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High-Precision Ice Maker Components CNC Machining for Consumer Goods Industry
Ice makers contain highly engineered components. Ice making machines and appliances have evaporator plates and mechanisms. They consist of ice ejecting blades and thermostats which require CNC machining for the precise food-safe and thermally conductive machining that Zintilon has been able to achieve for such high demand customer ice-making and refrigeration products.
- Precision thermal contact surfaces with ±0.010mm flatness for efficient freezing
- Food-safe materials: stainless steel 304/316, anodized aluminum, FDA-compliant plastics
- Thermal cycling validation from -30°C to +50°C for 5,000+ freeze cycles
- Water-tight sealing with leak testing at 20 PSI pressure
- ISO 9001-certified manufacturing with consumer goods industry expertise
Trusted by 15,000+ businesses
Why Consumer Goods Companies
Choose Zintilon
Increased Productivity
Engineers get time back by not dealing with immature supply chains or lack of supply chain staffing in their company and get parts fast.
10x Tighter Tolerances
Zintilon can machine parts with tolerances as tight as+/ - 0.0001 in -10x greater precision compared to other leading services.
World Class Quality
Zintilon provides aerospace parts for leading aerospace enterprises, verified to be compliant with ISO9001 quality standard by a certified registrar. Also, our network includes AS9100 certified manufacturing partners, as needed.
From Prototyping to Mass Production
Zintilon is certified ISO 9001, providing bespoke engineered parts to global manufacturers of ice makers, refrigeration appliances, commercial ice machines, and consumer electronics.
Prototype Ice Maker Components
Precision prototypes of ice maker component assemblies are made to final design. Assess freezing efficiency, ice quality, water distribution, and harvest mechanisms in trials before mass manufacturing.
Key Points:
Key Points:
- Rapid prototyping with thermal contact validation
- Tight tolerances (±0.010mm for evaporator surfaces)
- Test ice formation, harvest cycles, and food safety early
EVT – Engineering Validation Test
Evaporator plate flatness and harvest mechanism timing are crucial in supporting the concept of adequate dimensional accuracy, thermal control, and water distribution for the ice maker component configuration and design. Ice production is consistent and uniform by early detection of ice production and ice release issues as prototype parts are adjusted.
Key Points:
Key Points:
- Validate prototype functionality with freeze cycle testing
- Rapid design iterations for thermal efficiency optimization
- Ensure readiness for production with NSF/FDA compliance validation
DVT – Design Validation Test
Analyze the performance of the ice maker components with a focus on rate of ice production and energy efficiency with various materials and thermal interface designs. This is to determine the system performance of the consumer appliance and to determine the ideal product volume and cube size production capability prior to start of production.
Key Points:
Key Points:
- Confirm design integrity and thermal conductivity specifications
- Test multiple materials and food-safe coatings
- Ensure production-ready performance with harvest mechanism validation
PVT – Production Validation Test
Analyze large volume production capabilities of ice maker components and assess production consistency issues to be able to start mass production to improve thermal uniformity and surface finish of the manufacturing process flow.
Key Points:
Key Points:
- Test large-scale production capability with freeze cycle validation
- Detect and fix process issues early in coating application
- Ensure consistent part quality and ice production performance
Mass Production
Produce quality food safe ice maker components for efficient performance of consumer appliances and on time delivery to ice maker manufacturers and refrigeration appliance suppliers.
Key Points:
Key Points:
- Consistent, high-volume production with thermal performance guarantee
- Precision machining for consumer goods quality
- Fast turnaround with strict quality control and NSF/FDA compliance
Simplified Sourcing for
the Consumer Goods Industry
Our aviation industry parts manufacturing capabilities have been verified by many listed companies. We provide a variety of manufacturing processes and surface treatments for aerospace parts including titanium alloys and aluminum alloys.
Explore Other Consumer Goods Components
Browse our complete selection of CNC machined consumer goods components, engineered for precision and production efficiency. From custom metal housings and plastic molds to intricate handles, connectors, and decorative fittings, we deliver tailored solutions to meet diverse consumer product manufacturing needs.
