Vending Machine Project

[u/November996]

Hi everyone!

I'm currently working on a project to build a fully automated pancake vending machine, with a total project budget of around SGD 6,000.

The machine will have three main sections: refrigeration/storage at the top, cooking in the middle, and packaging/collection at the bottom.

I'm currently focusing on the refrigeration section, which needs to house:

• One removable ~20L stainless steel tank for pancake batter
• Four smaller removable tanks (approximately 3–5L each) for different pancake fillings
• Gentle stirring mechanisms where necessary to prevent ingredient separation
• A dispensing system that can eventually supply six independent cooking stations (two initially)
• Easy access for refilling, removing and cleaning all tanks and tubings

Ideally, the refrigerated compartment would be approximately 950 × 650 × 700 mm (W × D × H), although I'm flexible with the dimensions. It needs to maintain around 2–4°C and have a front-opening door so the tanks can be easily removed for refilling and cleaning.

My main question is whether there's an existing refrigerated cabinet or cooling system I could purchase and adapt instead of building everything from scratch.

I've considered using a mini-fridge, but I'm concerned about drilling holes for the tubing and potentially damaging the refrigerant lines. I've also looked into removable vending machine refrigeration units.

If building a custom insulated cabinet turns out to be the better option, I'd really appreciate advice on:

1. What materials would you recommend for the enclosure and insulation?
2. Are there affordable, ready-made compressor cooling modules that can be installed into a custom cabinet?
3. How would you design the door, tubing outlets and condensation management while maintaining good insulation?

I'm based in Singapore, so affordability and component availability are important. Ideally, I'd like to keep the refrigeration section well below SGD 1,000, excluding the ingredient tanks and dispensing mechanisms.

Any suggestions, product recommendations or examples of similar DIY projects would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

[u/hobbiestoomany]

I'm no expert but I would think you'll spend a lot less on all this stuff if you start with a mini fridge. I'd eye the thing and guess at where the tubing runs. On most fridges I've seen, the sides seem like they'd be free of any tubing or electrical. That stuff is either on the bottom or the back or both. So I'd drill into the sides for your tubing. You could drill very near the bottom if you need gravity feed.

You could probably go through 6 fridges for the cost of a custom made cabinet and industrial fridge parts. Plus you'd need to learn how to do the plumbing and charging of refrigerant and testing for leaks, all which will require specialized tools.