3D CAD has recipe for fresh ice cream

MooBella designed its ice-cream vending machine in SolidWorks to improve design communication with suppliers, and to perfect the process of automatically mixing fresh ingredients.

Imagine being able to satisfy your craving for delicious, made-to-order frozen treats delivered from a vending-style machine designed by MooBella in SolidWorks 3D CAD software.

In the near future, people at select locations such as college and university campuses and hospitals will be able to choose fresh, hard-packed ice cream flavours like cake batter and accompanying mix-ins like chocolate chips, and have a tasty scoop of ice cream within 45 seconds.

Taunton, Massachusetts-based MooBella's mission is to marry innovative, patented technology with one of the world's favourite treats to deliver delicious custom-made ice cream from a vending-style machine.

Hungry customers will select from 12 different flavours in either premium or low-fat varieties, and three different mix-ins to create fresh ice cream made to order.

MooBella designed the first-of-its-kind machine in SolidWorks to improve design communication with suppliers, and perfect the process of automatically mixing fresh ingredients in the right proportions within the machine.

"One of the many challenges we face in delivering fresh ice cream is ensuring food safety with no product degradation", said MooBella Vice President of Engineering Jim Baxter.

"SolidWorks' close-fit tolerance capabilities are allowing us to make Founder Paul Kateman's innovation a reality".

"In SolidWorks, we can see detailed interaction between the components that mix the cream, sugar, and other ingredients to ensure consistent product quality every time".

SolidWorks is also simplifying injection moulding design to help MooBella with its first manufacturing run in 2007.

Many of MooBella's suppliers, moulders and machine shops also use SolidWorks, enhancing communication and reducing errors.

SolidWorks' eDrawings software allows Baxter and his team to share 3D models or 2D drawings with suppliers and potential customers.

"With a project like this, collaboration is crucial".

"SolidWorks and eDrawings allow us to work with contractors as if they were in the same room", said Baxter.

SolidWorks Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Rainer Gawlick commended the MooBella team and its creative design.

"Ice cream's appeal is pretty universal, and making it conveniently accessible and delicious is a coup", he said.

"MooBella is the latest example of a company founded on a great idea and using SolidWorks to make that idea a reality".

Back to top