A 3D-Printed Nut Sorting Machine
This rotational device automatically separates out different nut sizes.
Since you’re reading this, there’s a good chance that you’ve got a number of projects in progress, as well as parts that may not be as organized as they should be. While it won't be able to help with all your shop clutter challenges, Mr Innovative's DIY sorting machine can at least help separate loose nuts into a series of organized compartments for storage and use.
The device’s concept is ingeniously simple, leveraging a rotating platform that progressively moves the nuts forward, pushing them outwards with the help of a 3D-printed piece of tooling situated on top. This tooling features a series of steps that progressively let nuts pass if they’re small enough to slide under a certain section, and pushes them outwards into a specific bin section if they’re the proper size.
The system is powered by a small gear motor, under the control of a custom speed control board. The base is cut out of wood, and the 3D-printed components are available for download on Thingiverse. You can see the device being built in the video below, along with a short demo separating out M8, M6, M5, M4, and M3 nuts. Although it appears to generate an erroneously sorted part every once in a while, the nuts are much more organized than before. It’s an interesting proof-of-concept, which could form the basis for all sorts of other sorting machinery!