Orbital Lab Shaker - Simple & Inexpensive Version

This is a remix of Adafruit's Lab Shaker - as much as I loved the design, I thought it was overly complicated and more expensive than it needed to be, so I remixed it to use a very small and inexpensive motor speed controller specifically designed for these types of applications. See instructions below.

What you'll need:

• 1x Motor: https://www.adafruit.com/product/3777

• 1x CY 50cm mini USB Panel-mount cable: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XY5MPQM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

• 5x 10x15x4mm bearings: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RWGXNVI/

• 1x RioRand RR-PWM-15V Low Voltage Dc 1.8v 3v 5v 6v 12v 2a Motor Speed Controller: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N30UK2M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

• 2x M3x25 machine screws for mounting motor to top plate - mine did not need the nuts, just screwed in from the bottom of the motor to the bottom of the top-plate. https://www.albanycountyfasteners.com/Phillips-Pan-Head-Machine-Screw-M3-x-5-p/1066-1008.htm

• 3x M3 x 6mm Machine Screws - Used for platform: https://www.albanycountyfasteners.com/Phillips-Pan-Head-Machine-Screw-M3-x-5-p/1066-1008.htm

• 3x M3 x 8mm Machine Screws - Used for container holder: https://www.albanycountyfasteners.com/3-MM-x-5-Phillips-Flat-Head-Machine-Screw-p/1011-1006.htm

• 3x M3 Metric Hex Jam Nuts - Used for securing platform assembly (Again, I didn't need these, just screwed straight into the plastic parts): https://www.albanycountyfasteners.com/Metric-Hex-Jam-Nuts-A2-Stainless-Steel-p/5580000.htm

• 4x M3 x 4mm Machine Screws - to fasten Motor Speed Controller to base plate: https://www.albanycountyfasteners.com/Phillips-Pan-Head-Machine-Screw-M3-x-5-p/1066-1008.htm

• I personally didn't use the tray or the cup holder on mine. Instead, I used some cutouts from these sticky sheets (one square for the bottom and a triangle shape for the top): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075CPYVWK/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

How to put it together:

• Cut off one side of the spinning piece coming off the motor/gear assembly. I did this to make the orbital shaker shorter so it could fit in my refrigerator with something on top of it.

• Attach the motor to the bottom of the top plate using the M3x25mm screws.

• put the base plate onto the walls.

• Put the nub of the speed controller's potentiometer (the part that rotates to increase or decrease speed) through the small hole in the walls and fasten into place with some M3x4mm screws (you can use slightly larger or smaller screws here) - then place the knob on.

• Attach the USB cable to the inner part of the wall and cut the cable with enough wire to reach the motor speed controller.

• Strip the black and white wire and plug them into the respective + and - (red wire is +, black wire is -) on the speed controller.

• Plug the motor into the "motor" part of the speed controller (again, black is -, red is +).

• put 2 bearings on/in each of the brackets except for the motor bracket, which only uses one bearing.

• Attach it all together according to the photos or the instructions on this site: https://learn.adafruit.com/crickit-lab-shaker/

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That's it! Now you have a very simple and inexpensive orbital lab shaker :)

Enjoy!

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PS. Be sure to check out the new facebook group called "3D Printing Useful Things!" - where you can find lots of other useful 3D prints :)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/608845186127310/