New Machines
 Everyday items reconfigured into a cocoa grinder. The producers of Chivite grow plenty of cocoa beans, but have trouble getting them to market. The average consumer has no interest in cocoa beans, but is very interested in buying chocolate. The process of converting cocoa beans to chocolate is technically demanding. The Mechanical Engineering students at Texas A&M tackled one part of the problem by designing a bicycle-powered chocolate grinder. It is a ball mill, or rotating cylinder filled with cocoa beans and steel balls.  The cocoa grinder with the drum removed is able to roll oats and other grains. AGAIG farmers planted oats and wheat for the first time this Fall. The device is many machines in one. By making simple adjustments, it can change from cocoa grinder to chocolate melanguer, to sugar cane press, to rock tumbler to oat roller. The development of technology like this helps us develop new opportunities in business for Guatemalan farmers and helps them open up new markets for products...only possible with the support of people like you through donations and project sponsorship. |
