<![CDATA[Plastic mulch is widely used in horticulture to improve soil moisture retention, regulate temperature, and suppress weed growth. However, manual cutting and hole-punching processes are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and produce inconsistent results. This study presents the design and performance analysis of an automatic plastic mulch cutting and punching machine using a PID (Proportional–Integral–Derivative) control system. The system is based on an Arduino Nano. It integrates a DC motor for mulch feeding, a NEMA 17 stepper motor for the punching mechanism, a heater band controlled by an AC dimmer, and a photoelectric sensor for length feedback. PID parameters were initially determined using the Ziegler–Nichols method (Kp=13.5, Ki=2.8, Kd=7.1) and optimized experimentally to Kp=10, Ki=2, and Kd=1. Experimental results show that the optimized PID controller achieves a stable motor response with no oscillation and minimal overshoot, enabling accurate stopping at the desired set point. The system produces a consistent hole spacing of approximately 43.96 cm. Minor deviations were caused by sensor noise and environmental interference.]]>
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