So I need to make a bunch of custom wrapped magnets as part of building a batch of eletro-permanent magnetic actuators. So far all my prototypes have been hand wound – which is just about as fun and time consuming as it sounds. So I decided to make a CNC coil winder. I am making not buying one as the decent ones are crazy expensive.
I roughed out a model for the frame, motor mounts, and sled this weekend. Over the holiday I am going to finish the sled, the tensioner, and bobbin support. If the design looks a bit weird I also designed all the parts so that they would print on a 3D printer that did not have a support material.
I am using roller skate bearings, springs, and some nuts and bolts – but the ideas is to keep everything else printed. I will probably just throw together a UI to drive it that talks to a micro-controller board. Either an Arduino or a UC3L. I have not decided yet.