Automted Mixing Machine

[KPierson]

I've been looking for a way to automate the mixing process but there isn't currently much available. After not finding anything suitable I started looking in to building my own "low cost" system. I quickly found out that due to the viscosity of the VG that a "low cost" solution isn't very likely.

I have my eyes on a metering system that should work but the cost to purchase the hardware is pretty steep. I have a few questions for those who have done a lot of mixing:

1. My initial plan was to have three main tanks (nicotine, VG, PG). Now, due to cost, I'm thinking of only doing two tanks (nicotine/vg, pg, or nicotine/pg, vg) and just keeping a spare tank so I can quickly switch my nicotine base as needed (instead of having to wash everything in between every change). Does it make sense to only have two main tanks?

2. I don't plan to, initially anyway, include any accommodations for flavoring. I am planning on using the machine to only mix the "base" and then I'll flavor it as needed. This decision was made based on cost and the fact that roughly 80% of the juice being mixed is nicotine, vg, or pg. Instead of hand mixing 100% of everything I will only have to hand mix 20%. Should I bite the bullet and include flavoring hardware?

3. I plan on mixing about a liter at a time and then bottling as needed in to more manageable amounts (5-10mL). Has anyone came up with an easy way to accurately bottle? I will eventually add that feature to the mixing machine but I have to think that someone has came up with a clever way of doing this that doesn't require a ton of hardware.

4. Labeling - what is everyone using? I would like to print basic info - recipe, date, etc. I have hard that the liquid eats away at most types of labels. Does anyone have any suggestions for a durable yet cost effective label?

I have a meeting Tuesday with a company to discuss purchasing the hardware. I have three different options laid out and the meeting is to discuss the most expensive of them (of course it works out that way). I already have an old touch screen panel PC laying around that will be revitalized for the controls - this should be a fun project!

 

[sdennislee]

Would be interested in seeing your final product, sounds interesting. I see you are in Dayton (small world). I live in Middletown, have an office in Dayton on Paragon Road and work in Alaska.

 

[WileECoyote]

I use brother labels and they work pretty good. If you have the money and smarts go for it and keep us posted. Good luck!

 

[partyannimal]

I've been looking for a way to automate the mixing process but there isn't currently much available. After not finding anything suitable I started looking in to building my own "low cost" system. I quickly found out that due to the viscosity of the VG that a "low cost" solution isn't very likely.

I have my eyes on a metering system that should work but the cost to purchase the hardware is pretty steep. I have a few questions for those who have done a lot of mixing:

1. My initial plan was to have three main tanks (nicotine, VG, PG). Now, due to cost, I'm thinking of only doing two tanks (nicotine/vg, pg, or nicotine/pg, vg) and just keeping a spare tank so I can quickly switch my nicotine base as needed (instead of having to wash everything in between every change). Does it make sense to only have two main tanks?

2. I don't plan to, initially anyway, include any accommodations for flavoring. I am planning on using the machine to only mix the "base" and then I'll flavor it as needed. This decision was made based on cost and the fact that roughly 80% of the juice being mixed is nicotine, vg, or pg. Instead of hand mixing 100% of everything I will only have to hand mix 20%. Should I bite the bullet and include flavoring hardware?

3. I plan on mixing about a liter at a time and then bottling as needed in to more manageable amounts (5-10mL). Has anyone came up with an easy way to accurately bottle? I will eventually add that feature to the mixing machine but I have to think that someone has came up with a clever way of doing this that doesn't require a ton of hardware.

4. Labeling - what is everyone using? I would like to print basic info - recipe, date, etc. I have hard that the liquid eats away at most types of labels. Does anyone have any suggestions for a durable yet cost effective label?

I have a meeting Tuesday with a company to discuss purchasing the hardware. I have three different options laid out and the meeting is to discuss the most expensive of them (of course it works out that way). I already have an old touch screen panel PC laying around that will be revitalized for the controls - this should be a fun project!

Sounds interesting, but I actually enjoy the whole process. I've mixed my base in larger batches before, but stopped doing that just because I enjoy every aspect of my new hobby. I'm not mixing huge quantities to sell or anything, so I don't think it's that difficult.

As far as labels, I use Brother labels and put a strip of packing tape over them to protect them from water and such. Haven't had an issue yet, and the whole she-bang comes off easily if/when I choose to wash and reuse bottles.

 

[retired1]

Considering the price of pumps and mixers, contemplating this for personal mixing is somewhat mind boggling.

 

[KPierson]

I will do my best to keep this thread updated with my progress. After reviewing a bunch of recipes last night I won't be able to reduce down to two main tanks - three will be required. There are just too many recipes that require all three ingredients to insure the proper ratios.

I love the packing tape over the label idea - nice and easy!

 

[KPierson]

Considering the price of pumps and mixers, contemplating this for personal mixing is somewhat mind boggling.

I spent several years installing additive injection systems in the oil industry. We would inject the gasoline additives directly in to the loading arms as the tanker trucks filled at 600 gallons/minute. I figured using similar hardware I could make this machine - the only problem is that none of that stuff was food grade! When you start pricing food grade equipment the price rises quickly!

 

[retired1]

Yes, it does. Which still begs the question as to why one would want to put out that kind of expense for making a few bottles of juice each month for personal consumption.

 

[VapieDan]

I've been looking for a way to automate the mixing process but there isn't currently much available. After not finding anything suitable I started looking in to building my own "low cost" system. I quickly found out that due to the viscosity of the VG that a "low cost" solution isn't very likely.

