crwdns2915892:0crwdne2915892:0
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.
- 
   
   - 
                     
            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 
 
- 
                     
            
- 
   
   - 
                     
            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 
 
- 
                     
            
- 
   
   - 
                     
            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. 
 
- 
                     
            
- 
   
   - 
                     
            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 
 
- 
                     
            
- 
   
   - 
                     
            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 
 
- 
                     
            
- 
   
   - 
                     
            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 
 
- 
                     
            
- 
                     
                                                
- 
   
   - 
                     
            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 
 
- 
                     
            
- 
   
   - 
                     
            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 
 
- 
                     
            
- 
   
   - 
                     
            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 
 
- 
                     
            
- 
   
   - 
                     
            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) 
 
- 
                     
            
- 
   
   - 
                     
            Removing the lid interior 
- 
                     
            button latches hold the lid interior inside of the lid - see arrows 
 
- 
                     
            
- 
   
   - 
                     
            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 
 
- 
                     
            
- 
   
   - 
                     
            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 
 
- 
                     
            
- 
   
   - 
                     
            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? 
 
- 
                     
            
- 
   
   - 
                     
            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? 
 
- 
                     
            
- 
   
   - 
                     
            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 
 
- 
                     
            
- 
   
   - 
                     
            Inside the lid was a neoprene gasket - see purple for indication of where it went 
- 
                     
            Diameter of gasket:50mm 
- 
                     
            Hehgiht:15mm 
 
- 
                     
            
- 
   
   - 
                     
            Spin moulded anodised aluminium bowl 
- 
                     
            PTFE nonstick coating on the inside 
- 
                     
            Height: 110mm 
- 
                     
            Diameter: 206mm 
 
- 
                     
            
