Rock / Print Tumbler

thingiverse

This is my rendition of a simple rock tumbler, inspired by onkelgeorg's affordable and practical design. The adaptable axle can be placed in one of several positions to accommodate a wide variety of tumbler sizes. I've been using an empty paint can with a few ribs glued inside to encourage tumbling action. Wrapping the can with some grippy draw liner material keeps it securely attached to the rollers. While I scavenged rollers from an old printer, scanner, and fax machine to attach to the axles, I've also included printable options. These include one flat roller and one with an extra lip on one end to prevent your tumbler from walking off-center while spinning. This sturdy tumbler has been performing well for several weeks now, with no signs of excessive wear or fatigue. I've successfully tumbled as much as 5 pounds of material without experiencing any strain on the drivetrain. Here's a list of hardware components: (1) A 158mm/79 tooth GT2 belt (4) 608 bearings (4) M3 12mm hex cap screws (2) M3 nuts (2) M3 washers (8) M6 25mm bolts (8) M6 nylon lock nuts (18) M8 nuts (4) M8 washers (1) A 215mm long M8 threaded rod (1) A 235mm long M8 threaded rod (1) A 12V DC, 0.5A power supply (1) A 12V DC 100RPM motor/gearbox with a centered output shaft (1) An SPST toggle switch (optional) (1) A 2.1 x 5.5mm DC female power plug pigtail cable (optional) (4-6) Adhesive rubber feet pads to keep your tumbler from moving around while it's running