Forum Activity for @Brandon Buckner

ACMC chocolate temperer motor replacement (You know, the white table-top one).

Posted in: Opinion

I'm about to have to replace another motor since originally posting this. (I think I have replaced one in between that time)... We since added a Chocovision Revolution 3Z to the shop and it has some design flaws as well... Why would anyone think that plastic is a good material for something in an area (on the machine) where tension, heat, and constant movement are all happening all the time?! We've had to send it back for repair and haven't even had it a year. I sent a letter with some suggestions for fixing the issue. I'm sure they'll assume I'm a smart a$$.

I'm still on the lookout for a replacement motor for the ACMC. It's a small enough temperer for our white chocolate needs, and while I don't mind paying a bit for upkeep/maintenance for the machine; I'd rather have to do it less.

Thanks!

(Oh, thanks Chirag-Bhatia, but I couldn't get the link above to open)

Popsicle molds? Stainless?

Posted in: Geek Gear - Cool Tools

Thanks! I'm still looking for any suggestions, so thanks a bunch! And if you come across the Italian place you were referring to, I would love to learn their name/website.

Popsicle molds? Stainless?

Posted in: Geek Gear - Cool Tools

I'm considering doing some popsicles to help with summertime sales at the shop and looking for some commercial molds. All I keep finding are sites linking me to China. Does anyone know if there's any US distributors for something stainless with 20+ cavities and stick holders? I see there's plenty of plastic molds on amazon and the like, but I hope to find some thing like this (to fit in a regular single-door freezer): click this . Ideas? Thanks!

updated by @Brandon Buckner: 04/10/15 17:23:38

Need to know about parts/manual availability for this machine.

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, & Techniques

I appreciate it! I had flipped the vibrating part around while I was cleaning the machine prior to the photo.

Need to know about parts/manual availability for this machine.

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, & Techniques

Thanks! Since I started this thread, I've actually built a spout out of thin cardboard and I'm waiting for the fabricator to finish up some welds on the stainless. I appreciate you attaching a photo. I believe I have figured out the digital readout/controls - it's pretty straight forward. I'm anxious to put this machine to work.

Need to know about parts/manual availability for this machine.

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, & Techniques

I appreciate it! I also found Prefamac as a possibility. The issue is the configuration of the holder/attachment for the spout and where it's attached behind the wheel. I think I may have to go custom. I'm open to all options though. Thanks!

Need to know about parts/manual availability for this machine.

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, & Techniques

i appreciate it. I think i may have to have one fabricated. It's amazing that there's no chocotec presence on the web. I wonder if they're no longer around. I see the machines here and there, but no company info anywhere. I'm gonna need that spout for sure. I may have a steel place in town fabricate me one. I think I'm gonna mock one up w/ cardboard and take it to a shop advertising stainless/sheet welding.

I appreciate the link above. I came across this one too http://bakonusa.com/ these too http://www.keychoc.com/moulding-machines.php

Need to know about parts/manual availability for this machine.

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, & Techniques

is it similar to the trough/spout on a hilliards enrober? if so, i have one and could possibly have one fabricated based on this one - or order one from hilliards to modify. Could you link or upload or send a photo of the piece to me? Thanks!

Need to know about parts/manual availability for this machine.

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, & Techniques

We purchased this ChocoTec temperer off of ebay awhile back. It came w/o a manual and it works as expected - a digital thermostat allows the operator to set a temp and see the desired temp and the actual temp at the same time. This seems intuitive - as does the use of the shaker. The only thing I'm not sure about is the vertical wheel in configuration with a stainless angled rod at the top. My question is: is this where the chocolate pours off while the wheel is spinning or am I missing an attachment (like a trough) that should be attached to the rod to dispense chocolate into molds?

Another question is: where can I get such an attachment or a manual - does anyone know of a distributor for Chocotec machines in the U.S.?

I would greatly appreciate any info I can get!

Thanks!

updated by @Brandon Buckner: 04/09/15 11:23:16

ACMC chocolate temperer motor replacement (You know, the white table-top one).

Posted in: Opinion

Do you know if this (DMD4LL07) is still an active part number? I just tried to locate one and cannot find it. I just had my second motor go out. Such a bummer, and I'd like to have something more stable if I'm gonna spend the money to fix it. Just ordered another plastic gear motor in the meantime.

Thanks!

-Brandon

ACMC chocolate temperer motor replacement (You know, the white table-top one).

Posted in: Opinion

i appreciate it! I ordered an exact replacement and had it up and running in about 15 minutes. It was a quick fix. I want to look into the motor Brad mentioned though, because I can only expect another 3 yrs out of this new motor and I like to think that a 700 dollar machine should run longer than that. I may just try to build one from scratch.

Thanks a lot and expect more questions from me...

ACMC chocolate temperer motor replacement (You know, the white table-top one).

Posted in: Opinion

Okay, so in our shop, we have a couple of large Hilliards tempering pots and one ACMC pot used only for tempering white chocolate. Its motor has recently burned out. I need to replace it and would like to know if anyone has a recommendation for either a better motor or a specs to ask for when calling a company for a replacement.

I'd like to say, before this discussion gets into a "you need a better temperer," I know this and plan to do so, but can't shelve this temperer just yet.

Thanks for any info you can share in replacing this motor.

updated by @Brandon Buckner: 04/10/15 05:56:42

Control your Factory using an Iphone

Posted in: Geek Gear - Cool Tools

I was in San Francisco and visited their shop. I peeked into an area, which I figured was a production facility, only to find a huge empty room w/ a few cars parked inside. A chocolatier in Berkeley told me they're using a chocolate liquor to make their bars and not producing it in house. I do, however, like the images I've seen of their scrappy small-batch lab. I'm just wondering why some trusted person can't be hired to operate the machinery, if the owner is always away from the plant?