DIWire Build Plans Available for Download

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By Matt Richardson
Posted 2012/06/21 @ 9:30 am
Category Arduino, Workshop

We’ve previously posted about DIWire, an Arduino based machine that bends metal wire into 2D or 3D shapes. Now the folks at Pensa have uploaded the bill of materials, code, and models of the custom parts for 3D printing so that you can get started building your own CNC wire bending machine… in case one of these is out of your price range.

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10 Responses to DIWire Build Plans Available for Download

Craig Dunn on June 21st, 2012 at 10:07 am said:

This is excellent that they released the designs. The actual control code is mentioned in several places in the MAKE post and their own blogs, but I have been unable to locate anything other than the BOM and the 3D models – no actual source code for the Arduino or Processing side of things. Anyone have any links?

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- Matt Richardson on June 21st, 2012 at 11:00 am said:
  
  Craig, if you go to the Google Code repo, click “Source” then “Browse.” They’re saved as .txt files for some reason.
  
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  Craig Dunn on June 21st, 2012 at 11:48 am said:
  
  Thanks, Matt. It was not apparent when I first looked under the Source tab and didn’t see anything available jump out at me. Marco Perry from Pensa has also been very helpful (and quick) in helping me get to the bottom of this. Thanks again.
  
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Catastrophic on June 21st, 2012 at 11:02 am said:

Anybody have an estimated cost of this BOM? This would be a totally build for our hackerspace…

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- Catastrophic on June 21st, 2012 at 7:39 pm said:
  
  After a little consulting with the McMaster catalog and some sourcing for the oriental motors/drivers, I figure the parts will run a little north of $1200, 75% of which is just the stepper motors and drivers. This does not include the spools of wire, they run around $80/330′ spool.
  
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GeekDadof4 on June 21st, 2012 at 11:13 am said:

Man what a cool Idea, pretty “simple too” Maybe instead of a cnc foam cutter for lost foam casting, I could wire frame, then Skin (and remove the wire) a plaster form, and pour. Probably easier to create hollow castings….very cool idea.

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Maestro de Ceremonia para Boda on June 21st, 2012 at 11:30 am said:

I’m interested to know the costs of materials, some idea.?

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bobster23 on June 21st, 2012 at 2:23 pm said:

This may be stupid question, but what is wire bending used for? What kind of projects can this machine help make? Cool project anyway.

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- mattmaier on June 23rd, 2012 at 12:30 pm said:
  
  One thought off the top of my head is outlining the relatively complex shape of the wing for a wind generator. The wire can then become the support structure for either the wing itself or a fiberglass mold. No need to shape anything by hand and experimenting with changes would be relatively quick and cheap. The same basic idea could apply to any reasonably sized fiberglass mold (like for a dashboard, or a special project box). I can think of tons of little doodads one might want to print, like a phone stand, or a cable organizer, or a cup holder, etc. The artistic applications are pretty much unlimited (provided wire is involved somehow).
  
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Mark Jackson on August 3rd, 2012 at 12:46 pm said:

I love it. Have you done any research involving a 3rd axis?

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