Pedal powered smoothie maker

A pedal powered blender for making smoothies at festivals and events had always seemed like a great idea. It brings in a number of concepts: firstly there is the ‘we don’t need electricity for everything’ idea, secondly it helps to demonstrate the concept of power in an interesting way, thirdly it helps to promote cycling and things pedal related and lastly it helps to get people to eat more fresh fruit.

There are a number of pedal powered blender designs available:
1 An amazing book for human powered devices, which includes a pedal powered blender plan, is 'The Human Powered Home' by Tamara Dean and published by NSP.
2 A nice Instructables plan is available here, but probably loads more on instrucables....
3 A nice, commercial pedal powered blender is available from Fender Blenders, based in the US.

RE-Innovation decided to build their own. This design uses a flexible power drive to separate the blender from the bike to remove vibrations. The flexible drive can also be used for other applications, like pedal powered drilling.

Here are construction details for building our pedal powered blender:

DISCLAIMER: These instructions are given as a guide for the competent pedal power enthusiast. The authors do not take any responsibility for any injury or damaged tools which may occur. Please stay safe when using power. Consult a qualified person if you are unsure at any stage. You are responsible for your own safety.

Step 1 Parts required

You will need for the stand and flexible drive:

• Bike ‘Turbo’ Trainer – We used a stand manufactured by ‘Beto’. Search eBay for ‘Turbo Trainer’ and you can pick them up used from around £30 (if lucky) and new from around £50.
• Flexible drill drive – from Screwfix (code: 31843) for £14.95. - http://www.screwfix.com/prods/31843/Drill-Bits/Drill-Accessories/Flexible-Drive-Shaft-915mm. Or use the slightly longer version (1300mm) from Wolfcraft (shown here).
• 40mm Jubilee clips x 2 – decent quality ones
• 10-12mm metal tubing – approx 1-2mm thick
• 5mm metal tubing – approx 1mm thick
• Heat shrink tubing x numerous pieces
• Angle brackets x 2 – 50mm by 100mm, sometimes called a frame tie. Such as Screwfix code (24936): http://www.screwfix.com/prods/24936/Building/Builders-Metalwork/Frame-Ties-50-x-150mm-Pack-of-10
• Metal mesh – finger-proof sized
• Various nuts and blots – whatever you have available, mainly 6mm diameter

For the main machine and table clamp:

• An old blender or smoothie maker – we were lucky to find a unit with a damaged motor for free. If possible find a unit which has a broken motor. Check car boot sales, freecycle, ask friends etc.
• An ‘Optics’ type clamp – This is the screw clamp which holds ‘Optics’ drinks dispensers to a shelf. These are usually available at car boot sales. Otherwise a woodworking G-clamp could be used.
• Approx 50mm x 50mm angle aluminum – a piece around 20cm long, around 2mm thickness.

Comments

[Nachimir]

Nicely done with easy to get bits, and nicely written up.

[cambigfoot]

it would be cheaper to run a chain to a jackshaft to a procket on blender

[scraptopower]

It would be more complex as the blender shaft needs to be vertical but the chain drive needs to be horizontal. You'd need some kind of bevel gearing ?