Motorized Screw Organizer With Jam Jars: the Caroustore

by MagicManu

22K29430

Intro: Motorized Screw Organizer With Jam Jars: the Caroustore

I suggest to you a practical and original system to find your hardware (screws, nails, bolts ...): a carousel of 32 jam jar, motorized with a wiper motor.

Finding a piece becomes quick because a sample of each piece is visible in a numbered rack.

Working: the desired part is marked on the display, the corresponding button is pressed, the system rotates in the shortest direction, slowed down, stops, the light comes on for 10 seconds and the parts can be taken by unscrewing jar of its lid.

Video : https://youtu.be/_vXFOUmiD2g

Time spent:

  • about 70H


Tools used:

  • Circular saw,
  • miter saw,
  • drill,
  • screwdriver,
  • router ...


Main materials:


Electronic part:

STEP 1: Studies and Plans

The jars being suspended by their lids, they are on a rotating axis to always have the head up.

So I started by doing a simulation with the software Physion, then a "model" cardboard to check that the jars would not touch during the rotation.

STEP 2: Pulleys

The pulley is cut into 16 mm MDF with a router in "compass" mode.

The throat of this pulley is dug with a router mounted under the workbench. I fixed the piece in order to make it turn on its axis. I then stick a piece of belt to make a notched pulley...

The trays are cut with a router in 10mm MDF.

I cut a circle in a recovery board (white on photo) to make a router template, it serves to hollow the center of the trays on 5 mm to accommodate the ball bearings. (52mm outside, 25mm inside).

The bearings are thus trapped between the trays and the pulley (or the freewheel).

STEP 3: The Motor

Intermediate test and I realize that the motor will not be "sturdy enough". So I switch to a truck wiper motor (24V but it works very well in 12V).

I enlarge the hole of a pulley and I tapping it and it takes place on the axis of the motor (Secured with 2 BTR screws)

STEP 4: Jar Holders

The supports of the jars are mounted on small 12mm ball bearings, I trace their pitches to create a housing for the router (12mm milling cutter only)...

The supports of the jar are cut in wood battens and then drilled to receive the wooden piton.

The axis of these supports is provided by a wood piton engaged in force in a bearing.

These pins are driven into the mallet battens.

8 other cleats are screwed to close the "cage".

STEP 5: Installation of Jars

I drill holes on the lids of the jars of jam.

These covers are then screwed onto the movable supports (using a cardboard template)

STEP 6: The Built

On the sides of the fixed part (the frame) I drill the holes of 25mm for the axis.

Then come the 3 holes to fix the motor.

The frame is made in a 15 mm medium (MDF), screwed and glued.

At the rear you can see the fixings for the wall.

STEP 7: Sensors

To detect the 8 positions, I use reed switch (alarm sensor with magnets).

They take place on the motor side :

  • magnets on the moving part
  • 1 fixed sensor for the 8 positions
  • 1 fixed sensor for position 1 (init)

STEP 8: Axis and Light

The axis is cut in a 25mm steel tube.

I plan a hole to fix it and one to pass the wires of the lighting (LED strip).

So that it can not rotate (are the bearings that must rotate) I block it with a square.

On the axis (which is fixed) I add a strip of self-adhesive LED which lights 10 seconds after the position reached.

STEP 9: Electronic

For the electronic part I used an Arduino Uno. It simplifies the circuit very much!

And for the power part (motor control), I used a module VNH2SP30 (H bridge) which supports 14A and allows to vary the speed, reverse the direction ...

The plan and the code of the Arduino are available for download.

STEP 10: Control Board

For the control board I drilled the holes of the buttons in 3mm medium.

The sides of the control panel are glued with a frame press.

The polycarbonate (plexi) will allow to see the samples.

The facade is painted black and is then screwed onto the frame with hinges.

STEP 11: Specimen Box

For the specimen box I used falls of plastics coming from corner rods. They are glued to the glue gun.

The specimen box is installed behind the glass. It is easily removable to add / replace a location.