Consumer Goods Industry, Ice Maker Components, Machining Capabilities
In the consumer goods industry, for the CNC machining of high precision ice maker components, we provide quality through experience and CNC multi-axis machining centers, 5-axis simultaneous machining centers, and precision Swiss turning machines. Individual components such as evaporator plates made of aluminum with precision machined ice forming cavities, ejector blades made of hardened stainless steel, water distribution manifold septic chamber spray holes, harvest mechanism housing precision cams, and thermostat brackets with thermal contact surface, were all designed to maximize freezing efficiency, ice production for 50,000 cycles, and food safe compliance.
We carry out CNC milling on evaporator plates to achieve a flatness tolerance of ±0.010 mm and a cavity depth accuracy of ±0.025 mm. We perform 5-axis machining on complex geometries of the harvesting mechanisms with a dimensional accuracy of ±0.020 mm. We carry out precision drilling on water distribution holes with a diameter of 0.5-3.0 mm at a positional accuracy of ±0.025 mm and precision turning on cylindrical components of the valves with a diameter tolerance of ±0.015 mm. We perform thermal cycling and water leak testing at 20 PSI. We use 6061-T6 Aluminum for the evaporator plates of the ice makers and along with good thermal conductivity of 167 W/m·K and anodized coating, stainless steel 304, which is food contact compliant per the CFR 21, is used with 316L stainless steel for higher corrosion resistance within ice production environments. We use ABS plastic for food contact and ice bin assemblies with a 20 kJ/m² at impact resistance and for specialized components, we use pure copper (99.9%) for refrigerant tubing connections; Brass C36000 is used for water inlet valves with a nickel or chrome plating and food contact silicone rubber with Shore A 40-60 is used for water seals. We also use a low friction material, Acetal (POM) for the gear components.
We guarantee outstanding food safety compliance as per FDA CFR 21 and NSF/ANSI 51, exceptional thermal performance with ice production ranging 5-50 kg/24 hours, continuous operation from -30 C freezing to +50 C ambient, and mechanical reliability for >50,000 ice-making cycles or 5 years of daily operation.
We carry out CNC milling on evaporator plates to achieve a flatness tolerance of ±0.010 mm and a cavity depth accuracy of ±0.025 mm. We perform 5-axis machining on complex geometries of the harvesting mechanisms with a dimensional accuracy of ±0.020 mm. We carry out precision drilling on water distribution holes with a diameter of 0.5-3.0 mm at a positional accuracy of ±0.025 mm and precision turning on cylindrical components of the valves with a diameter tolerance of ±0.015 mm. We perform thermal cycling and water leak testing at 20 PSI. We use 6061-T6 Aluminum for the evaporator plates of the ice makers and along with good thermal conductivity of 167 W/m·K and anodized coating, stainless steel 304, which is food contact compliant per the CFR 21, is used with 316L stainless steel for higher corrosion resistance within ice production environments. We use ABS plastic for food contact and ice bin assemblies with a 20 kJ/m² at impact resistance and for specialized components, we use pure copper (99.9%) for refrigerant tubing connections; Brass C36000 is used for water inlet valves with a nickel or chrome plating and food contact silicone rubber with Shore A 40-60 is used for water seals. We also use a low friction material, Acetal (POM) for the gear components.
We guarantee outstanding food safety compliance as per FDA CFR 21 and NSF/ANSI 51, exceptional thermal performance with ice production ranging 5-50 kg/24 hours, continuous operation from -30 C freezing to +50 C ambient, and mechanical reliability for >50,000 ice-making cycles or 5 years of daily operation.
Aerospace
Materials & Finishes
Materials
We provide a wide range of materials, including metals, plastics, and composites.
Finishes
We offer superior surface finishes that enhance part durability and aesthetics for applications requiring smooth or textured surfaces.
Specialist Industries
you are welcome to emphasize it in the drawings or communicate with the sales.
