Waffle Machine: The Design and Production of a One-Button Breakfast Device

Abstract

The process for making waffles from scratch is currently time-consuming and discouragingly laborious. The intention of this project was to create a machine that would produce waffles with the mere push of button, significantly reducing the user’s active time requirement. This proved to be an overly ambitious goal for a two-semester project, but substantial steps were taken towards that objective. The product was designed to optimize size, cycle time and price. The machine’s specifications were that its countertop footprint be minimized, its total cycle time be comparable to that of traditional waffle-making methods, and the final product be relatively affordable compared to a standard waffle iron. Other factors taken into consideration included ease of cleaning, weight, and power draw. Over the course of the 2015-2016 school year, consumer research was conducted to test the potential market for such a product. Prototyping and testing were also performed on potential designs to determine which were most efficient. The chosen mechanisms were incorporated into a final design, which was manufactured and tested to verify that the original specifications were met. The results of all of these activities are documented below. Suggestions for the future development of the prototype into a finished consumer product are also laid out.