Kitchenaid Stand Mixer Manufacturing Article

[sudsmaster]

I just got my latest copy of Modern Machine Shop, and the cover story is about how Kitchenaid has improved the manufacturing of its stand mixers by tracking the effectiveness of the machining operations and equipment.

The article is a bit technical but it does include some nice photos of various parts for the stand mixer, as well as some background information.

This photo is of the cast base for the motor/gear head, which requires multiple machining operations to bring it into the tolerances needed for the product. The new machine tool can process two gear head bases at once (see article), which is quite a performance improvement (I do this sort of thing for a living).

A similar new machine has also improved the throughput on machining the associated gear head covers.

http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/determining-machining-effectiveness-not-guessing-it

 

[sudsmaster]

And here's a shot of a new machine tool used for performing some of the machining operations on the motor gear head covers...

 

[norgeway]

It is amazing.....

That with all the technology of today,the products are stll no where near as good as they were 30 years ago.

 

[circlew]

The KitchenAid factory is about 85 miles NW of here, and I've been past it several times, but not had a chance to take the tour or go to KitchenAid Experience in Greenville. Several of my friends and neighbors have been, and said it was interesting. Hoping I can go sometime this year.

 

[mixfinder]

Kitchenaid Gets a Bad Rap

Plunking a Kitchenaid Pro 600 in the kitchen for the first time is akin to putting an old geezer behind the wheel of a motorhome. You're likely to run into trouble in an emergency. The Classic made today is identical to the K45 of the 50's with three exceptions. Wire nuts are replaced with connectors, the governor and speed switch assembly is solid state and third thing...oh that's right nothing. There are no noticable changes in the construction and design of the Kitchenaid 4.5 quart, 300 watt, tilt head mixer. The Ultra is a 4.5 with 25 watts more power and the Artisan had 50 more watts with a 5 quart bowl that added the sapce at the top which helps to reduce splatters but offers no more mixable capacity. If a tilt head mixer is over loaded it will simply slow or stall because the power of the motor won't destroy the gear box. The Pro 600 is 575 watts (595 from Williams Sonoma) with a Swedish motor and computerized speed control module. It is a behemouth holding 6 quarts, weighing 12 pounds more than the Classic and loud doesn't even begin to describe it's ear spliiting whine at high speed or under a heavy load. Kitchenaid made a mistake in not using larger or heavier gears. The torque of the more powerful motor shears the worm follower or in some case buckled the thermoplastic gear case cover. Newer Kitchenaid mixers are available with an all metal gear case and cover which significantly increases the noise level. The pasta press and grain mills place unrealistic loads on the gear box. The Pro has a much wider bowl and beaters which makes it mix more evenly and throughly than earlier narrow bowl models. Used correctly there is no cause for any Kitchenaid mixer to fail. These mixers are used commercially year after year. Its the novice cook who tries to mix doughs with out proper hydration or runs an attachment when it is clearly causing the machine to struggle who have trouble. No one makes a large planetary drive mixer that is truely a quality product. The Kenwood platform sold under Cuisinart and Viking shares the same woes as the Kitchenaid Pro series. After 4 years of total cold turkey Sunbeam withdrawal I have gone back using my old MM from the 60's still mixing after 42 years. I keep an old K45 on the counter for mixing dough.[this post was last edited: 6/4/2010-15:49]

 

[mixfinder]

Plug and Play

6 screws give you access to the Pro Kitchenaid innards.

 

[mixfinder]

Just Like a Computer

I was amazed the first time I saw the inner workings of a cumputer and realized how simple it is to remove and replace components. The Pro 600 reminds me of that design. Hall Sensor, speed module, motor all lift out and plug in for replacement and repair. The gear box opens with a few screws and you're into the vortex of mixing power. The first 6 quart was called the Epicurian and replaced with the Pro6. Each of them had a fuse that burned if the motor was left under a load too long. It required a trip to the repair shop to replace the fuse, a simple but frustrating repair. Newer models have a thermal overload shutting down the mixer and letting it run again after its had a few minutes to cool. I much prefer the plastic gear case cover and worm because the machine is much smoother and makes less noise.

 

[mixfinder]

No Issues with Dependability

I listen, feel, smell and look for signs of stress and stop the mixer before there's any damage. If the bowl is loaded with a heavy batter and I need to start the mixer I drop the bowl, turn the mixer on Stir and then slowly raise the bowl so the gear box isn't slammed. I have never had an issue with any Kitchenaid or frankly any appliance because I'm mindful of its limits and treat it with respect.

 

[sudsmaster]

Gosh, I didn't think anyone was complaining, still, about KA mixers.

I have a 475 watt 6 qt Epicurean in Imperial Grey (krinkle finish as well) with "all metal gearing" and the speed control has a reset setting, which indicates to me that it trips a circuit breaker if the motor gets overloaded. Haven't overloaded it yet, though. When I got the Epicurean I took home two, and tested both on the counter. I kept the quieter of the two ;-). Costco had no problem taking the other one back.

Also have a 475 watt 5 qt HD Pro, still MIB, in silver. What can I say, the price was right ;-). It also has the all metal gearing, and a reset setting on the speed control.

Mostly I have used the KA with the grater attachment to make soap flakes. Made up some cookie batches as well, but to tell the truth I'm not as into baking as I used to be - mostly because I'll tend to eat whatever I make and that isn't good for the waistline. That and the time and attention involved. I just enjoy the design, look, and feel of these mixers. They are like little industrial machines perched in a home kitchen. Perhaps when I retire and have more time I'll put the mixer(s) to more use.

The 6 qt Epicurean doesn't strike me as being overly loud, but it does need a very stable surface as it will shake anything that flexes.

BTW, the planetary gearset on these mixers is a good thing. I learned about this type of gearing in my auto shop night class. A planetary gearset is about the strongest and lightest gearing you can get to fit into a tight space. It is intrinsically strong because all the gears are held against each other, inside the outer ring gear. Planetary gearsets make up the heart of nearly all automatic transmissions, where power handling and durability are of course major considerations. A planetary gearset is made up of a sun gear in the middle, two or more planet gears (four seems common) that walk around the sun, and a ring gear with inward facing teeth that both holds the planets against the sun and provides yet another ratio. Various gear ratios are achieved in a car automatic transmission by holding one gear in "reaction" and letting the other two gears operate as input or output. I gather that the planetary gearset in the KA stand mixers is not for changing speeds, but rather to allow for the dual action of the beater, as it both rotates on its axis and sweeps a wider arc around the inner circumference of the bowl. This is probably achieved by attaching the axle of the beater to one of the planet gears (I've never taken one apart or seen an exploded view of the gearbox, so I could be wrong). Simple but effective, and a good reason why these mixers tend to last so long.