Edit: Finally got around to posting the final thing! (=
(pics and video here)
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So... I've decided to make my gf a taffy puller for Christmas. (And yes, she will actually use it.)
Like this (sorta):
Any suggestions/advice/heckling would be very appreciated. In fact, the best comment gets some free taffy (yeah, I'll mail it to you).
I spec'd it out (see below) and ended up with a cost around $150 not including the motor. It will be driven by a Kitchenaid mixer, which I really like because Kitchenaid puts these great accessory ports on their mixers. The whole puller will essentially be a big Kitchenaid accessory, which saves a good chunk of change in not having to buy another motor. (Plus, if the puller sucks, at least the Kitchenaid will make a great gift.)
After a bit of searching, I actually found plans for a taffy puller online. There's even a video of it in action. It looks like this:
I'm basing mine off of that, but instead of 2 gearmotors I'm using the Kitchenaid mixer, and instead of the v-belts I'm going to use sprockets and chains. Seems odd to use separate drive systems when timing is important. Because the arms need to rotate in different directions, I'm going to have to have one of the chains run in a figure-eight. Chain seemed better than a v-belt for this, but maybe I'm just making that up. (I played around with an old chain and some sprockets and this seems feasible. The chain does rub on itself, but as long as the sprockets weren't too close together, binding and misalignment seemed to be a non-issue. [Edit: the figure-eight idea got replaced by a more intellegent chain path]) Also, i think copper + food = bad, so I'm using aluminum for the arms. [Edit: I guess copper's not so bad] [Edit: Going to use stainless steel for the arms, not aluminum]
I really don't have much experience building stuff, so I'm posting this here so you can rip it apart and tell me what I should do differently in case there's a better way to go at this. I should probably also add that while not being overly experienced myself, I know a number of people who have welders, work in machine shops, etc. I'd rather not bother them with building it for me if I can help it, but if I get in a jam I'll have help.
Here's my attempt at pricing everything out:
....Motor: Kitchenaid Mixer
........($0.00 - I bought one off of Craigslist for this, but I'm not counting it as cost since it's a useful thing to have)
........Has a port for hooking up accessories. The port is about 1 inch in diameter and terminates at a 1/2" square female fitting.
....Moving Arms: 2x 1.5' 1/2" dia. Anodized Aluminum rod, bent to shape
........(2x $13.25 McMaster.com, part 6750K163, 3ft ea.)
........Would be nice if they were removable for cleaning in a dishwasher
........I don't know how to bend these yet, but pipe and fittings is a lot more expensive
....Stationary Arm: 1/2" Aluminum rod, bent to shape
........($13.25 McMaster.com, part 6750K163, 3ft)
....Frame: Wood
........($10 Home Depot)
....Cover: 18"x24"x.093" Acrylic Sheet
........($6.77 HomeDepot.com, part 453217)
....Bearings: 4x 1/2" dia. pillow block bearings and 2x 3/4" pillow block bearings
........(4x $2.92 McMaster.com, part 3813T2)
........(2x $5.23 McMaster.com, part 3813T13)
....Shafts: 12" 3/4" dia. aluminum rod
........($13.21 McMaster.com, part 6750K18)
........The 3/4" shaft will have to be machined to fit the 1/2" square fitting on the Kitchenaid port.
........The arms will be their own shafts and are listed above
....Sprockets: ANSI #40, 2x 15 Tooth 1/2" bore w/set screws; 1x 9 Tooth 3/4" bore w/set screws; 1x 17 Tooth 3/4" bore idler
........(2x $11.72 McMaster.com, part 6280K691)
........(1x $8.32 McMaster.com, part 6280K631)
........(1x $9.95 McMaster.com, part 6280K631)
........Could probably save some money here by getting unfinished sprockets, or even using old bike sprockets...
....Chain: ANSI #40
........($6.14 McMaster.com, part 6261K444, 2ft)
........I think bicycle chain is ANSI 40. This stuff is wider tho.
....Total Price:
........(13.25 * 3) + 10.00 + 6.77 + (4 * 2.92) + (2 * 5.23) + 13.21 + (2 * 11.72) + (2 * 8.32) + 6.14 = $139.72
........plus tax, shipping, misc hardware, beer for helpful people
It seems like I ought to be able to find a lot of these things just sitting around, but since no one item is really driving the cost (maybe the sprockets), I may end up just having to pay up and be done with it. It'd be cool to do it for less than $100 though. Suggestions?
In-progress pictures to come...
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