A complete snack vending machine designed in SolidWorks with an emphasis on reliable dispensing, simple user interaction, modular construction, and manufacturability.
The team developed the machine as a full mechanical assembly containing a welded structural frame, removable panels, shelving, payment components, product-dispensing hardware, a delivery system, and support components.
The design used advanced SolidWorks tools including assembly mates, advanced hole tools, feature patterns, mirroring, 3D sketching, surface modeling, appearances, and animation.
Dispensing & Delivery Mechanism CAD
Within the team project, my individual CAD work focused primarily on the dispensing and delivery mechanisms and their integration into the larger vending machine assembly.
- Modeled the vending mechanism motor component and developed its gear-like geometry for the dispensing concept.
- Modeled the vending mechanism spring/coil used to represent product advancement during dispensing.
- Designed the vending mechanism base used to support and position the dispensing components.
- Created the vending mechanism subassembly and integrated its individual mechanical components.
- Designed the product chute that guides dispensed items from the shelving area toward the customer retrieval location.
- Modeled the delivery door and associated door components used in the product-retrieval system.
- Designed support-bracket components used to locate and secure mechanical elements within the assembly.
- Contributed my CAD components to the shared team assembly and supported fit verification with surrounding parts.
The complete vending machine was developed collaboratively by the project team. This section highlights the CAD components and subsystem work assigned specifically to me.
The vending machine was divided into functional subsystems so each team member could develop CAD components independently before integrating them into the final assembly.
Welded tube frame and exterior panels provide the primary machine structure.
Shelving and product rows organize snacks before dispensing.
Motor-driven coils advance individual products toward the chute.
Chute and hinged delivery door guide products to the customer.
A motor-driven spiral concept for controlled single-product dispensing.
The dispensing mechanism uses a spiral coil to hold products between successive turns. Rotation of the coil advances the product toward the edge of the shelf until it drops into the delivery chute.
The coil was modeled using the SolidWorks Helix feature with a 2.25-inch pitch, selected to approximate the thickness of common snack products and provide consistent spacing.
The motor component used repeated gear-like features created with a circular pattern to visually represent the connection between the motor and rotating coil.
After leaving the dispensing coil, the product moves through the delivery system toward the customer-access area.
Coil advances the selected product.
Product falls from the shelf.
Chute geometry directs the product toward the retrieval area.
Hinged delivery door provides controlled customer access.
The team combined the independently developed components into one shared SolidWorks assembly to verify fit, alignment, overall proportions, and mechanical interaction.
Structural frame designed around 1.5-inch thin-walled square steel tubing.
Removable electronics and door systems support maintenance and component replacement.
Bill acceptor, coin system, keypad, and digital feedback provide customer interaction.
Spiral dispensing mechanisms provide a simple mechanical method for advancing products.
Assembly mates and animation were used to demonstrate mechanical interaction and overall machine operation.
Coincident, concentric, and limit-angle mates were used throughout the assembly to constrain parts while preserving required mechanical motion.
A separate animation version of the SolidWorks assembly was created so components could move without disrupting the primary engineering assembly.
The final animation showed the machine from multiple angles, opened the front door, transitioned into an exploded assembly view, rotated a vending coil, dropped a chip bag into the tray, and opened the delivery door.
This project strengthened my ability to design mechanical components that function as part of a larger, collaboratively developed CAD system.
My dispensing and delivery work required consideration of geometry, motion, component interfaces, product flow, manufacturability, and how individual parts interact within the complete machine.
The project also provided experience working in a shared CAD environment, where independently modeled components had to remain dimensionally compatible with the final assembly.
Vending Machine Design Report
The final report contains the complete vending machine design, component development, SolidWorks modeling methods, assembly strategy, animation, project management, file ownership, and engineering drawings.