Roberto Groza

Running code should not be an issue since most of it will be run on the raspberry pi. It can also be run on Mac with a Python interpreter (like "Anaconda").

It depends what size sand table you want to build. I cut my V-slot extrusion to about 26.5" so that it was about 8" larger than the radius of the table. Get one that is at least a few inches larger than the radius.

I don't have an exact figure for the cost but it is probably around $300 for the materials (not including the tools that I already had). This project was a learning experience for me, so I spent about a year and a half on the final version. I think this project could definitely be done in a few weeks for someone who already has the experience with all of the materials in hand.

Thank you!The recorded audio from the videos make the mechanism sound much louder than it actually is. Also, the last video ("Sand Table Testing") was actually from an earlier version before I tuned the motor step delays and step sizes to reduce this noise.I also added rubber sheets between where the motors contacted the rest of the mechanism to reduce the amplified resonance vibrations.

The neodymium magnet that I used was a 1" diameter cylinder that is 1/2" tall. I had the magnet as close as possible to the wood surface (about 1-2 mm), and because the 3D-printed magnet mount is slightly flexible (accidental design feature), the magnet is pulled up against the wood surface when it is attracted to the ball bearing. The ball bearing that I used has a 3/4" diameter, but other sizes can also be used.

The slip ring is mounted from above facing upwards, so that the "thicker" part of the slip ring is inserted in the 1/2" hole and the flange with the free-spinning node of wires are facing upwards.

Hi amirsf - I created some of the movement plans by hand and others from "JSysiphus" on GitHub. I was also recently introduced to sandify.org, which is a great tool for creating, visualizing, and exporting movement plans that could be used with the Sand Table. I updated the software section with a new "movement plans" sub-section where I wrote more about it.

I posted additional details about the project, and I am working on making more improvements. Let me know if you have any questions!

I posted additional details about the project, and I am working on making more improvements. Let me know if you have any questions!