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Post by tony on Aug 4, 2010 10:33:04 GMT -5
Hi All, I'm one of those guys who, at school, was always hoodwinked by the other kids who always said how easy stuff was, when in fact it was difficult. Well now its the other way. Everything that I discover, I will post. Beginning with two things A washing machine motor - did you know it has two (windings) speeds. One for spin (which you wont use), the other for washing, (which is real slow).... well try using a washing machine as the motor for your next grinder. Its great. I went down the reduction gear box route (hellish expensive). Second. Try a wind shield motor for the drum roaster, Its very slow, and has plenty of torque to get the drum turning. [the roaster is going very slow. the guy who's workshop doesnt do a thing without me (and I understand that).... I think he's to scared to botch it up. but I do have a pic of it. tonylange.jalbum.net/Chocolate%20EquipmentMore as I discover more.... Tony ok well I'm making a prototype tempering machine.
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Post by Brad on Aug 4, 2010 15:48:21 GMT -5
Cheers Tony!
Thanks for sharing!
How many RPM is the slow setting on the washing machine motor?
Brad.
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Post by tony on Aug 5, 2010 1:49:48 GMT -5
Hi, Well the grinder speed as I read all over the place should be +- 130 RPM. (my Axel lenght, end to end is 350mm, with 2 sets of 4 granite rollers of 120mm wide / 200mm Diameter, with a granite base, the exact diameter of the bowl (still to be finalized). The speed of the wash machine's slow winding is in the region of 340rpm (16 pole, 40W). So a little adjustment with pulley ratios and you can get the speed down well below that (3:1) will get you to 120+_. Thereafter I'm going for Variable Speed Control. Reason being that I want to be able to start the grind off slowly and gradually increase the speed to a speed I feel comfortable with rater than switch the thing on and go headlong into a reduced 130 RPM (scary stuff, to be sure... you just don't know whats going to happen, especially with home made equipment).... also I just bought a good quality Stainless Steel bowl (450mm Dia) for $160.00. The gear / Pulley will mount on the underside of the bowl, which means that I can ratio from an 86mm to a 400mm pulley. (perfect for what I need). Just as an aside... as far as bowls go, you get Aluminum bowls which cost way less but, I was cautioned, NOT TO GO WITH ALUMINUM. It has a taste and one doesn't want bits of it in the chocolate. not even in microscopic dimensions.
Also, Windscreen wiper motors.... the fact that they work off 12V DC, shouldn't be a problem to anyone as you can buy a battery charger which converts 220vac (in my case) 110vac in US to 12VDC and away you go.... Plenty of torque and its a good strong motor.
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Post by benvt on Aug 9, 2010 11:12:15 GMT -5
Nice job Tony. How are you going about the variable speed control? We're working on the same thing for our Santha 40 with a single phase motor.
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Post by cheebs on Aug 9, 2010 12:14:22 GMT -5
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Post by benvt on Aug 11, 2010 9:51:51 GMT -5
I'm not an expert but I don't think that will work with the types of motors in Santhas. From what I've read you need to control the incoming frequency. The cheapest option for a 1 hp single phase motor I've found is around $500.
The speedster looks like it may work well as a speed controller for the classic winnower design.
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Post by Sebastian on Aug 12, 2010 22:14:53 GMT -5
Out of curiosity, what's the thought behind the benefit to adjusting the grinder speed?
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Post by Alchemist on Aug 19, 2010 8:25:51 GMT -5
I'm not an expert but I don't think that will work with the types of motors in Santhas. From what I've read you need to control the incoming frequency. The cheapest option for a 1 hp single phase motor I've found is around $500. The speedster looks like it may work well as a speed controller for the classic winnower design. From the Speedster documentation: The Melangers use a capacitor run motor. But yes, nice for a brushed fan motor for winnowing.
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Post by tony on Aug 21, 2010 10:44:17 GMT -5
Ok, What I ended up doing was to buy a 3ph motor and a 1:10 ratio worm drive reduction gear box. I figured If Im going to do this stuff, why play with toys. Build the real thing. Now with 1400rpm down to 140, Im set but I still want to get the revs down so Im buying a VSD (variable Speed Drive from www.haydockconverters.co.uk/variablespeeddrives.htm or any number of suppliers. The reason for a VSD is that I still do not want to start at full speed, but I think I said that already. I will post some photos on my facebook page soon for those interested.... Ended up with a 1:100 ratio, Now it rotates at 14RPM.
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Post by tony on Aug 21, 2010 10:49:18 GMT -5
To cheebs
I got a bit concerned with the small motors I was contemplating because of Torque req. I settled on 70nm wich will drive a 30KG / 66 lb load. A killer machine. What the hell, the grinding stones weigh a ton and the base grinder stone, well thats another story. More...
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Post by tony on Aug 21, 2010 10:54:57 GMT -5
To benvt
See the post above, above. Im just going to buid a machine... better than anyone I can buy. and thats about it, so Im not really saving $ because Im in South Africa, when I spend,I just think.... OK So many Rand to US Dollars.... I can afford that.... what the hell, BUY IT. within reason of course. Like I just bought a pot for the grinder at R650.00 which is less like $75.00 and thought, If I lived in the states I guess Id be paying that anyway....
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Post by tony on Dec 9, 2010 0:51:05 GMT -5
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Post by oaxacalote on Dec 10, 2010 16:44:34 GMT -5
These are excellent, Tony. Thanks for sharing. I wish I was close enough to stop by your shop!
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Post by tony on Dec 11, 2010 16:30:46 GMT -5
Oh well. I read somewhere, It may have even been on this forum that one eventually has to decide if one makes chocolate or machinery. Well I guess we know my answer. Actually, not really. I enjoy both but to be perfectly honest, while some get a kick out of pouring chocolate into a mold, frankly I find that part the least challenging and quite boring. I much prefer to focus on process than the act. If you know what I mean. Please don't get me wrong. I'm sure that when we finally get into some serious production there will be challenges a plenty and I'm looking forward to those as well but for now, I'm wrestling with different packaging media. I'm debating and testing the alternatives between heat sealing foil and heat sealing cellophane as opposed to what I see others just wrapping product in foil lined wax paper? This pastime has challenges that should keep me busy for many years to come. My biggest problem being that most things last on average 2 years and once I reach a fair level of competence I tend to move on. T
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