The Milkshake Mixer is a relatively inexpensive and simple appliance, with a long and efficient lifecycle. The simplicity of the appliance contributes to the long life cycle and low relative consumption. The appliance can be considered as having two major component groups, and respectively two major material groups. There is the "body" component of the appliance, and the "mechanical/functional" component of the appliance. The body is made mostly from plastic, structured in such a way as to support the load placed upon it effectively. There are no moving parts of the body, therefore wear as a product of operation is negligible. The plastic is susceptible to damage from excessive impact or unusual load; however this would result from improper use, storage, or negligible or otherwise user-inflicted damage that will not be considered a reduction in the viable life-cycle of the product. Slight deterioration i.e. color fading may occur from over exposure to elements like sunlight or heat.
The mechanical and functional component of the appliance is made mostly from metal. The tools of use, being the stir rod and the cup, are a lightweight and silver colored metal that is suitable for culinary use. The motor contains a few different kinds of metal, including copper for the brushes and stronger silver metals for its structure. The motor also contains magnets. The life cycle of these materials is long, and for most of them it is so long that considering the life cycle of the whole product should be done by simply considering the most limiting factor: the motor. The motor is the most likely to limit the life cycle of the product as it experiences the most wear during use. The brushes and coils can wear out over time, the magnets can slowly lose potency, and the surfaces of contact during revolution can experience wear.
The consumption and environmental impact of the appliance occurs in three categories: construction, use, and disposal. The appliance is not recyclable (or at least not deemed so at the time of manufacture). The motor is potentially remanufacturable, but as all the components are cheaply made it is exceedingly reasonable to assert that no parts of this product would be reused. Therefore, its disposal impact is that of the space it occupies in a landfill. It was constructed in a large scale factory manner, where the body was made from a two part plastic mold, as were its components. The motor and wiring harness are extremely generic and likely not proprietary to this model of milkshake mixer, therefore their production was large scale and efficient but with some environmental impact. Consumption on the device is low; it only consumes 120v wall-power and does so over short intervals and generally infrequently. Milkshakes are mixed fast. It also uses ingredients in its operation, indirectly promoting the consumption of ice cream, milk, syrup, fruit, etc.
-Hayden Putre
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