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Automatic Shirt Folding Machine

Made by TPalowski13 / 3D Printing / Robotics

About the project

I made an Auto Shirt Folding Machine using three 12V DC motors, driven by MD10C-R3 controller boards, and controlled by by an Arduino.

Project info

Difficulty: Moderate

Platforms: Arduino

Estimated time: 2 hours

License: GNU General Public License, version 3 or later (GPL3+)

Items used in this project

Hardware components

	DC Gear Motor 12V 100RPM 37mm Output Shaft	x 3
	MD10C-R3 Motor Controller Board	x 1
	Arduino Uno - R3 Could uses Nano	x 1
	Custom Motor Clamp https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4547787/files	x 3
	Custom Motor Paddle Attachment https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4547787/files	x 3
	Custom Motor Coupler https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4547787/files	x 1
	Momentary Pushbutton Switch - 12mm Square Any momentary push button	x 1

Software apps and online services

Arduino

Hand tools and fabrication machines

	Soldering Iron	x 1
	Hot Glue Gun	x 1

Story

Wanted to over-engineer a more efficient way to be lazy. Thus, I made a machine that folds my shirts (mostly) at the push of a button. Hope yall enjoy!

Build and Demonstration Video

The device is made from a few pieces of foam board (0.1875inch thickness) cut into four pieces and hinged with packing tape. The timing of the folds can be adjusted inside the code.

Schematics, diagrams and documents

Circuit Diagram

You can tie all of the 12V supplies together on the other power rail of the breadboard.

CAD, enclosures and custom parts

Motor Paddle

Motor Coupling

Motor Clamp

Code

Three Motor Control

Adjust the timing of the motors via the "int delaymills_ = ___;" lines.

//define pin name
#define dir 1  // Direction
#define pwrA 2 // Power for Motor A
#define pwrB 4 // Power for Motor B
#define pwrC 7 // Power for Motor C

//constants won't change
const int buttonPin = 8;     // the number of the pushbutton pin

// variables will change
int buttonState = 0;         // variable for reading the pushbutton status
int pwrAState = LOW;
int pwrBState = LOW;
int pwrcState = LOW;
int delaymillsA = 400;
int delaymillsAr = 400;       // Return delay
int delaymillsB = 400;
int delaymillsBr = 400;       // Return delay
int delaymillsC = 500;
int delaymillsCr = 500;       // Return delay
int delaymillsD = 100;

void setup() {
  // initialize the pwr and dir pins as outputs:
  pinMode(pwrA,OUTPUT);
  pinMode(pwrB,OUTPUT);
  pinMode(pwrC,OUTPUT);
  pinMode(dir,OUTPUT);

  // initialize the pushbutton pin as an input:
  pinMode(buttonPin, INPUT);
}
void loop() {
 // read the state of the pushbutton value:
  buttonState = digitalRead(buttonPin);

// check if the pushbutton is pressed. If it is, the buttonState is HIGH:
  if (buttonState == HIGH) {
digitalWrite(pwrA,HIGH);
digitalWrite(dir,HIGH);                                          // set DIR pin HIGH or LOW
delay(delaymillsA);
digitalWrite(dir,LOW);                                          // set DIR pin HIGH or LOW
delay(delaymillsAr);
digitalWrite(pwrA,LOW);
delay(delaymillsD);
digitalWrite(pwrB,HIGH);
digitalWrite(dir,HIGH);                                          // set DIR pin HIGH or LOW
delay(delaymillsB);
digitalWrite(dir,LOW);                                          // set DIR pin HIGH or LOW
delay(delaymillsBr);
digitalWrite(pwrB,LOW);
delay(delaymillsD);
digitalWrite(pwrC,HIGH);
digitalWrite(dir,HIGH);                                          // set DIR pin HIGH or LOW
delay(delaymillsC);
digitalWrite(dir,LOW);                                          // set DIR pin HIGH or LOW
delay(delaymillsCr);
digitalWrite(pwrC,LOW);
delay(delaymillsD);
  } else {
    // turn LED off:
    digitalWrite(pwrA, LOW);
    digitalWrite(pwrB, LOW);
    digitalWrite(pwrC, LOW);
  }
}

Credits

TPalowski13

Mechanical Engineering Graduate, Youtuber. I like to make dumb builds that I find funny.

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Automatic Shirt Folding Machine

About the project

Project info