I also add numbers to locate locations

STEP 12: Done!

The system is installed on the wall (in a lost corner) and it is ready to make my life easier!

And you ? What would you classify in the Caroustore? Candy? Jewelry? Other?

28 Comments

georgesanita 6 years ago

Bonjour
pouvez vous me faire parvenir le diamètre de la poulie et du flasques en bois du Caroustore merci Cordialement

LuisV54 7 years ago

congrat for your organization and idea, i think in one of vertical position, maybe in a corner for change the teme of season

MagicManu 7 years ago

Of people told me they would like to make a Caroustore but that the electronic part was too complicated for them.

I therefore propose a version without electronics, a simple electrical installation with 8 relays (with 2 contacts) and 8 NC limit switches.

The control voltage may be different from the motor voltage.

AndrewDouglasBird 7 years ago

We have a giant one of these at work to store maintenance parts. It is probably 30ft tall and has 4 foot x 10 foot drawers that slide out at your request. I've wanted one at home since I saw it and this is just that! Awesome job.

MagicManu 7 years ago

Thank you ! A giant caroustore! But without jam pots ! lol

NigelB13 7 years ago

Fantastic build! I just wish I was so organised.

AllenInks 7 years ago

I wonder if it might not be better to attach the jar lids to their supports BEFORE doing any other fabrication on the supports (drilling ends for bearing attachment; assembly into structure). First, it would be easier to screw the lids to the support if the supports were flat on a workbench. Second, if the support should split, which can happen when iscrewing in several fasteners in a row in a very narrow wooden member, it is much easier to replace with another piece of wood.

MagicManu 7 years ago

Hello, yes of course! There are obvious things today that were not obvious at the time of creation.

I made the Caroustore as a prototype, without knowing if it would work, so the production steps are not necessarily logical.

By following this article, we know that it works and that there is no surprise so there are things to improve :)

mach1950 7 years ago

A wonderful project, and a great instructible. Thanks very much!

RichFarwell 7 years ago

Sacrebleu!

Fantastic! really great instructable. Though I can't understand French, the video was very helpful.

Not sure how long it will take me to go through that many jars of jam, but I shall persevere! ;-)

JamesP8 7 years ago

or...preservere. Ba dum tsshh. I'm here all week.

MagicManu 7 years ago

Thank you ! For the video you can activate the subtitles and choose the English translation in the parameters (gearbox at the bottom right)

And for jars of jam, you do not have to eat everything! lol You can also buy used jars, for example in France : LeBonCoin

Marchalis 7 years ago

This is the work of pure genius. I shudder to think what you could accomplish with a DeLorean and a Flux Capacitor. Extremely well done, and my compliments on the video as well.

Marchalis 7 years ago

ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!!! I did not even see that video (the introduction), talk about cosmic coincidence! Even better!

MagicManu 7 years ago

Indeed ! Being a fan of Back To The Future I made this preview video almost 2 months ago but it had made a flop! (350 view only).

Great Scott!

Dui ni shuo de dui 7 years ago

Chouette systeme, bravo!

Pas l'ideal au niveau de la place que ca occuppe si on a enormement de quincaillerie mais j'en fabriquerais bien un juste pour le fun!

MagicManu 7 years ago

Merci Zoidberg ! Oui il y a moyen de faire plus compact : à mon avis l'axe des supports devrait être vers le centre les pots plutôt qu'au dessus des couvercles...
---
Thanks Zoidberg! Yes there is way to make more compact: in my opinion the axis of the supports should be towards the center of the pots rather than above the lids ...

AlpineLED 7 years ago

AMAZING GREAT IDEA! Thank you for your creative designed. I have too many electronic components parts and hardware laying around. I have saved so many glass jam jar to use as storage under shelf. But CarousStore is far better than my old brain idea, LOL. I'm deaf watching your video which I need to read English closed captions. But that's okay your video action display is worth a thousand words, lol. I'll find time to make one! Great Job!

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