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Counter-Turning Curved Beater Churn: Two Beater Sets Turn Opposite Ways, Then Together to Gather
Millie

Created by

Millie

7. October 2026NL
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Counter-Turning Curved Beater Churn: Two Beater Sets Turn Opposite Ways, Then Together to Gather

E. P. and J. A. Cowles of Oakfield, New York, received US 16,717, dated 3 March 1857, for two sets of curved beaters turned opposite ways through wheels and a pinion that can be dropped out of gear, so both then turn together to gather the butter, the beaters curved "to draw the cream from the center of the churn, and force it against the sides." This rung prints the beater sets, sleeve, wheels, pinion and bracket, builds the churn and makes butter.
Advanced
About 5 hours, plus printing

Instructions

1

Opposite ways, then together

Loading Jupyter Notebook...
2

The counter-turning churn they name

The Cowleses disclaim Brown and Bigelow's opposite-turning dashers and claim the curved arms, the drop-out pinion and the sprung seals.
3

Read US 16,717

"When the pinion F is in gear with the wheels D, H, and the shaft B is rotated the two sets of arms (a1) (c) with their beaters attached will rotate in opposite or reverse directions the arms and beaters forming dashers which act upon the cream. The beaters (b) (d) owing to their curved form throw the cream from the center toward the sides of the body A."
4

Print the parts

Print beater set B (/uploads/blueprints/counter-turning-curved-beater-churn-beaters-b.stl), beater set C (/uploads/blueprints/counter-turning-curved-beater-churn-beaters-c.stl), the sleeve (/uploads/blueprints/counter-turning-curved-beater-churn-sleeve.stl), wheel D (/uploads/blueprints/counter-turning-curved-beater-churn-wheel-d.stl), wheel H (/uploads/blueprints/counter-turning-curved-beater-churn-wheel-h.stl), pinion F (/uploads/blueprints/counter-turning-curved-beater-churn-pinion-f.stl) and its bracket (/uploads/blueprints/counter-turning-curved-beater-churn-pinion-bracket.stl). Print in PETG at 0.2 mm layers, 30 % infill, 4 walls; wash before first use.

Materials for this step:

PETG FilamentPETG Filament1 piece

Tools needed:

FDM 3D PrinterFDM 3D Printer
5

Shafts and beaters

Lay a round food-grade container about 180 mm across on its side in a pine cradle and cut a lid opening in its top. Run a 10 mm stainless rod through it as shaft B, with beater set B fixed near the far end. Slide the sleeve over the rod through the near end wall, beater set C fixed on it, with a compression spring pressing a collar on it against the sleeve's end, and seal the wall round the sleeve with food-safe silicone.

Materials for this step:

Food-Grade Storage ContainerFood-Grade Storage Container1 piece
Pine BoardPine Board1 piece
Mild Steel RodMild Steel Rod1 piece
Compression Spring SetCompression Spring Set1 piece
Silicone SealantSilicone Sealant1 piece
Two-Part EpoxyTwo-Part Epoxy1 piece

Tools needed:

Coping SawCoping Saw
Cordless DrillCordless Drill
Drill Bit SetDrill Bit Set
HacksawHacksaw
6

Wheels, pinion and crank

Fix wheel H on the sleeve's outer end and wheel D, facing it, on the rod's end with a crank. Screw the bracket to the cradle so pinion F on a short 6 mm rod sits between and meshes both wheels; a turn button under the rod holds it up in gear, and swung aside lets it drop out.

Materials for this step:

Mild Steel RodMild Steel Rod1 piece
Hardwood DowelsHardwood Dowels1 piece
#8 x 1" Wood Screw#8 x 1" Wood Screw1 piece

Tools needed:

Screwdriver SetScrewdriver Set
HacksawHacksaw
7

The build in 3D

FreeCAD model of this build: the cylinder cut open to show the two beater sets on the shaft and sleeve, and wheels D and H with pinion F between them.
Design FileBLENDCC0 - Free
8

Churn, then gather

Let the heavy cream stand until it reaches about 15 °C, checked with the thermometer. Pour in 1.5 litres. With the pinion in gear, crank steadily; time until the butter comes. Swing the button aside so the pinion drops out, and crank on slowly so both sets turn together to gather the butter. Pour off the buttermilk, add cold water, churn a little and pour off again until it runs clear; work in a pinch of salt and weigh the butter.
Step 8 - Image 1

Materials for this step:

Heavy CreamHeavy Cream1500 ml
Coarse Sea SaltCoarse Sea Salt1 piece
WaterWater1 piece

Tools needed:

Leave-In Probe ThermometerLeave-In Probe Thermometer
StopwatchStopwatch
Digital Kitchen ScaleDigital Kitchen Scale
Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl (Large)Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl (Large)
9

Troubleshooting

Counter-turning beater churn troubleshooting.

Flow

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10

History and honest limits

**E. P. and J. A. Cowles** of Oakfield, Genesee County, New York, US 16,717, 3 March 1857. They disclaimed two dashers turned opposite ways by gears and a pinion, naming Brown & Bigelow's patent of 1852 and Mansfield and Moore's rejected application of 1853, and claimed the shafts, collars and wheels combined with the springs. Crown wheels and a spur pinion stand in for their toothed wheels. FDM prints hold food in their layer lines, so wash well and replace when worn.

Materials

12

Tools Required

10

Design Files

1

CC0 Public Domain

This blueprint is released under CC0. You are free to copy, modify, distribute, and use this work for any purpose, without asking permission.

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