Braiding rope just got a lot easier thanks to the 16-Bobbin Rope Braiding Machine

Yarncraft
Braiding rope just got a lot easier thanks to the 16-Bobbin Rope Braiding Machine
Mixed Media Engineering brings 1800's tech to the modern age... then to kickstarter
Mixed Media Engineering brings 1800’s tech to the modern age… then to kickstarter

Braiding rope seems to be something only machines and little girls are able to accomplish. A new device created by David from Mixed Media Engineering however, would allow the mechanically challenged to finally be able to braid their own. The 16-Bobbin Rope Braiding Machine features thread-wrapped spools that orbit each other using a system of acrylic gears that twine the fibers together. Most all of the device’s parts were laser cut using a CNC machine and can use various yarns (including carbon fiber, embroidery thread and para-cord) to produce rope. It also has the ability to braid around a central core, such as a surgical tube core with a nylon wrap for pressure tubing. David came up with the idea of the Braiding Machine based on an antique factory rope-braiding machine from the 1890’s. He plans to offer the device as a kit on a new Kickstarter campaign in the near future, which would give us all the magical skill of braiding rope.

This isn’t David and Mixed Media Engineering’s first trip onto kickstarter. The Jiggernaut bike frame and Interlachen DIY outdoor wear kit shows their ingenuity and most of all, capability to deliver. Head over to the Mixed Media Engineering’s project page to see all their inspirational projects.

Luckily, Hack-a-day was able to interview David and capture a demo of the early version rope weaver.

YouTube player

1 thought on “Braiding rope just got a lot easier thanks to the 16-Bobbin Rope Braiding Machine

  1. Brad Goodman says:

    WIcked cool! It looks like the “jamming” issue is due to the fact that the “center”/braided section is not held in place – therefore when it “drifts” to one side or the other, the threads have longer in some areas and shorter in others – and you get a difference in tensions that causes it to “jam”.

Comments are closed.

Discuss this article with the rest of the community on our Discord server!
Tagged

The one-man ace engineering wrecking crew - If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find me, maybe you can hire... the Cabe-team

View more articles by Cabe Atwell

ADVERTISEMENT

Maker Faire Bay Area 2023 - Mare Island, CA

Escape to an island of imagination + innovation as Maker Faire Bay Area returns for its 15th iteration!

Buy Tickets today! SAVE 15% and lock-in your preferred date(s).

FEEDBACK