Project Update for Week of 20SEP2023
For the production of chocolate bars in an assembly procedure the chocolate would need to be able to be processes despite periods of inactivity. Due to this, the production line would need to have a heated line that wouldn’t burn or otherwise compromise the texture of the material from the start to end of the line. With this in mind, the majority of the project would rely on a thermal tank of boiling or semi-boiling water to heat the material without burning. This requires the chocolate bowl (tank) to be within a water tank that would allow for a safe and presentable process for melting and moving the chocolate to the extruding end for mold filling.
This means that a thermally conductive bowl will need to be suspended in a tank of boiling water that wouldn’t allow the water to contaminate the chocolate and cause “chunking” within the system. Allowing the chocolate to be heated enough for movement through a tube within the boiling tank so the motor or pulling mechanism can have the liquid chocolate reach the mold upon being extruded.
This in turn presents an issue with repeated use as the method of extrusion will not be within the boiling tank and present a solidifying risk for subsequent use. This is turn requires the parts outside the extruding tank to be either heated in an alternate way or be cleaned and cleared after use to avoid blockages within the transportation tubing.
With the chocolate being extruded to the molds this presents a solution to “automatically” clearly the tubing in the sense of stopping the addition of chocolate material to be added and continuing operation to process any excess chocolate from the line. Further testing would be required to test the validity of this solution.
Design sketches to follow. This worklog post serves to provide work on functional goals 1, 3-8.
Project Update for Week of 27SEP2023
This update was delayed in being upload due to being sick, but the work to accomplish it was preformed on the week of 27SEP2023.
Below is the early design sketches of the proposed methods and parts required to assemble a functional Chocolate Assembly Line.
This worklog post serves to provide work on functional goals 1 and 4.
Project Update for Week of 04OCT2023
Through the week of 04OCT2023 research was conducted to find possible materials for fulfilling the roles of the designated project parts and for what type of chocolate material would be processed for best resulted. In doing this several parts were identified as good candidates for purchase.
The first is the primary chocolate material for melting and processing as Almond Bark, Chocolate Identified in link #1. It’s smooth consistency when melted with it’s rich chocolate flavor makes it ideal for processing and testing.
Next, several tanks were identified as capable of handling boiling water and the heating element while ensuring minimal chocolate and water cross contamination. The team greatly preferred the tank in Link #2 for it’s capability of multiple tanks for different substances and boiling locations. However, the tank in Link #3 has a larger capacity for more processing or acceptance of larger heating elements and thus remains as an alternative.
Link #1:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Great-Value-Chocolate-Flavored-Candy-Coating-Almond-Bark-24-oz/560189292?from=/search
Link #2:
https://www.amazon.com/Marinecolor%C2%AE-Acryli-Liquid-Storage-Working/dp/B010F5V0QC/ref=asc_df_B010F5V0QC/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198075118929&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13177017739382317308&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9017742&hvtargid=pla-337593548070&psc=1
Link #3:
https://www.amazon.com/Lifegard-Aquatics-Gallon-Rimless-Aquarium/dp/B09SP3XWF6/ref=asc_df_B09QY3MNXS/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=563727907379&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13177017739382317308&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9017742&hvtargid=pla-1640041266958&th=1
This worklog post serves to provide work on functional goals 1, 3, 6, and 9.
Project Update for Week of 30OCT2023
Over the past few weeks since my last update I have been in the hospital and then recovery from said trip to the hospital as a reason for a lack of previous entries into the worklog journal. As it stands I am still on a lower duty than I normally am, but can still contribute to the project going forward.
The slides that I made for the CDR were passed onto my teammates and after their contributions and updates were presented this week. From what I have heard the presentation went well and the content was appropriate for the slides and project for a successful CDR presentation.
Parts for the initial prototype were put on order while I was in the hospital and several have already arrived. Assembly of the initial prototype should wrap up by next week to allow for testing and processing of material in order to field test issues with the system.
Updates to resume and follow as normal.
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