I have my eyes on a metering system that should work but the cost to purchase the hardware is pretty steep. I have a few questions for those who have done a lot of mixing:

1. My initial plan was to have three main tanks (nicotine, VG, PG). Now, due to cost, I'm thinking of only doing two tanks (nicotine/vg, pg, or nicotine/pg, vg) and just keeping a spare tank so I can quickly switch my nicotine base as needed (instead of having to wash everything in between every change). Does it make sense to only have two main tanks?

2. I don't plan to, initially anyway, include any accommodations for flavoring. I am planning on using the machine to only mix the "base" and then I'll flavor it as needed. This decision was made based on cost and the fact that roughly 80% of the juice being mixed is nicotine, vg, or pg. Instead of hand mixing 100% of everything I will only have to hand mix 20%. Should I bite the bullet and include flavoring hardware?

3. I plan on mixing about a liter at a time and then bottling as needed in to more manageable amounts (5-10mL). Has anyone came up with an easy way to accurately bottle? I will eventually add that feature to the mixing machine but I have to think that someone has came up with a clever way of doing this that doesn't require a ton of hardware.

4. Labeling - what is everyone using? I would like to print basic info - recipe, date, etc. I have hard that the liquid eats away at most types of labels. Does anyone have any suggestions for a durable yet cost effective label?

I have a meeting Tuesday with a company to discuss purchasing the hardware. I have three different options laid out and the meeting is to discuss the most expensive of them (of course it works out that way). I already have an old touch screen panel PC laying around that will be revitalized for the controls - this should be a fun project!

The viscosity problem could explain why so many of the Chinese liquids are heavy or all PG.

 

[Rickajho]

I use clear packing tape too. It can be a bit kludgy to work with - trimming it down to size without getting it wrapped up in the scissors in the process. But it's clear and very effective if you lay it down right with no creases.

 

[partyannimal]

I love the packing tape over the label idea - nice and easy!

Yup, I'm all about easy.

 

[partyannimal]

I use clear packing tape too. It can be a bit kludgy to work with - trimming it down to size without getting it wrapped up in the scissors in the process. But it's clear and very effective if you lay it down right with no creases.

The labels I use are about the same size as address labels. I just cut a strip off that will cover the height of the label, the tape itself is already perfect for the width.

 

[Bigd432]

Did anybody else envision Home Improvement and Tim's washing machine rig? I look forward to the end result of this. Seems like cool little project.

 

[KPierson]

I ended up finding some pretty cool and relatively inexpensive metering pumps. I was able to buy some parts off of Ebay for substantial savings. Now I'm waiting for the parts to start showing up. I plan to build a very basic mixing table and use a couple plastic tanks to hold the nicotine, VG, and PG. Each tank will have a ball valve and a quick disconnect fitting to allow easy emptying and cleaning of the tanks.

My original goal was to mix at 1000ml/min but the pump supplier has recommended 300ml/min max flow rate to minimize splashing and spilling. I think 3 minutes should still be quick enough to justify using the machine.

 

[Ktribb]

Sounds like a cool little device to have around, if you have the knowledge and are able to get your hands on the material, then why the heck not really? sounds like just something else to tinker with to me. Looking forward to results!

 

[cramptholomew]

I'll need one with pump activated slots for approximately 150 8ml glass vials. Like an inkjet printer for juice, or a pizzeria style soft drink dispenser.

 

[dannyv45]

Yes, it does. Which still begs the question as to why one would want to put out that kind of expense for making a few bottles of juice each month for personal consumption.

Not that the OP said but my feeling is he's not building for private consumption. I believe he want's to manufacture juice for retail. It seems to me this would be very expensive and impractical for a home hobby mixer.

 

[dead not sleeping]

Here is my mixing machine: A DIY magnetic mixer I made years ago from old junk computer parts. Total cost about 6 bucks. It runs off the 12 volt computer power supply and is variable speed. It even mixes my 4 ml tester vials. I had to dust this thing off after my UC let all of it's blue smoke escape.

This runs silent and does a good job. The flask is a 2 day old RY I mixed up, good color for 2 days. It even does my tester vials. The stir bar in the flask is a 1 inch stir bar and the tester magnet is 3/16x1/8 nickel plated button magnet. As soon as I get back to work on Mon - YEA! - been unemployed since last Sept, I'm building a 6 station unit with variable speed / variable timing. I'll make a blog out of it when I get going on it. I'm looking for the 'set it and forget it' approach.

 

[mxrdrver]

What do U use for a stir bar for your 4ml samples? I built one of those magnetic stirrers last year. It would be cool to get a mini stir bar.

 

[dead not sleeping]

What do U use for a stir bar for your 4ml samples? I built one of those magnetic stirrers last year. It would be cool to get a mini stir bar.

Boy, the magmixers are way better than shaking eh? They make Teflon coated stir bars really small, down to 6mm or less, all shapes and sizes, but they are somewhat expensive. For a 4mm vial I would not go over 3/8 or 10mm long. Check ebay.

I use a tiny neo 'refrigerator' magnet, nickel plated, 3/16" diameter by 1/8" thick, to see if it worked. It does. Just enough to get things moving around in the vial, you wont get the vortex, it mixes well but needs to be longer. I'm going to order some more magnets soon for my project from K&J Magnetics. K&J triple plates their mags - nickel, copper, nickel. They offer a diametrically magnetized disk magnet that would work better on the fans, it will balance better being over the axle and not two mags on each side. About 7 bucks but I think worth it. Diametrically means magnetized across the face rather than along the axis.

I'm not worried about the tiny stir bars not being Teflon coated, we vape out of nickel plated equipment all the time. I haven't seen any wear on the glass where it rides yet either and have run them a lot. A large non Teflon stir bar would wear though, I'll stick with the real Teflon stir bars for my flasks, they're only about 5 bucks each, the mini magnets are under a buck each. Now for some dumpster diving at the transfer station and the curbs for some junk computers.