3D Printed Table Loom With 8 Shafts

In the long history of human innovation, there are certain inventions that have changed the world forever. The power loom is undoubtedly one of these groundbreaking technologies. Together with the steam engine, the mechanical loom marks a turning point in history that had a far-reaching impact on industry, society and our daily lives.

I have combined one of the oldest technologies - the loom - with 3D printing. The result is a loom that you can make yourself at home and use to weave a variety of patterns.

patterns you can weave. On platforms like Pinterest, you can find numerous templates that you can use. On my website, I explain step by step how you can adapt the patterns

and how to use your loom.

My website: Klick

Youtube Video: Klick

Download all files: Etsy, Cults3D

For the Dobby Upgrade: Etsy, Cults3D

Don't have a 3D printer? No problem: Klick

I have found a new passion through this project: weaving. It requires full concentration as mistakes can happen quickly. For older people, weaving is an ideal hobby to keep the brain fit, as it requires constant attention.

For this project, you will need a 3D printer, around 1.3 kg of PLA or PETG filament, threaded rods and round rods, screws, ropes and, of course, some time. But time is an essential part of weaving anyway.

There is an upgrade: weaving complex patterns requires a high level of concentration. The Dobby upgrade makes it possible to transfer the weaving pattern to a warp and then weave it without errors. It is highly recommended if you plan to weave longer sequences.

Dobby Upgrade: Etsy, Cults3D

Once all the parts have been printed, the assembly begins. With my YouTube video, this should be no problem. Connect the two frame parts with the threaded rod and set the distance to 320 mm - you can see this in the video at second 50. Fix everything well and make sure that the parts are parallel.

Next, attach the sidNow assemble the warp beam and the garment beam.

Now assemble the warp beam and the cloth beam. Prepare the cords for holding the fabric by knotting a nut to the cord. Insert the cord into the warp beam and the cloth beam and pin everything together. Use an M4 fusible nut and a worm screw to secure it.

Now install the lock for the warp beam and the clothes beam. To do this, insert a sleeve into the brake so that it remains rotatable. Then place the handwheel with the toothing on the shaft. Note: There are two handwheels with opposite teeth. Test which one activates the brake correctly. Then clamp the handwheel firmly onto the shaft with a screw.

Screw the side parts firmly to the base frame. Then install the swivel lever for the reed. To do this, insert a sleeve into which a nut is inserted. Insert a ball bearing into the upper lever of the swivel arm and screw it to the orange part to attach the swivel lever for the reed holder. The reed consists of two parts that are attached to the swivel arm using threaded rods. Finally, glue a screw into the clamping handle to fix the reed in position.

Next, install the upper crossbar and the holder for the shaft levers. Fasten these parts with threaded rods. Insert all the nuts and screw on the shaft lever mount.

All shaft levers are now fitted.

Insert the round rods into the side parts of the shafts and thread about 30 Hedless onto the shafts. Screw the M4 screws into the holes provided to secure the ropes. Attach the rubber cord on one side, which should be slightly under tension to hold the shafts in the lower position later.

Lay the loom on its side and install the shafts one after the other. Install small pulleys to redirect the elastic cord. Attach a braided rope to the top of the shafts and feed it through the hole in the top crossbar to the shaft lever. Secure the rope to the lever with a loop and then attach it to the other side of the shaft. Make sure that all shafts are the same height.

Your loom should now be fully assembled and look like the pictures.

Now it's time to get down to work: covering the loom. First determine the desired width of the weaving piece in order to calculate the number of warp threads.

To make it easier to warp the warp threads, use five screw clamps attached to a table. Place three clamps in a row to create a thread cross. This cross separates the individual warp threads. Pass the threads crosswise over two clamps - once over the top, once through the bottom - to form the desired cross. The pictures illustrate this step well.

Once the chain has been warped, tie the cross carefully with cords to prevent it from falling apart. It is advisable to tie off the chain at other points too. Then take the finished warp to the loom.

Once at the loom, first secure the thread cross with two round rods. Divide the threads into groups and insert them into the comb, which is secured with rubber rings and cords. Wind the chain onto the warp beam by holding the chain taut with your left hand and turning the wheel with your right hand.

Important: Regularly place strips of cardboard between the threads to separate them and keep them evenly taut. Quickly beat the chain to distribute the threads evenly - you can see this in the video at minute 8:10.

The warp should now be evenly wound and tensioned on the warp beam.

Thread the warp threads into the Hedless using a threading tool. The previously created thread cross is particularly important here. Work your way through the heddle thread by thread. This task requires maximum concentration and can vary depending on the weaving pattern. You can find more information on reading the weaving pattern templates on my website.

This step can be time-consuming depending on the number of warp threads. Then fold down the reed and thread each warp thread through the reed. It makes sense to bundle the threads in small groups (e.g. 5 threads) and knot them.

Finally, attach the groups of threads to the clothes beam. This method allows you to tighten the threads a little afterwards so that they are evenly tensioned.

Done - now you can start weaving.

You can start immediately with the weaving sequence you have written down. In the pictures you can see a weaving pattern: on the right is the sequence, at the top the clamping of the threads in the shafts, and at the top right the shafts that are lifted. I explain exactly how this works on my website and in the video.

With 8 shafts you can create countless patterns, and by using different colors the possibilities increase to thousands of patterns. Pinterest offers many templates that you can use.

Have fun with your new table loom! I look forward to seeing your beautiful and unique creations. Feel free to send me pictures of your loom and your work - I'm always curious to see other people's projects!

Thank you so much!