators extend and retract
- Filling process repeats based on selected count
Step 3: Final Operation
- Final actuator movement for closing/sealing
- System completes cycle and resets
4. Linear Actuator Control
- Controlled using L298N H-Bridge Driver
- Enables:
- Extension (forward motion)
- Retraction (reverse motion)
This simulates real industrial pressing and filling operations.
5. Emergency Stop Safety System
- Dedicated push button connected via hardware interrupt
- Immediately stops all motors and actuators
- Ensures operator safety
This is a critical part of our Industrial Safety-Oriented Embedded Design.
Embedded Systems Design Highlights
This project demonstrates:
- Real-time motion control
- Multi-actuator synchronization
- Interrupt-based safety handling
- HMI-based control interface
- Modular firmware architecture
At ArduinoExpert, we design scalable embedded systems for industrial use.
Circuit Diagram & Connections for Meat filling Machine
The system integrates multiple subsystems:
- Stepper motors controlled via STEP/DIR pins
- Limit switch for homing detection
- Actuators controlled via H-Bridge
- Touchscreen via UART communication
- Emergency stop via interrupt pin
This showcases our expertise in hardware-software co-design.
Arduino Code for Automatic Filling Machine
// Define the stepper motors and their pins
#define STEPPER1_STEP_PIN 3
#define STEPPER1_DIR_PIN 4
#define STEPPER2_STEP_PIN 5
#define STEPPER2_DIR_PIN 6
// Define the magnetic switch pin
#define MAGNETIC_SWITCH_PIN 7
// Define the linear actuators' pins (using L298N driver)
#define LINEAR_ACTUATOR1_IN1 8
#define LINEAR_ACTUATOR1_IN2 9
#define LINEAR_ACTUATOR2_IN1 10
#define LINEAR_ACTUATOR2_IN2 11
const int buttonPin = 2; // Pin number for the button
// Define the number of repetitions
int numRepetitions = 50;
// Define the delay time in milliseconds for extending the linear actuators
int actuatorDelay = 5000; // Adjust this variable as needed
// Define the delay time in milliseconds for the waiting period before closing the linear actuators
int waitBeforeClosing = 10000; // Adjust this variable as needed
bool START = false, printing = false;Applications of Smart Food Processing and Filling Machine
This system is ideal for:
- Meat & sausage filling machines
- Food processing automation
- Industrial packaging systems
- Repetitive motion machinery
- Custom manufacturing equipment
For Automatic Powder Dosing Machine Checkout our this Project “Smart Powder Dosing and Solution Mixing System using M-DUINO 21 Plus PLC“
Conclusion
The Automated Meat Filling Machine using Arduino is a powerful example of how embedded systems can transform traditional industrial processes into efficient, reliable, and scalable Automation Solutions.
If you are looking to automate your industrial process or develop a custom machine please contact us.
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