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On the workbench: a 3D printed braiding machine
I'm designing and printing a Maypole-style braiding machine from scratch, one test at a time. Here's how it works, and every step of the build so far.
The braider is still in development and isn't for sale yet. Want to make rope today? My rope making machine is available now →
- Eight gears in a ring
- Each gear turns the opposite way from the gears beside it, and the teeth mesh so they all stay in step.
- Bobbins get handed off
- Each bobbin of thread rides in a pocket on a gear. Where two gears meet (the dashed circles), the bobbin is passed to the next gear.
- Two groups, opposite directions
- The four blue bobbins travel clockwise and the four red bobbins travel counterclockwise, weaving in and out around each other like dancers around a maypole.
- The braid forms in the middle
- All eight threads run up to the center, and the over-and-under weaving turns them into a round braid.
Episode 13 · November 2026 Latest
Fast tracks and a tighter braid
It's making rope again. A slower winder take-up pulls the braid tighter, new ceramic thread guides keep every thread running smoothly, and a new guide leads the finished rope out. A few more fine tunes and it'll be making quality rope.
Interactive model · November 2026
Explore the machine in 3D
Spin it around, zoom in, and watch all eight bobbins braid their threads into rope. Switch views to see the track, the braid and the rollers up close, or turn on “See inside” to look at the drive.
Drag to spin it, scroll or pinch to zoom. An illustration of the current design, simplified for display. About 4 MB to load.
Build update · November 2026
First run on the full eight-station track
The real machine, filmed from above: two test bobbins running at full speed around the newly printed track and gears, passed from gear to gear through the crossovers. More to come.
Build update · November 2026
Printing a new top track plate
The whole top plate prints in one go, with the red and blue bobbin paths and station numbers printed right in. This version adds smoother lead-ins under the crossovers so the bobbins can run faster. More to come.
Follow along
I post new products, glow reveals, and build videos from the workshop most weeks.