Introduction

This teardown was completed as part of my elective for advanced engineering at RMIT. This teardown took around 7 hours as I wished to avoid destructive methods of disassembly other than when necessary. To complete this you will need, Phillips head screw drivers, wed head screwdrivers, a drill and 3mm diameter bit, a centre punch, and the usual PPE.

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    • Midea FC307B Rice Cooker (prior to this teardown) in full working order, though the outlet cable had been lost.

    • Cooker weighs 3.2kg

    • Length: 304mm

    • Height: 218mm

    • Width 210mm

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    • Top filter pops off easily.

    • Top weighs 65g (both parts)

    • Length: 117mm

    • Width: 90mm

    • Height/Depth: 35mm

    • Top filter further breaks down into two more assemblies held together with a hook hinge and a latch

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    • Latch mechanism is held to the part with a single Phillips head m2 screw

    • The 4 parts sit together (as shown) to form the latch mechanism.

    • Note: the large slot in the white button component, that allows it to slide past the screw which intersects it. The red line illustrated how the screw intersects it.

    • All component's are made from ABS plastic with exception of the stainless-steel screw, and steel spring.

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    • The top of the filter had three parts that came off relatively easily. A neoprene gasket that could just be pulled off, the main injection moulded ABS plastic body. And a stamped stainless steel element.

    • The stainless-steel element had tabs that were folded around the main plastic body. It could easily be removed using a flat wedge screwdriver to flip them up.

    • These tabs folded into gaps on the underside of the plastic body.

    • Length: 117mm

    • Width: 90mm

    • Height/Depth: 12mm

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    • Bottom component made from grey ABS injection moulded plastic.

    • Bottom is held to the upper body of the cooker using 4 long Phillips head m3 screws which had to be accessed with a long screwdriver.

    • Bottom was further supported by 2 shorter m3 screws that also held neoprene stoppers on the underside of the cooker. I am not sure what is the purpose of these neoprene stoppers, possibly heat insulation?

    • Length: 317mm

    • Width: 245mm

    • Depth/Height: 75mm

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    • All the components I removed whilst unscrewing the bottom

    • White injection moulded ABS plastic housing for the outlet cable.

    • Neoprene white stoppers, held on using m3 screws. Not sure what purpose they have.

    • Neoprene feet, prevent the cooker from falling off a surface by creating friction with the surface.

    • 13mm long m3 Philips head screws, holds the bottom of the rice cooker to the upper

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    • Removing the base by removing the screws, the inner workings of the cooker are exposed.

    • PCB circuit board - controls the cooker

    • Power outlet

    • Cooking/heating bowl - heats the removable aluminium bowl (second picture)

    • SEE STEP 18 FOR BOWL DETAILS

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    • Mechanical buttons and circuit board are connected to a purple ABS injection moulded plastic frame

    • Frame is held to the main body of the cooker using 3 hard to access m2 Phillips head screws (here I have removed them)

    • Special hooks on the plastic frame for collecting and holding all the wires

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    • Back cover had two purposes: (1) to prevent the handle from being able to line up with its slots (see next step) and (2) to cover the torsion springs that actuate the lid

    • Width: 32mm

    • Height: 77mm

    • Length: 130mm

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    • After removing the bottom was able to see inside and see where the handle poked through onto the inside of the corner. Noticed the end of the handle had a nodule. Realised that the only way to remove the handle was to line up the nodule slot in the side.

    • Nodule slot on the handle, and on the side of the cooker

    • Weight of handle: 81g

    • Handle made from injection moulded ABS plastic. The mould notable has two halves indicated by the seam that runs along the inside of the handle

    • Height: 188mm

    • Width: 22mm

    • Length: 245mm

    • To remove handle and line it up with eh slots, the back cover had to be removed (previous step)

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    • Removing the lid interior

    • button latches hold the lid interior inside of the lid - see arrows

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    • Lid interior was held together using aluminium pop rivets - had to remove them by drilling the head off and using a punch to knock the rivets out.

    • Stamped aluminium plate

    • Outer neoprene gasket - injection moulded

    • Inner neoprene gasket - injection moulded

    • Main body housing - ABS plastic injection moulded

    • Steel springs

    • Riveting surface? ABS plastic injection moulded

    • Latches - ABS plastic injection moulded

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    • To remove the ABS plastic clips I had to use a nail/thin screwdriver to push the clip ends inside the housing

    • Aluminium plate (like other parts of this cooker) held on by crimped tabs - had to uncrimp them using a thin screwdriver

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    • Inside the lid there was a secondary stamped aluminium Pannel. It was held onto the lid curiously by 13 individual Phillips head screws

    • 12mm m3 Phillips head screw - stainless steel

    • 9mm m2 Phillips head screw - stainless steel

    • 12mm m3 Phillips head screw - nickel plated steel

    • Why 3 different types of screw with two different types of material used?

    • Brass nut for m3 screw/bolt

    • m3 washer for electronic component?

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    • Once the interior aluminium plate was removed, there was a thin layer of aluminium foil held on using a thermal resistant adhesive. I pulled the foil off revealing a heat sensor

    • Heat sensor

    • Adhesive

    • Fuse?

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    • Lid was connected by wires/leads that were adhered to the inside of the lid. Had to cut the wires with a wire cutter to be able to remove the lid.

    • Length: 270mm

    • Width: 232mm

    • height/Depth: 45mm

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    • Inside the lid was a neoprene gasket - see purple for indication of where it went

    • Diameter of gasket:50mm

    • Hehgiht:15mm

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    • Spin moulded anodised aluminium bowl

    • PTFE nonstick coating on the inside

    • Height: 110mm

    • Diameter: 206mm

OwainLloyd

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