Automated Small Parts Counting Machine with Arduino

A machine that counts and sorts set quantities of parts into individual cups- to replace a human [me] doing this repetitive task. Machine is automated. Once turned on it will count the predetermined set of small nuts (#4-40, #6-32, and #8-32) until completion. This machine is very early in design and inherently also very time consuming to develop. Just sharing my ideas to help other DIY-ers that may have the same redundant task of counting parts.
Weighing parts (the crimp connectors) is always an option, but I am trying to automate the task as an end goal, so counting seemed like the correct first step. It's a learning process.

[shaggybuffalo]

I hope one day I can engineer stuff like this with the knowledge I get, this is really cool

[Frank-ybzd]

very nice work. I love seeing person solve a problem with an Arduino!

[graiggutowski]

Nicely done. I like the crimp connector sifting device

[ashishabk]

3:56 You should mount the magnet there so the nuts get to the place

[PilotPlater]

of everything it seems like the crimp connector sorter is the most efficient to load and use. Think the electronic sorter is crazy cool too.

For items where you don't have 30+ of them, you could make a similar jig as what you did for the crimps, but have it sectioned into 3 or 4 different areas to drop into 3 or 4 different cups when you slide the tray open, paralelling it can make it even more efficient.

[pg]

Very cool. Like your thought process on this. Wish you the best of luck.

[shortyumpire]

Commercial machines use vibrators to turn the nuts on their flat sides. Then they push them up a sprial against the outer wall to a counter and they fall off into a bin. Maybe a vibrating platform that lays the nuts flat and then feeds them into your rotating disc. Great machines!

[Zetor]

Love the nailgun in Mario Bros at 1:02 :D

[joebenoit]

One nut weighs x grams. One connector weighs y grams. If each kit contains 8 nuts and 38 connectors, then 8 nuts and 38 connectors equals 8x+ 38y grams. Might be good to sample your final kits to ensure the machine counted right.

[MyBigThing]

square hole in your sort gear that allows the red component to just fit in (opposite corner to corner) will work on your current setup for the ones you need 30-36 of

[brocktechnology]

I like a complicated Arduino project as much as the next guy but looks to me like you've reached the point where it's time to hire a fulfillment house.

[NikitaLab]

Thanks for the video, helped a lot with what I'm working on but to count out washers for M3 screws (they're TINY).

[sajovicd]

Do you have some intructibles for DIY project. Or is it possible to buy a code from you? I saw I can buy arduino shield and LCD from your web page.

[_HighDuke]

Wouldn't it be more efficient to make the inclination of the sorting/pickup wheel more horizontal? I'm sure you've thought of this and I'm curious why you chose that fairly steep angle for it over a flatter one.

[MyBigThing]

you could also build a servo kicker on the opposite side to kick the cup onto a scale, weigh, verify weight within a selected spec, if it's light/heavy signal a stop and a buzzer, then wait for correct weight parameter and consecutive button press to continue operations

[lebalusch]

@ryan Bates. just an idea but instead of trying to get items into tiny holes and then into cups and then bags would it not have just been easier to just weigh the amount that you needed?

[johnnaskalski]

Nice work, was thinking have you tried 3d printing a custom spoon/fork with pokeyoke features for crimp connectors.

[riccardopeltretti]

Hi random viewer here, that is very cool Sir! Random suggestion: the combination of vibrating plate and a narrow slide could help you line those clamps up. Then you could have them slide to a wheel from the side instead of perpedicularly and pick them up from there. Hope I made some sense, bye ;)

[bwoogie]

on the connectors you could always use weight, just keep feeding them one by one until they match the desired weight. that is, if you can either figure out how to make a digital scale, or hack one.

[jnbenja]

Hello! someone know where can i find the code for this machine? i already searched in his website but i couldn't find it