Summary of CUPCAKE MACHINE MAKES TASTY, IF WEIRD, CREATIONS
This article describes a DIY robotic cupcake machine built by Skyentific. The device automates the baking process using stepper motors to move a carriage holding a patty pan. It fills the pan with dough via a modified electric caulking gun, cooks it in a custom microwave chamber, and applies toppings using two additional caulking guns. An Arduino controls the entire operation alongside stepper drivers, limit switches, and relays. While the resulting cupcakes are not aesthetically perfect, they are edible.
Parts used in the Robotic Cupcake Machine:
- Stepper motors
- Carriage
- Regulation-sized patty pan
- Tube for dough
- Modified electric caulking gun (for dough)
- Custom microwave chamber
- Two additional caulking guns (for toppings)
- Arduino controller
- Stepper drivers
- Limit switches
- Bank of relays
Baking cupcakes is a fun pastime, and one which we imagine many people took up in this year of quarantine and lockdown. However, anything a human can do, a machine can certainly make an attempt at, as [Skyentific] shows with this roboticized cupcake machine.
The build will be familiar to anyone who has worked with 3D printers or DIY CNC machines before. A series of stepper motors move a carriage carrying a regulation-sized patty pan. This is filled with dough from a tube, squirted out by a modified electric caulking gun. The carriage then transports it to a small microwave chamber of custom construction. After a minute or so of cooking, it’s then removed, and topping is applied from a further two caulking guns. An Arduino is in charge of the operation, running the show with some stepper drivers, limit switches, and a bank of relays.
The final product isn’t the prettiest cupcake we’ve ever seen, but it’s perfectly edible. We can imagine with some small modifications the device could probably cook batches of four at a time without too much trouble. We’ve seen other baking robots before, too. Video after the break.
Source: CUPCAKE MACHINE MAKES TASTY, IF WEIRD, CREATIONS
- How does the machine fill the patty pan?
The carriage carrying the patty pan is filled with dough from a tube squirted out by a modified electric caulking gun. - What controls the operation of the robot?
An Arduino runs the show, managing the stepper motors and other components. - How long does it take to cook the cupcakes?
The machine cooks the cupcakes in a custom microwave chamber for about a minute or so. - Can the machine apply toppings automatically?
Yes, after cooking, toppings are applied from two further caulking guns. - What components are used to control the motors?
The system uses stepper drivers, limit switches, and a bank of relays connected to the Arduino. - Is the final product visually appealing?
The final product is described as not being the prettiest cupcake ever seen. - Are the cupcakes produced by the machine edible?
Yes, the final product is perfectly edible despite its appearance. - Could the machine be modified to bake more than one cupcake at a time?
With small modifications, the device could probably cook batches of four at a time.
