technology

workshop

living

food

play

outside

Arduino Quilting Machine

by Yu-Ning Lin on May 15, 2014

Table of Contents
Arduino Quilting Machine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Intro: Arduino Quilting Machine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 1: Block Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 2: Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 3: Laser-cut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

File Downloads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 4: Deconstructing the Mini Sewing Machine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 5: Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 6: RAMPS/ Stepper Motor Drives/ Stepper Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 7: Sketch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
File Downloads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Advertisements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Quilting-Machine/

Intro: Arduino Quilting Machine

The Arduino Quilting Machine combines the mechanics of a sewing machine, CNC technology and Arduino as an operating system. The project is designed to translate
a vector file from a computer into G-code and subsequently into Arduino language which then moves the machine. The project uses four stepper motors to control the xaxis, y-axis, the bobbin case, and the threading. The bed moves in x and y direction while the threading moves up and down. This project is currently a work in progress
and still being developed and tested.

Step 1: Block Diagram

Step 2: Parts

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Quilting-Machine/

Step 3: Laser-cut
1. Most of the parts are from laser-cut. I modeled in Rhino first to see how it looks and then make this laser cut file. The file is for 3/8, 1/8 and 1/4" plywood.
2. Glue all the same parts together to prepare for construction, for example, all the A1 together, and all the B2 together....etc.

File Downloads

lasercut file.AI (85 KB)

[NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to 'lasercut file.AI']

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Quilting-Machine/

Step 4: Deconstructing the Mini Sewing Machine

Instead of fabricating all mechanical parts of the sewing machine, I took the existing parts of a mini sewing machine and reassembled them for my Arduino Quilting
Machine. The only custom parts are the shuttle hook cover, shuttle race, bobbin case and the entire needle bar.

Step 5: Construction
1. Take out linear bearings, and place it in C1/C2 and E1/E2.
2. Place square nut into C3/C4 and D1/D2.
3. Glue C1/C2/C3/C4 on each corner of B1 ( This is the bed of the machine that moves X direction), and place B2 on top of B1.
4. Place one threaded rod and one linear shaft into C1/C2/C3/C4, and then put it aside.
5. Glue D1/D2 and E1/E2 on both sides of F1 (This is the bed of the machine that moves in the Y-axis), and place one threaded rod and one linear shaft into D1/D2 and
E1/E2.
6. Glue a piece of P1 on top of A1/A2, I1 and J1, and then place A1/A2 at both ends of the linear shaft of the X-axis bed, and place I1 and J1 at both ends of the Y-axis
bed.
7. Use the rest of P1 and some 1/4" screws to tighten both linear shafts.
8. Glue L1 to M1, and L2 to M2. Place two stepper motors on top of them.
9. Connect threaded rod to stepper motors with shaft couplers. Just one on each end of the two rods.
10. Place G1 at the end of threaded rod of X-axis bed, and H1 at the end of Y-axis bed.
11. Place and glue the entire Y-axis bed on Q1.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Quilting-Machine/

12. Place and glue the entire X-axis bed on the Y-axis bed.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Quilting-Machine/

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Quilting-Machine/

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Quilting-Machine/

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Quilting-Machine/

Step 6: RAMPS/ Stepper Motor Drives/ Stepper Motors

1. The heat sinks prevent the drives from overheating. Before placing the stepper-motor drives on the RAMPS-shield, heat sinks should be placed on the drives with
adhesive tape.
2. In order to make a clean connection between stepper motors and RAMPS that can easily be adjusted in the future, solder the wires to female headers and cover them
with heat shrink. After soldering, connect the wires to the RAMPS. The wires from each stepper motor are color-coded red | blue | green | black and should be connected
to pins 2B | 2A | 1A | 1B respectively. The first digit denotes the number of the stepper rotor inside the motor, and the second digit denotes polarity (e.g. 2A would be
second stepper rotor with A polarity. The polarity is not predefined, which means it can be either as long as both As have the same polarity).
3. Connect external power to the RAMPS. On the left side of the RAMPS you will find four screw terminals. The bottom two screw terminals are for 5A current, and top
two are for 11A current. RAMPS is designed for 3D printers, so the 11A is for the heating element inside a 3D printer. The lower terminal of the screw terminal set is
ground, the upper terminal is positive.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Quilting-Machine/

Step 7: Sketch
This is a sketch I found on online to test if the connection of the Stepper motors are actually correct. Library is included in the package.

File Downloads

ramps14test.rar (3 KB)
[NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to 'ramps14test.rar']

Related Instructables

Tilt Sensing
Quilt (Photos) by
Plusea

Interactive Quilt
by kncjdavis

Sunshine Quilt
by ChrysN

Sound Quilt by
AlpineButterfly

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Quilting-Machine/

How to Prepare
a Quilt for
Machine
Quilting (video)
by MargueritaM

Laptop
Messenger Bag
by
modhomeecteacher

Advertisements

Comments
11 comments Add Comment

builtofire says:

Jun 19, 2014. 1:23 AM REPLY

Please add a video when you can :)

xyzworkshop says:

Jun 4, 2014. 3:11 PM REPLY

Nice work! Interested to see what you make from it.... Nice bike too! Congrats on getting featured twice on instructables.. Thanks for sharing

abenavente says:

Jun 4, 2014. 2:38 PM REPLY

nice work... but this is not why i am commenting is because i've never look an asian like her before you habe a nice face :)

chaydock says:

Jun 1, 2014. 5:05 PM REPLY

My mom does quilting with a computer controlled Long Arm (similar to the picture I attached). That's a monster of a machine by contrast to the instructable size.
But, considering my mom's machine cost her about as much as a car, a small machine for tiny projects would be cool to see in an affordable/customizable
package. Like someone else commented... I would love to see the instructable version in action.

Yu-Ning Lin says:

Jun 4, 2014. 10:36 AM REPLY

Yeah, my goal was to bring an affordable project to the table!

cverzini says:

May 30, 2014. 4:34 AM REPLY

do you have a video of this in action?

I want to see how it works before I build it

Yu-Ning Lin says:

May 30, 2014. 10:48 PM REPLY

hey, unfortunately no because this is still under development. I am still working on it. I am on the phase of coding right now.

kewpiedoll99 says:

Jun 1, 2014. 10:41 AM REPLY

do you plan to update the instructable when you finish the coding phase? i am very interested to see how this plays out as you continue work on it.
great idea and good instructable so far.

Yu-Ning Lin says:

Jun 4, 2014. 10:32 AM REPLY

Hi! YES, I will definitely update this project after I am done with coding and everything. The project is new to me, and not many sources I can find
online, so I definitely want to share with everyone!

craftclarity says:
SUPER COOL. Thank you so much for going into this much detail on your build. I hope other people follow up on this...!!!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Quilting-Machine/

May 29, 2014. 2:46 PM REPLY

Yu-Ning Lin says:

Thank you!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Quilting-Machine/

May 30, 2014. 10:49 PM REPLY