Working closely with a client from the high-end bar and spirits industry, D&E Machine Co. used Mastercam Cad Cam software to design and build an aluminum ice ball machine. This device is used for melting large cubes of ice into ice spheres. Before working with our company, our customer was purchasing a similar device from another business based in Japan. Our client wanted to find a manufacturer that would work with them to design, build, and patent a comparable device for a lower price. They found a successful partner in us!
Kent Coomer, co-owner of D&E Machine Company, was awarded a patent for this aluminum ice ball machine in November 2014.
Spirit Ice Vice
Kent and Kim Cooper began a new business, Spirits on Ice, to sell their patented ice ball maker design. This luxury product called the Spirit Ice Vice, creates slow-melting, 2 and 1/2-inch ice balls to help prevent dilution in fine beverages. The Spirit Ice Vice can be designed with your company’s logo and makes a beautiful corporate gift. Spirits on Ice has also introduced additional products, including:
- Ice branding inserts
- Ice branding stamps
- Branding inserts for food
- Golf ball press
- Diamond ice press
Ice Ball Machine Prototype
Macallan Ice Ball Machine
Ice Ball Machine Bottle Shaped Prototype
Using a combination of our CNC turning with live tooling, 4th axis machining, assembly, and packaging services, we were able to build an aluminum device that could melt a square cube of ice into an ice sphere in less than one minute. Within a short, eight-week turnaround time, D&E was able to build and deliver a patentable product, which possessed a luxury look, for half the price of the original supplier.
After production was completed, we individually boxed each item with foam inserts for product protection during shipment and distributed the item to worldwide locations. Our ice cube melting device exceeded client expectations for quality. We now build 600 ice ball machines annually for this customer.
CNC Machining in Ohio
As a custom machinist, we can help you with a variety of projects, including:
- OEM Replacement Parts
- Prototyping for the automotive and robotics industries
- Four-axis milling
- CNC milling
- Vertical milling
- Reverse engineering
- Specialty machining
- Small production runs
Specifications
Aluminum device for melting large cubes of ice into ice spheres for the spirits industry.
| Capabilities Applied Printing Processes | CNC turning with live tooling, 4th axis machining, assembly and packaging |
| Material Type | 6061-T6 Aluminum |
| Packaging | Individually Boxed with foam insert for protection of product during shipment |
| Special Feature | The aluminum acts as a heat transfer and melts a large cube of ice into the shape machined into the inside of the device. |
| Secondary Operations Applied | Anodizing, Screen printing, Endura 300 R-V coating |
| Industry for Use | Spirits industry and high end bars, hotel industry |
| Volume | 600 per year |
| Delivery Time | 8 weeks |
| Delivery Location | Worldwide |
| Product Name | Ice Ball Machine |
| Project Scope | Design and build a device from aluminum that will melt a square cube of ice into an ice sphere in less than one minute. |
| Design Work | Designed by D&E with Mastercam Cad Cam software. |
| Product Description | Our customer was purchasing a similar device from a company in Japan. Our customer wanted to find a manufacturer that could design, build and patent a device that would melt a large cube of ice into an ice sphere for a lower price who would work with them regarding design and function. D&E was able to provide a patentable product, with a luxury look for half the price. |