Materials for Ice Maker Components
For ice maker components, our CNC machine shop uses and offers 12+ food-compliant, high-thermal-conductivity alloys, and freeze-resistant plastics to facilitate rapid prototyping and precision manufacturing. FDA, NSF, and refrigeration appliance safety compliance is also maintained.
Stainless steel alloys have high strength, ductility, wear and corrosion resistance. They can be easily welded, machined and polished. The hardness and the cost of stainless steel is higher than that of aluminum alloy.
Price
$ $ $
Lead Time
< 7 days
Tolerances
Down to ±0.005 mm
Max part size
3000*2200*1100 mm
Min part size
2*2*2 mm
High machinability and ductility. Aluminum alloys have good strength-to-weight ratio, high thermal and electrical conductivity, low density and natural corrosion resistance.
Price
$ $ $
Lead Time
< 7 days
Tolerances
Down to ±0.003 mm
Max part size
3000*2200*1100 mm
Min part size
2*2*2 mm
Titanium is an advanced material with excellent corrosion resistance, biocompatibility, and strength-to-weight characteristics. This unique range of properties makes it an ideal choice for many of the engineering challenges faced by the medical, energy, chemical processing, and aerospace industries.
Price
$$$
Lead Time
< 10 days
Tolerances
Down to ±0.005 mm
Max part size
3000*2200*1100 mm
Min part size
2*2*2 mm
Brass is mechanically stronger and lower-friction metal properties make CNC machining brass ideal for mechanical applications that also require corrosion resistance such as those encountered in the marine industry.
Price
$$$
Lead Time
< 10 days
Tolerances
Down to ±0.005mm
Max part size
3000*2200*1100 mm
Min part size
2*2*2 mm
Highly resistant to seawater corrosion. The material’s mechanical properties are inferior to many other machinable metals, making it best for low-stress components produced by CNC machining.
Price
$ $ $ $ $
Lead Time
< 10 days
Tolerances
Down to ±0.005 mm
Max part size
3000*2200*1100 mm
Min part size
2*2*2 mm
Few metals have the electric conductivity that copper has when it comes to CNC milling materials. The material’s high corrosion resistance aids in preventing rust, and its thermal conductivity features facilitate CNC machining shaping.
Price
$$$
Lead Time
< 10 days
Tolerances
Down to ±0.005 mm
Max part size
3000*2200*1100 mm
Min part size
2*2*2 mm
Let’s Build Something Great, Together
FAQs: High-Precision Ice Maker Components for Consumer Goods Industry Applications
High-Precision Ice Makers must be manufactured with components like aluminum evaporator plates that measure 200-400 mm with a 15-30 mm ice cube cavity depth and a flatness level of ±0.010 mm to achieve consistent ice freezing. Other components include ejector blade assemblies with stainless steel edges and a sharpening mechanism that only dulls after 50,000 cycles, water distribution manifolds with spray hole patterns of 0.5-3.0 mm to achieve a uniform water distribution within a tolerance of ±5%, harvest mechanism housings with cam profiles that maintain a timing deviation of ±0.5 seconds, thermostat mounting brackets with thermal contact flatness of ±0.015 mm, refrigerant tubing connections that achieve a sealed (against leaks) system with a 300 psi pressure limit and ice bin assemblies manufactured with materials that meet FDA requirements. There are safety and quality requirements that include flatness of thermal contact with water, accurate placement of water distribution holes, and meeting FDA CFR 21 and NSF/ ANSI 51 compliance.
6061-T6 aluminum is very thermally conductive (167 W/m·K) and can freeze ice quickly, therefore lessening ice freeze cycle time by 20-30%. It is also lightweight so that the ice maker is easily portable and has anodized surface protection that prevents corrosion from moisture due to the anodized surface protection and has superior machinability for complex designs. Stainless steel 304 is food-grade compliant from FDA CFR 21, NSF/ANSI 51 for water contact, and is also very corrosion resistant to water and also cleaning chemicals. There is also no transferring of any tastes or odors to the ice which maintains the purity and cleanliness of the ice. It is also very durable at 515 MPa providing an effective way to harvest the ice. It is also easily cleaned which prevents the growth of bacteria and is very corrosion resistant for cleaning chemicals. ABS is an effective impact resistant (20 kJ/m²) lightweight polymer that also positive molded into complex designs for drop resistant ice collection containers. ABS is very cheap, compliant with FDA regulations, and is made with BPA free materials. Overall these materials are made with very specific features that are desirable for their specific components of an ice maker.
