Re: Mix: open-source repairable blender | Hacker News Reader

Re: Mix: open-source repairable blender

github.com

41 pointsrishikeshs20 comments

While I'm not going to build this thing I will have a go at making a new base for one of the broken-down Kenwood blenders we have here. All of them - different types - break down more or less in the same location and way: some flimsy plastic bit somewhere on the plastic base which connects the glass jug to the motor base. Once broken I got them for free, fixed them by glueing parts, having them break again, glueing reinforced parts only to see some other flimsy piece of plastic break, etc. They seem to be designed to break in this way, I can see no other reason why they use such small flimsy (ABS) plastic bits to keep this essential component in place. Now that I've got a 3D printer on its way here - an older Ender 3 V2, these can be had for next to nothing - it seems like a good project to tackle.

This wouldn't be so bad if the connections were standardized, but every manufacturer has their own standard, and sometimes don't even stick to it across their own products.

If this was standardized, you'd just buy a new blade/connector or jar from whoever, and in fact you'd have a wide choice of specialist jars and blades to choose from.

The concept of re:mix is great (and the name), but at €350 it's irrelevant. Make the standard open and free, maybe get EU persuade it's use, and let manufacturers build around it at realistic prices.

Ifixit released a video today about this blender: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgcqzUazXdw

This design appears to be 220VAC only. And I’m assuming all metric threads and other measurements, too.

I think I could live with all the other components being metric, if they just had a way to work with standard U.S./Imperial containers as well.

Oh, and they need a 120VAC design for the motor and all the electronics inside.

Or, a design that can handle both 120VAC and 240VAC, as well as both 50hz and 60hz.

It's open source, you should make these updates!

I regret to inform you that I am not competent to make electrical systems design changes on a device like this.

This is the perfect thing to learn on. It's actually a very simple thing as these things go. I expect there would be just a few changes needed, typically the components used in these things are friendly to this need and you just need to reconfigure them a bit or order a slightly different part number for a few components.

God speed

You know, if this was software, I would agree with you.

Let’s just say that hardware and I are not a good fit.

> I think I could live with all the other components being metric, if they just had a way to work with standard U.S./Imperial containers as well.

As far as I know mason jars (of that size) are the same everywhere so it should work with whatever containers decided to use that standard

> Oh, and they need a 120VAC design for the motor and all the electronics inside.

After reading the BOM it looks like the only electrical components are the limit switch, rotary switch, motor, and the support components soldered to the motor, so a 120VAC design would only need to replace those with equivalent 120VAC components.

> Or, a design that can handle both 120VAC and 240VAC, as well as both 50hz and 60hz.

AFAIK that would either be a 120VAC model with a PCB to compensate in 240VAC areas or a DC motor with PCB

Possibly interestingly, some places in the world aren't either 120v nor 240v. Japan for example is 100v.

The documentation is detailed enough that I think I could actually assemble it. It is a cool concept to apply open source licenses to kitchen appliances. I probably will not build one myself but I like the idea of reducing waste. I like knowing that I can still buy parts to fix it later even if I purchase the retail model.

I’ve been playing ARC Raiders. These things are how I imagine the blueprints in that game to be. Hand-buildable every day tools that prioritize for reliability

Meanwhile, I've had the same blender for thirty years, and it's still going strong.

That GitHub repo could really use some pictures of the final product/project. :)

https://www.openfunk.co/de/products/re-mix-kitchen-mixer

> Sale price €349,00

Wow. Hopefully there's enough people willing to buy something like this so they can keep on going.

If the quality is on par or a bit below blendtec or vitamix it’s not a bad price.

I don't think those are the standard for quality/performance anymore. Sadly the Breville super q beats them both (I've owned all 3, the blendtec especially has gotten bad in the last five years)

So it’s Europe only and 350euro after discount (excl shipping and tax).. why would a person choose this over a $10 blender from the thrift store that could work for at least 5 years?

Looks to the EU + UK, so I guess "Europe" is correct depending upon your definition of that. ;)

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