Expansion sleeve for drive socket?

cormie

Hey folks,
I'm trying to see if it would be possible to get something that will fit over the metal shaft on the left blender jar, to be able to use it on the inset drive socket?

The blender jar on the right is designed to fit in the inset drive socket, so works perfect with it of course.. but the one on the left is from another brand and is too small to grip the drive socket. I tried a small test and put some bluetac over it and it DOES spin, so at least I know it's possible, but I'm guessing I'd need some kind of sleeve that will fit over the shaft on the left and allow it to grip the cogs of the drive socket?

Would anyone have any idea how to proceed? Is this something I could likely find in a hardware shop, or would it need to be custom made I wonder?

Image here:

jhenno78

Short answer: you're extremely unlikely to get something to do this anywhere, even finding someone to make it might be tricky and certainly wouldn't be worth the price.

Longer...this is a bad idea. This spindles could attach but the new bowl will be loose and fly around . This is an especially bad idea with a vitamix given how fast they spin and how expensive a bit of kit you could be messing up.

cormie

Thanks for the reply! Would a metal worker not be able to whip a little sleeve up pretty easy you don't think?

I understand your concerns with movement etc, but the Blendtec jar actually sits more snug than the vitamix one does, so I think movement is ok? Also, the blendtec jars and blades are designed for similar RPM and even more, so I don't think it should really be an issue for the jar itself and maybe once it has a sleeve that can grip the cogs, it might be ok?

Here's a video of the two jars on the Vitamix.. The first is the Blendtec jar which the shaft is too thin on, then the second is the vitamix one. Also the Blendtec shaft doesn't go so deep into the drive socket, so maybe the sleeve would need to go a little deeper down too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2xJhm5JKFA

jhenno78

Sure, it's not like it's impossible, but it's not a 5 minute job either - I couldn't quote you rates or anything but I'd be surprised if it didn't work out cheaper to get a new vitamix bowl (expensive as they are).

It'd have to be perfect too or you could get some really funky vibrations.

cormie

Thanks again for the input. All the jars I have are in fine condition, so it's not that I need a new jar for the vitamix, I've actually 2 in perfect condition for it
But the functionality of that Blendtec jar is different to the vitamix jar so I'd love to see if it's possible to get it working properly on it. I reckon a lot of Vitamix owners would be interested too

I wonder would a 3D printer be able to whip something up?

I think it’s worth having a go at lining the female drive with a piece of cling film, dabbed into place against the splines with a small model type paint brush. Put a small amount of Sugru in (trial and error for quantity) just around the edges, then press the male drive from the cup down into it to mould it in place. Leave it to set and the cling film should allow them separate easily. Might not be pretty, but I reckon it’d do the job.

jhenno78

cormie wrote: »

I wonder would a 3D printer be able to whip something up?

Interesting, if you're able to* make a design in a suitable format then it could well be practical to get someone to machine it for you out of stainless steel.
A very quick look says these guys do it online.

3D printing...personally I'm not so sure plastic would be strong enough for this.

*Sounds pretty hard to get it to match properly, but you're not me.

Lumen

3d printed parts unlikely to be strong enough, even metal ones. And expensive.

Epoxy maybe.

cormie

Thanks a lot for the replies... Might have a shot with the sugru idea. I've some in the fridge, although I think it's passed it's BB date :pac:

Lumen, why do you recko metal may not even be strong enough?

I wonder what material they are already? Stainless steel would be stronger I guess, but tricky to get made? Although maybe that emachineshop link could help!

Lumen

cormie wrote: »

Lumen, why do you recko metal may not even be strong enough?

If we're talking about 3d printed parts, I think it depends on how they're made. Binder jetting (which I think Shapeways uses, for instance) is cheaper and weaker than DMSL.

hesker

cormie wrote: »

Thanks a lot for the replies... Might have a shot with the sugru idea. I've some in the fridge, although I think it's passed it's BB date :pac:

Lumen, why do you recko metal may not even be strong enough?

I wonder what material they are already? Stainless steel would be stronger I guess, but tricky to get made? Although maybe that emachineshop link could help!

Stainless steel is not necessarily stronger than cheaper steel but is more resistant to corrosion if that is needed.

I’ve been down this road before for a different application. Unless you know someone who has the right equipment this is going to cost you time and money. I even went as far as doing a CAD drawing and sending it to several machine shops including some in the far east who offer to make free samples. Got no response.

I think your best bet is to keep searching to see if anyone has gone to the trouble of making these to sell for a small profit.

cormie

Haha, I was actually thinking if it was going to end up costing me a lot, that it probably wouldn't cost too much extra to just get a really long piece made and then chopped into a load of small sleeves which could then be sold to make the money back.

Will give the sugru a go first and see if it even lasts for a recipe or two

DublinDilbert

I would try 3D printed parts, you’d be surprised how strong they are. It would be very quick to model something up in solidworks if ya could take some accurate measurements. You could also draw it in google sketch up or tinkercad (free browser based). There’s a place in rathmines that will print up a few parts like that for €20 or so.

Machining the external teeth are simple enough with the right kit, the internal grooves might be tricker. Not worth machining it imo, unless you could do it yourself.

whizbang

the Spline drive on the original jar looks removable.. can you just take this off, and yhen file off the new jar shaft to fit this ?

Nekarsulm

Instead of Sugru, perhaps the same method except use some of that "chemical metal" that comes as a stick of putty like material?
You cut off a section and mix it thoroughly , it then sets rock hard.

gctest50

You could remove the drive from a spare vitamix and machine the shaft of the Blendthingy one to accept it


Grind some plastic off the bottom of the Blentec to make the drive sit lower in the socket

cormie

Thanks again for all the ideas. I definitely don't want to go messing with any of the jars. I think the vitamix blade is removable alright, but the blendtec definitely not.

With the word "spline" mentioned I decided to google "Spline adapter" and see what I had in mind of what I might need.. I guess it's going to be tricky to find one that will match both, unless the sizes of the shafts etc are pretty common

gctest50

cormie wrote: »

.................

I think the vitamix blade is removable alright, but the blendtec definitely not.........

That's the key to it :

remove the splined part from a spare vitamix

machine the shaft of the blendtec until it is the same ovaly shape as the vitamix shaft

put the vitamix spline on to the blendtec


basically do something like this to the blentec shaft :

cormie

Thanks for the suggestion, but wouldn't that render the blendtec unusable in the Blendtec drive socket then? I want both to be usable in their respective devices, but just to see if it's possible to interchange between them and I think a sleeve that can fit over the blendtec without any machining of the blendtec itself would mean others could do it too

Mech1

Cross drill the shaft that is too narrow and fit 4 pins to it filed to the dimensions of the socket.

listermint

Or just chop up your food.

This nutrition by machine is a fad that you'll eventually stop doing

gctest50

The Rebel+ Jar fits vitamix drive units


https://www.amazon.com/Blendtec-Replacement-Container-Commercial-Residential/dp/B00A3GCH0M

cormie

Yeah, I've seen the rebel jar alright, but the one I have is the twister jar which has much different functionality


Haha listermint, I've owned a Blendtec for over 10 years, used it over 10,000 times for making everything from nut milks, to nut butter, to chocolate to cakes, to ice cream, to sauces and dips to just about anything you can think... sometimes even just to chop up some food for a salad too. Smoothies, which is what they are mostly marketed for, are a super easy way to get nutrition efficiently