The horizontal CNC milling machine is able to achieve how smooth the surface of the evaporator plates are and the depth of the ice cube cavities would average 0.010 mm and 0.025 mm. 5-axis CNC milling is capable of machining the more complicated, multi profiled cam of the ice harvest mechanism to 0.020 mm tolerances. The precise, CNC drill is able to generate the water distribution drill pattern (3.0 mm to 0.5 mm, ±0.025 mm) and the drill hole location is to within 0.025 mm. The CNC lathe is responsible for the valve bodies, which are made of aluminum and to be within 0.015 mm of the requested diameter. Thread milling is done to create the NPT or ISO threaded refrigerant connection ports. The surface treatments for evaporators made of aluminum, some of which undergo Type II anodizing (10-25 μm), and for stainless steel, which is electropolished to achieve an average surface roughness of (Ra) 0.3-0.6 μm where passivation is applied to enhance corrosion resistance, and for the structural food contact components, a safe powder coating is done (60-100 μm).
The tolerances we achieve on evaporator plates are ±0.010 mm on the flatness of the thermal contact surfaces, which produces ice at a uniform temperature, and ±1.0 mm on the uniformity of the cube thickness. Also, the cavity depths of the ice cubes manufactured are controlled to ±0.025 mm, each cube containing a volume of water, at the depths of 20-40 mL, and the water holes within the evaporator plates are controlled to ±0.015 mm, and at uniform depths, we can achieve a spray pattern coverage to within ±5%. Other tolerances maintained are on the high of harvest cam mechanisms to ±0.020 mm and timing ejectors to within ±0.5 seconds. Plus, the thermostats are mounted on surfaces that have a flatness of ±0.015 mm for temperature reading accuracy to within ±2°C, and the threaded connections to the refrigerant have an accuracy of ±0.020 mm, which allows for a leak proof seal up to 300 PSI. The surfaces have a finish of 0.3 to 1.6 R_a microns. These tolerances allow for an ice product to be manufactured at a rate of 5-50 kg over a 24 hour period and have an 8-15 minute freezing cycle time for each batch. The cubes have a uniformity of -10% volume variation, the energy efficiency of the cycles is >80%, the thermal transfer is >80%, and the components have a life expectancy of > 50,000 cycles or > 5 years of daily use.
Yes. We do rapid prototyping and use CMM inspection for dimensional accuracy of ±0.005 mm. We perform hand measurements of flatness with precision dial indicators for our evaporator plates, carry out thermal cycling tests of -30°C to +50°C for 100 cycles, perform 20 PSI leak tests, and evaluate ice formation quality by measuring the uniformity and clarity of the thermal conductive cubes. We validate the thermal conductivity, test the cycle of our mechanisms for 1,000+ cycles, and check the food safety according to the standards set by FDA CFR 21 and NSF/ANSI 51. We perform low-volume production for specialty ice makers with an annual output of 1,000 to 15,000 components and high-volume production for major appliance brands. We distribute to ice maker manufacturers components in the range of tens of thousands to millions annually in addition to dimensional certification that includes flatness and cavity depth, material certification that indicates food-grade compliance per FDA CFR 21 and NSF/ANSI 51, thermal performance test documentation that includes ice production rate data, anodizing thickness (10-25μm Type II) verification, documentation of leak tests at operating pressures, results of durability that are above 50,000 cycles, and complete quality documentation that meets ISO 9001, NSF/ANSI 51 food equipment materials, FDA food-contact compliance, consumer refrigeration appliance safety standards, and other standards.
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