Date: 17/4/2020
- Check if the project is feasible from a mechanical standpoint.
- Have a platform for experimenting and writing microcontroller code on.
The current design for the prototype consists of three elements:
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The weave-head:
I decided to go for a needle-like object moving on a linear track, with springs pushing it to the default position and an eccentric cam pushing it into the engaged position. For this prototype I opted to avoid electronics, but there is room for a motor for this mechanism for future experiments. -
The spindle:
I used a roll of cotton thread that I had lying around, I suspended it on ball bearing rollers so that it spins freely. -
The frame:
I printed the frame (although the plan is to make it out of wood for the larger models), it has a ball bearing in the center for almost friction-free rotation, and I chose to only house 50 nails in it in order to keep the same distance between the nails as in the larger design.
This is a slanted view of the build, with all the parts somewhat visible.
Bottom-up view of the weave-head mechanism, with the sewing needle in the center and some nails.
The spindle and the weave-head roller engaging in some thread action together.
A random side view.
- Most of the things!
I was happy with how the spindle worked, with the frame and with the weave head in general.
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Weave-head spring:
I took springs from random pens around the house and tried to use them, I ended up with uneven spring tension in the weaving mechanism which failed to bring the eccentric cam back to it's original relaxed position. -
Tension:
At some points (when the weave head retracts, or when the frame rotates more than 180 degrees), the thread loses it's tension and the wire droops down.It looks like a tensioning mechanism is required in order to keep the thread from going loose and messing up the weave.
- Design tensioning mechanism for the spool.
- Add electronics;
- Motor to spin the frame,
- Motor to operate the weave-head mechanism