Summary of ARDUINO BOBBIN WINDING MACHINE IS FREAKY FAST
This article describes a high-speed, automatic bobbin winder built by [Mr. Innovative] to solve the frustration of running out of thread mid-stitch. The device uses an Arduino to control a 775 DC motor and drill chuck, winding up to twelve bobbins quickly. It features a unique foam doughnut mechanism to secure thread starts and a nichrome wire cutter for thread severing.
Parts used in the Automatic Bobbin Winder:
- Acrylic slide
- Aluminium components
- Arduino controller
- Twelve empty bobbins
- Drill chuck
- 775 DC motor
- Nichrome wire cutter
- Foam doughnut
- Bearing
One of the worst things about sewing is finding out that your bobbin — that’s the smaller spool that works together with the needle and the larger spool to make a complete stitch — ran out of thread several stitches ago. If you’re lucky, the machine has a viewing window on the bobbin so you can easily tell when it’s getting dangerously close to running out, but many machines (ours included) must be taken halfway apart and the bobbin removed before it can be checked.
Having spare bobbins ready to go is definitely the answer. We would venture to guess that most (if not all) machines have a built-in bobbin winder, but using them involves de-threading the machine and setting it up to wind bobbins instead of sew. If you have a whole lot of sewing to do and can afford it, an automatic bobbin winder is a godsend. If you’re [Mr. Innovative], you build one yourself out of acrylic, aluminium, and Arduinos.
Here’s how it works: load up the clever little acrylic slide with up to twelve empty bobbins, then dial in the speed percentage and press the start button. The bobbins load one at a time onto a drill chuck that’s on the output shaft of a beefy 775 DC motor. The motor spins ridiculously fast, loading up the bobbin in a few seconds. Then the bobbin falls down a ramp and into a rack, and the thread is severed by a piece of nichrome wire.
An important part of winding bobbins is making sure the thread stays in place at the start of the wind. We love the way [Mr. Innovative] handled this part of the problem — a little foam doughnut around a bearing holds the thread in place just long enough to get the winding started. The schematic, BOM, and CAD files are available if you’d like to make one of these amazing machines for yourself. In the meantime, check out the demo/build video after the break.
Still not convinced that sewing is cool enough to learn? Our own [Jenny List] may be able to convert you. If that doesn’t get you, you might like to know that some sewing machines are hackable — this old girl has a second life as a computerized embroidery machine. If those don’t do it, consider that sewing machines can give you a second life, too.
Source: ARDUINO BOBBIN WINDING MACHINE IS FREAKY FAST
- How does the machine handle the start of the thread?
A foam doughnut around a bearing holds the thread in place just long enough to get the winding started. - What material is used to cut the thread after winding?
A piece of nichrome wire severs the thread. - Can this machine wind multiple bobbins at once?
The acrylic slide can hold up to twelve empty bobbins, but they load one at a time. - What kind of motor powers the bobbin winder?
A beefy 775 DC motor spins the output shaft with the attached drill chuck. - Does the user need to de-thread the sewing machine to use this tool?
No, this automatic tool allows users to wind bobbins without de-threading their main sewing machine. - Where can I find the files to build this machine?
The schematic, BOM, and CAD files are available for those who want to make one. - How fast does the machine wind a bobbin?
The motor spins ridiculously fast, loading up a bobbin in just a few seconds.
