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Mechanical Design, Machine Design

About the Project

For Week 12 – Machine Design at Fab Academy, our team designed and built a 3D scanning machine from scratch. The goal was to create an affordable and functional 3D scanner using accessible components.

How It Works

The machine consists of a rotating platform that slowly spins the object while a smartphone camera captures it from different angles. The mechanism ensures a full 360° scan, allowing the object to be digitized into a 3D model.

Components Used

  • Rotating platform (motorized turntable)
  • Stepper motor + motor driver
  • Microcontroller (Arduino)
  • Smartphone camera
  • 3D printed parts (red mounts and holders)
  • Wooden base board
  • Wiring and connectors

CAD Abdukarim page

HARDWARE Asset page

ASSEMBLY page

WEB INTERFACE page

Assembly Process

  1. Cut and prepare the wooden base
  2. Mount the stepper motor and attach the rotating platform
  3. 3D print the camera holder and mount it on the vertical rail
  4. Connect the motor driver to the microcontroller
  5. Set up the smartphone on the holder
  6. Run the scanning sequence — the platform rotates automatically

Result

The final machine successfully scans objects using a smartphone and a motorized rotating platform. The project was completed as part of the Fab Academy Machine Design week at Yessenov University Fab Lab.