Update: 3/2/21

 Added STEP and IGES Files.

Update

Added MKII style carriage STLs & source design files.

Need the following additional parts (1) McMaster 5233T84 - 3 x 19mm O-Ring (1) M6 Nyloc Nut (1) M6 x 55mm BHCS (2) 606 Bearings

Updated Design Change Log - 12-04-2011 -Updated Spindle Base Design to Make Pockets Faceted for Easier Printing -Updated Masters to Include New Spindle Base -Added Counterbalance Hardware -Removed WIP, Design Complete!

Change Log - 11-25-2011 -Yarn Guide Added -Ball Winder Base Drawing Added -Spindle Updated to Remove Mtl -Spindle Base Updated to Remove Rounds & Add Support -Carriage Updated to Remove Mtl & Add Spacer -Spindle Updated to Add Support -Updated all STL Files -Added Creo (Pro/E) Native CAD Files -Added Exploded Assembly Views -Updated Parts/Fastener List

This printable wool winder creates center-pull balls from raw hanks of yarn, it must be used in combination with a yarn swift, I will work on a printable swift in the future.

I designed this winder for my mother who was having troubles with her current ball winder, a new equivalent winder was priced around $50. I felt like I could design and make a better winder for only a few $ in purchased parts (most I had around) and plastic. Plus I know how it works so if it breaks I can fix it.

The winders function is pretty simple but really fun to watch. The motion of the winder can be explained as such. The hand crank, when turned causes the center carriage mechanism to rotate around a stationary cone. The motion of the carriage in combination with the stationary cone causes the winding spindle to rotate about its axis. The winding spindle completes one rotation for every nine rotations of the hand crank. The dual spinning motion of the carriage and the spindle is what causes the yarn to take the form of a cylinder.

Video of the winder in action. http://youtu.be/iS2732Mlz7k

To build the winder you will need a few non-printable parts.

Qty 4 - 624ZZ Ball Bearings Qty 2 - 606ZZ Ball Bearings Qty 2 - 608ZZ Ball Bearings Qty 1 - Compression Spring, McMaster-Carr P/N 9435K93 Qty 1 - O-Ring Size -237, McMaster-Carr P/N: 9396K226 Qty 1 - O-Ring Size -254, McMaster-Carr P/N: 9396K245 Qty 1 - 1/4" PTFE Tubing, McMaster-Carr P/N: 5239K12 Qty 3 - M3 x 30mm SHCS Qty 3 - M3 Hex Nut Qty 1 - M4 x 40mm SHCS Qty 1 - M4 x 30mm BHCS Qty 2 - M4 x 16mm SHCS Qty 3 - M4 Flat Washer Qty 2 - M4 NyLoc Hex Nut Qty 2 - M5 x 25mm SHCS Qty 2 - M5 Hex Nut Qty 1 - M6 x 40mm SHCS Qty 1 - M6 Flat Washer Qty 2 - M6 Hex Nut Qty 1 - M8 Hex Nut Qty 1 - M8 Threaded Rod (65mm Long) Qty 2 - M10 Hex Nut Qty 2 - M5 Acorn Nut Qty 2 - M5 x 35mm FHCS Qty 4 - 1/2" Tall Rubber Bumpers

See Exploded Views.

NOTE: You will only need aprox 10mm of the spring.

• I reccomend slipping the spring over a scrap piece of 8mm threaded rod and using a rotary tool to cleanly cut the section of spring you need.

• Alternativly you can use a pair of side cutters and jam them in between the coils, I do not reccomend this method since you usually just end up chasing pieces of spring all around the shop and bending up the spring in the process.