CNC Sewing Machine
We’re all working on some pretty cool projects over here at the moment, but this Arduino powered sewing machine is my personal favourite. I took an old zigzag sewing machine and kitted it out with servos to control the needle position and fabric feed.
The servos are attached to an Arduino that is programmed to operate in one of three modes:
1) Basic Zigzag – This duplicates the functionality of the original zigzag machine.
2) Pattern Mode – Choose from one of 10 preset patterns stored in the Arduino’s memory.
3) Full CNC – Connects directly to a computer via USB, and accepts custom pattern instructions from the machine. In this mode the machine can control fabric and needle direction, so with some clever thinking I should be able to program it to do letters and numbers.
This is an ongoing project. Although the mechanics and electronics are now complete, I still have some polishing and painting to do. I will update this project as time goes on, so keep checking back on the site to monitor progress.
That’s awesome! What a great idea. Now I want to convert one of the old machines I’ve got laying around. To do full embroidery, you’re going to have to control the reverse function and the needle position left-to-right. What size servo does that require?
Thanks, really pleased that you like it.
I used standard Futaba S3003 “general purpose” servos – It doesn’t take much effort to move the mechanism once you disconnect the tension springs from the feed and the zigzag cam. The feed/position controls work fine with these servos, and the machine will reverse feed in a single stitch. If you push the machine at full speed, the servo might not be fast enough to move from extreme left to extreme right at 5 volts, so a 7806 voltage regulator might be a better choice – but then again, how often do people floor the pedal unless they’re running a long seam?
I second Justin great project. I cannot wait to dig into this a build one out for my self. Keep the updates coming great work.
Love the project you’ve got there. Also looking to recreate it for myself and my group of “Makers” in Memphis, MidSouth Makers.
Anxiously awaiting your posts!
I’ve added some more photos and information here: http://www.upcraft.it/archives/718
I’ll keep posting updates, and release the software when I’m happy with the look of it.
Thanks for looking!
Andrew
Hello Andrew,
Your design is amazing! I plan to make a similar one for my school project.
I wonder which model of Alfa Sewing Machine are you using? I would like to buy a sewing machine that’s easy to hack.
Thanks a lot!
Cheers,
Bing
I’m glad you like the project. I must admit that it wasn’t really a project, more a sort of protracted tinkering session
I’m not sure of the exact model of the sewing machine, but it’s usually fairly easy to spot how the zigzag mechanism works. Machines that can accept cams will be easier to modify, and it will pay to get the fastest acting servo that you can find. Servo power is less important than speed in this project.
Hope that helps,
Andrew
Good!I like it.
Do you have any plans or code you could share? I was just thinking about this today and I’d love to do it at our hackerspace
Hi Andrew,
I’d like also to play around with sewing.
I don’t know anything about Arduino, but I’d like to make a sewing machine sew a patter I want from my computer.
Are you thinking to share code/ instructions on how to assemble it and make the computer interacrt with the arduino board?
thankyou!!
Or other hand: any material on the web I could dig into?
or even better, smbdy willing to be part of a team and play around?