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What Are Bicimáquinas?
Bicimáquinas are pedal-powered machines that
assist with a variety of jobs in the home, on the farm, on
the road and in small businesses. Each bicimáquina is handmade
in our workshop using a combination of old bikes, concrete,
wood, and metal. So far, we have developed several original
designs that have proven to be both functional and economical.
We have produced fact sheets and instructions
for the more popular designs. We also have some Sketchup
models. If you find them useful, please make a donation.
Bicycle Mill/Corn Thesher
This bicycle machine is adapted to fit a hand powered grinding
mill or a corn thresher. The Mill function has the capacity
to mill 3 lbs. per minute of any type of grain. The most
common use is for milling yellow maize, soya beans, and
coffee.
The Thresher is used post-harvest and easily degrains
12 to 15 quintales (1 quintal = 100 lbs.) per day and requires
only one person to operate the machine.
Bicycle Blender
A common kitchen blender adapted
to a converted bicycle. Blends fruit-smoothies, vegetable
purée and grain as well as soaps and shampoos. Perfect for
selling smoothies at the football field, festivals and parades.
Spins up to 6400 rpm.
Bicycle Rope Water Pump
The pedal powered water pump, lifts water at 5-10 gallons
per minute from wells and boreholes up to 30 in meters depth,
(compared to an electric pump that only pumps up to 12 meters
deep). Provides irrigation and drinking water where electricity
is not available.
The Mobile Water Pump
Fits on a bike and can be taken anywhere.
Bicycle Nut-Sheller
Removes the outer-shell of macademia nuts at 7lbs per
minute.
We custom build both front-loading and rear-loading tricycles
and a variety of trailers for hauling both human and non-human
cargo. These can be used for all purposes: taxi services,
disabled mobility, selling ice-cream or newspapers, or transporting
larger, heavier loads like water or firewood.
Microconcrete Vibrator for Roofing Tiles
This machine produces the vibrations required to force
air bubbles out of concrete. This produces long-lasting,
impermeable concrete that is moulded into roofing tiles.
The roofing tiles are attractive, durable, and create
better insulation than the ubiquitous corrugated metal
roofs. Cheap to produce, these tiles have a great potential
as the basis for a small business.
Bicycle Coffee Depulper
Removes the outer shell of the coffee bean allowing small-scale
farmers to then roast their own beans in the sun. The latest
model of this machine has the capacity to process 7lbs per
minute.
Prototypes
Bicycle Metal Sharpener
For sharpening all kinds of tools used in agriculture.
Bicycle Washing Machine
Still in the prototype phase, this pedal-powered washing
machine has great potential in rural areas where washing
clothes by hand is very time-consuming and inefficient.
Bicycle Electricity Generator
Another prototype with great potential to provide a cheap
source of electricity to power 12 volts for appliances in
rural communities.
Soil Plow/Till/Hoe
Used by hand to work soil, pushing it like a wheel-barrow.
Bicycle Wood Saw
A prototype tool for wood artesans that helps save time,
money, and materials.
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