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Need help creating a rotating platform

Former Member

Hey friends, I've been following the Ben Heck show and just itching to create a 3D scanner on the cheap. I want to tackle the rotating platform first and will be using it in conjunction with David's 3D scanner software and Meshlab. I want learn from your experience and I am open to suggestion on which controller board (Ardrino vs Rasperi Pi?) to use.

  • An inexpensive solution would be to use a common "lazy susan" type display base (source from: Wal-mart, etc) and a geared motor to bring down the rotational speed. I have seen several of these types of systems built for Halloween decorations by attaching a rubber wheel to the motor's output shaft and driving the rotating platform by friction. To rotate an object for capture, you are not talking about a high degree of torque, so should be able to get away with a pretty simple setup. You can add a controller (the Arduino + Motor Control shield can be obtained from your local Radio Shack or online sources like Adafruit, Sparkfun or Maker Shed easily enough) but can probably just use the motor in constant service without much more than a power switch. I did this using a wooden rotating platform and an adjustable-height tripod for Photogrammetry when writing "3D Printing for Dummies" and it worked out very well.

  • in reply to Former Member

    Before this I have not heard of the term "lazy susan" and it look like it will make an excellent platform. I will probably use some sort of a pulley system source from my old printer as it also have a motor to move everything. Hopefully it has enough torque if not then ill print a gear box. For the electronic, I will go with what you have suggested. Arduino Uno R3 + Motor Drive L293D. Should be an interesting project. Thanks for getting my side project started.

  • in reply to Former Member

    You should not need a great deal of torque, since the "lazy susan" takes care of rotational drag. Just keep your revs low and the frictional contact with the motor's drive wheel should take care of turning your object. you can automate the photo capture ever <x seconds> or when small magnets attached to the platform pass a sensor, using an Arduino or other inexpensive microcontroller. That makes it much easier to capture the same sequence of photos each time without you having to watch things yourself.

     

    Kirk Hausman