Watch The 3D Printed Tumbler in Action
If you’re reading this, there’s a really good chance that you already own a rock tumbler, have seen it done or are at least thinking about getting one and learning how to do it. They’re popular for a reason…because tumbling is a fun DIY project that just about anyone can do it. But if you want to get even more DIY, you can make your own tumbler like this 3D printed rock tumbler designed by Fraens!
As you probably already know, basic rock tumblers work by rotating a cylindrical chamber or barrel, letting physics polish the rocks inside. These are called rotary rock tumblers. The other type of tumbler is called a vibratory tumbler that shakes and “vibrates” the rocks. That’s the type of tumbler that Fraens built. Unlike the simpler rotary tumblers that smooth rocks by tumbling them, vibratory tumblers are more complex and are better for achieving a finer finish on the rocks.
For this DIY 3D printed tumbler, Fraens’s uses an electromagnet to create the vibration action. These vibrations are not just up and down; they also have a side-to-side motion, which causes the rocks to move around effectively inside the chamber. The intensity of this motion can be adjusted by changing the tension on additional springs that are also installed on the tumbler.
The device is powered by an Arduino and a L298N motor controller, with two potentiometers allowing the user to control the vibration intensity. Although the electromagnet is designed for 12 V, it’s being used at 24 V for extra power, despite the risk of overheating. To prevent damage, the Arduino is programmed to pause for cooling after every hour of operation.
Despite the potential for overheating, Fraens has successfully run the tumbler for four months without any issues.
If this is a project you’d actually like to take on, you can find and download the detailed instructions on the Fraens website.
