Introduction: Cheap Braille Embosser (La Picoreuse)

Presentation

"La Picoreuse" is a cheap (75€), easy to build A4 braille embosser.

This project aims to serve as a first step or a basis for reflection for other makers in order to provide an alternative to very expensive market embossers (3000€)

The idea of this project is borned to respond to the needs of the ParACheval association

The cutting and soldering part could be realized thanks to fablab-sud31 (Cintegabelle)

Sources

OpenSCAD Sketch and DXF files: thingiverse

All source files: github

Step 1: Presentation

Step 2: Components (≈ 75€)

Frame

Motors

Electronic

Step 3: Prepare Boards

Cut frame

Download the 2 files and cut them using laser cutter (cnc may broke some of the small parts)

Indicative laser cutter settings (100W laser cutter)

  • for 6mm MDF: 13m/s at 80% power
  • for 3mm MDF: 30m/s at 80% power

If you are looking for up-to-date files or if you need to adapt them to a particular purpose, you could download OpenScad sources here

Step 4: Prepare Board

Prepare boards

Sand the boards G and E and fix 5mm bolt to E board (could be done later)

G is sanded to avoid blocking the paper

E is sanded to avoid blocking solenoid wires

Step 5: Adjust the Belt Length

Adjust the length of the belt

Block one of the ends of the belt with a nylon cable tie (make sure to put the head of the collar in the plane of the belt)

Follow the path indicated on the picture attached to the belt (put 2 nuts on the big axis to be sure to have the right dimension)

Attach the second end with a nylon cable tie

Step 6: Assemble Solenoid Support

Assemble the solenoid support

Attach belt connexion bold on each side of the solenoid.

Attach bronze ring with nylon cable tie.

Attach Solenoid with bolt. Be carrefull, if the bolt is too long it may cramp the solenoid moves a bit. If so add some rings to reduce the thread length

If the belt is already at the correct length you could add it at this step.

Step 7: Assemble Main Frame

Assemble main frame

Screw the Arduino card to the board H

Embed boards F, G and H in board B

Embed board C

Slide board F so that it blocks both sides

Step 8: Leaf Drive System

Leaf drive system

Nest the leaf drive system

Notice: If your leaf drive system is not the same size, you may have to adapt board G in OpenScad sketch (here)

Step 9: ​Damping Rubber

Damping Rubber

Insert the damping rubber of the punching system. To increase rigidity it could be useful to glue last layers of rubbers togethers.

Step 10: Connectors

12v connector

Add 12v connector on C board

End-of-travel switch

Add end-of-travel switch to C board. To build a more secure machine, it is also possible to add an other switch to B board.

Notice: in the video it is added to B board because it is another version of the machine

Step 11: Buid X Axis

Build X axis

Add D board on right side.

Slide the 6mm metal bars starting with the bottom one.

Step 12: Install Belt

Install the strap and make it protrude into the notches on each side

Step 13: Electronic

Connect wires as shown in the shema.

It may be useful to use pluggable connectors for solenoid and end-of-travel switch.

Step 14: Add Electronic

Connect electronic

    Plug motor shield to Arduino board

    Pass Y motor wires throw C and D boards holes (the X motor wires must stay in)

    Add solenoid control part

    Screw the power wire (motor shield and solenoid control part togethers)

    Step 15: Finish Frame Assembly

    Finish frame assembly

      Insert board I on the back (the one with holes)

      Embed board A on the left side

      Slot board E without forcing. If it stucks, make sure to run the Y motor wires at the back of the board E, to achieve this, just pull the wires a bit up from the inside of the electronics part.


      Step 16: Mount X Stepper Motor

      Mount the X stepper motor sideways to include the belt

      To hide wires, the connector must be embedded in board A

      Connect wires from the inside once the engine is in place.

      Step 17: Mount Y Stepper Motor

      Insert the bronze ring on B board

      Insert 8mm metal rod

      Add 8mm to 5mm connector

      Add Y stepper motor

      Tighten stepper and connector screws

      Step 18: Load Arduino Sketch

      Download

        BraillePrinter.ino (file on bottom) or up-to-date version here

        Adafruit motor lib

        Step 19: Run the Braille Printer!

        1. Connect USB to PC
        2. Plug 12v power supply
        3. Insert a A4 sheet (160g should be good)
        4. Open Arduino Serial Monitor and type
        { abcdefghij# klmnopqrst#uvwxyz
        • { : initialisation
        • # : start a new line (because, on serial tool, return validate sending instead of including newline char)
        • a..z : char convert to 6 dot braille


        Rq1: The syntax should be updated in future version to include configuration

        Rq2: This is a old video version (TODO: update it)