3 Leg SDA (Spider Developer Agitator)

thingiverse

I'm excited to share my latest project. Instead of using a small pin to manually stir the developer, I designed an automatic stirrer agitator that saves me time and effort. The setup is versatile and can be modified to fit other Paterson Super System 4 tanks. To power the agitator, I repurposed a 5V stepper motor from an old printer. A PICAXE-08M2 microcontroller controls the motor, which is connected to an A3967 stepper motor module. This setup ensures smooth and consistent agitation. I'm powering everything with a USB power bank, like a JBL speaker, so I can enjoy music while I work. It's a great way to stay entertained during long development sessions. Some users have reported issues with uneven negative development when using the manual pin method, especially near the edges of the frame. To address this, I'm considering adding an agitator propeller below or above the developer tank. To take my setup to the next level, I'm working on a sheet film insert for Paterson tanks that will be compatible with this system. This will enable me to develop larger sheets of film with ease.