Computer Controlled Slushee and Cotton Candy?

Monsta Coty Scott asks: "After reading through countless articles from techies on how to make your own gadgets from available hardware, I find myself getting a little hungry. I've turned my play station into a hand held, I've just finished turning my old computer case into a home built CD-Changer, and I'm getting ready to upgrade the linux MP3 player in my car. But I cannot get a decent suger rush to keep me going, and the cost of surge and mountain dew slurpees are eating into my electronics fund. Has anyone made a junk food machine at home, or out of parts laying around? I'm looking to build myself a Slushee machine that orders new syrup when it's running low, a cotton candy machine that warms up and turns itself on when my alarm goes off at 7am. I don't need this morning coffee, get me a slurpee and some suger and I am ready to go. Has anyone came across plans, or know the workings behind such machines? I think there's alot of unexplored territory we are missing here." I thought this was a fun one for the weekend. Who knows what crazy projects might result from this one. If any do arise, please share!

well, why not just buy one?

[Beowulf_Boy]

I was at this big warehouse place in Dayton, Ohio,
(I can't remember the name) BUt they had all kinds of old stuff laying around. Besides about a 100 showcase freezers and fridges, I spied a few slurpee machines, a cotton candy machine, a cookie oven dealie, and quiet a bit of other crap.

Mendelson's

[clark625]

The place that you are referring to is very likely Mendelson's Electronics [meci.com]. They are located in downtown Dayton, Ohio, and you can also buy things over the 'net. I've been there a few times. I usually just buy wire since it's so cheap; but they have everything from computer racks to water pumps to restaurant tables. Some people call a lot of it junk. Your mileage may vary.

Re:well, why not just buy one?

[innocent_white_lamb]

My goodness! A commercial cotton candy machine (a) takes forever to heat up, (b) is designed to crank out one helluva lot of cotton candy in a very short period of time, and (c) makes a helluva mess, and is a bugger to clean up afterward.

Frankly, I'd suggest simply purchasing pre-made cotton candy as needed if you require small quantities. Many candy wholesalers sell prepack cotton candy in bags, a case of which is not all that expensive.

The price of a cotton candy machine, plus the sugar, plus the (vast) amount of labour that it requires to operate and clean the unit is far more than the amount that would be saved by making your own cotton candy for any purpose other than relatively substantial commercial sale.

Dentist bills

[grammar nazi]

Youch!! You have a definite sugar problem. I wouldn't consider making a Slushee machine and Cotton candy machine (for breakfast??) until after you create yourself a 'electric toothbrush' from scratch. Creating a dentist and a waterjet for rotting teeth may also be neccessary!

How they make cotton candy

[vrt3]

There's an article on that [howstuffworks.com] over at How Stuff Works [howstuffworks.com].

If you give a nerd some stimulants...

[Colin Bayer]

you'll need to provide him with an auto-dispensary for the insulin when hyperglycemia hits, a computerized treadmill to work off the weight, and a eulogy-o-matic when years of slurpees and cotton candy take the ultimate toll. ;)

Yo no habla Americano.

[biglig2]

Heh, and people say us geeks are wierd. But, what could be more wholesome than candy floss?

Seriously: I suspect you need to get real equipment and simply hack it with sensors.

These guys should be able to hook you up

[iforgotmyfirstlogon]

I did a quick browse and came across this. [gmpopcorn.com] They sell everything from funnel cake machines to commercial candy apple makers, not to mention several sizes of cotton candy machines.

It might just be easier, however, to just use one of these. [telstra.com]

- Freed

Poor Man's version...

[scubacuda]

In the meantime, you could build a poor man's version (of the cotton candy machine) with one of those timers that give electronic units power.

Or...you could perhaps modify an existing coffee maker or bread maker's timer. The trick would be finding schematics so you'd know what to tinker with.