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Bettesworth Construction
3D Printing

A Better Embroidery Machine: A 3D-Printed CNC Add-On for a Sewing Machine

The DIY Embroidery Machine V2 uses a 3D-printed CNC gantry to move a hoop beneath a conventional sewing machine. Here are its documented controls, limitations and mains-safety warning.

By Bettesworth Construction Team 3 min read
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The DIY Embroidery Machine V2 is an experimental add-on that uses a CNC gantry to move an embroidery hoop beneath a conventional sewing machine’s needle. Its designer, OpenBuilds member sausagePaws, built it from 3D-printed parts and common CNC electronics, including an Arduino Nano, CNC shield and Bluetooth module. It is a documented DIY project—not a standalone embroidery machine or a proven commercial-ready design.

How the embroidery add-on works

Rather than moving the sewing head, the machine moves the fabric. A gantry carries the hoop across an XY stage while the sewing machine makes the stitches. The approach adapts a standard sewing machine with a CNC-controlled carriage instead of relying on a purpose-built embroidery machine.

In a 2019 report, Hackaday described an Android-tablet interface communicating over Bluetooth with an Arduino that controls the gantry. Hackaday’s report on the project presents the design as an effort to make a more affordable sewing-machine embroidery add-on using 3D-printed components and familiar CNC parts.

Controls and needle-position sensing

The creator’s build record identifies an Arduino Nano with a CNC shield and Bluetooth RS232 module as the main control hardware. The Android tablet provides the user interface.

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#1 Best Overall
LNKA Embroidery Hoop Screwdriver 3in1 Multi-Purpose for Brother
  • Embroidery Hoop Screwdriver Brand new and high quality 3-in-1 Multi-purpose
  • Sewing screwdriver has three different screw tips.
  • For use with frames and hoops, needle plates, needle clamps and presser feet.
  • This convenient, must-have addition to your sewing room is universal! Whether you have a sewing, embroidery or quilting machine this is the multi-purpose screwdriver you can't live without
  • Material: Plastic, Metal Size: Approx. 5 x 3 x 1.5 cm / 1.97 x 1.18 x 0.59 inch

For stitch timing, a retro-reflective detector mounted inside the sewing machine senses when the needle is raised. The creator says this arrangement proved more reliable than putting a detector on the embroidery foot. That detail matters because coordinating hoop motion with needle position is central to the design’s operation.

What the demonstration shows—and what it does not

The creator reported that the three-wheel plastic gantry plates and end supports felt solid, while explicitly noting that their longevity remained unknown. The demonstration also showed slight slippage of the design in the hoop; the build page says other trials shown at the end of the video turned out well. These are observations from the creator’s project record, not independently measured accuracy or reliability results.

Rank #2
Sew Tech Adjustable Cone Thread Stand Spool Holder for Sewing Machine Embroidery Quilting Serger Machines, Single Thread Stand for Smoother Feed, Large Spool Holder with Steady Heavy Plastic Base
  • Feed Thread Smoothly - Sew Tech adjustable single thread holder with steady heavy plastic base feeds thread smoothly through the hook at the end of the tall guide bar, making thread tension consistent and reducing thread breakage, winding and tangling problems, particularly ideal for cross-wound large spools and cones
  • Height Adjustable - The tall metal guide bar is height adjustable, helps to feed thread to your machine with machine’s special height requirements, which is nice to have
  • Premium Quality and Appearance - Its elegant appearance will surely add a touch of beauty to your room, durable material is selected for the production, and the heavy base makes sure the thread holder stay firmly
  • Easy to Assemble - Sew Tech stand-alone cone thread holder for sewing machine is very simple to assemble
  • Wide Use - Sew Tech cone thread adapter stand fit most of spool sizes, especially for the large spool or cone, which can not be placed on your machine, this free-standing universal thread stand works with all Brother Singer Baby Lock Bernina Husqvarna Viking Pfaff Janome Elna embroidery sewing quilting serger machines

OpenBuilds marks the project “build complete,” but that is a project-status label, not evidence of a finished product or validated construction plan. The available record does not provide a complete, independently tested bill of materials or performance figures, so it cannot establish long-term durability, repeatable precision or commercial readiness. The DIY Embroidery Machine V2 build page is the primary project record.

Files, license and what is included

The OpenBuilds page lists an Arduino Nano code archive and a SketchUp model file as downloads, and specifies a CC BY-NC license. The listing does not establish that the files include every component design, the Android app or complete assembly instructions. Treat the license and downloads as applying to what the page actually identifies; do not assume they make every part of the project unrestricted or ready to reproduce.

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Rank #3
Bobbin Winder for Sewing Machine Fully Automatic CNC Programming Electric Winding Machine, Adjustable Speed Automatic Winding Machine High Torque Winding Machine for Sewing Machine Thread Winding Use(
  • New fully automatic programmable winding machine
  • More than 99 channels can be set, each channe can be set up with a maximum of 9999
  • Reverse count,High torque
  • Adjustable speed
  • Programmable

Electrical safety: a serious DIY constraint

The creator says the sewing machine requires control of 230 VAC mains and describes the DIY power controller as fully isolated. The same build record warns that the controller should only be built by a practitioner in the field and tested with PAT testing equipment, and disclaims suitability for other builds. That description is not independent verification that copying the controller is safe. Mains-powered machine control is a specialist electrical task; do not treat this project as a beginner wiring guide.

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What to check before sourcing parts

The project documents an Arduino Nano and CNC shield, but does not specify an exact retail kit, board revision, driver modules or a complete compatibility list. If sourcing an Arduino Nano CNC shield kit, verify the hardware against the build materials you intend to follow rather than assuming any bundle will match.

Rank #4
Sale
Dritz 253 Machine Needle Inserter & Threader for Sewing, Blue
  • Ideal for specialty threads
  • Needle threader reduces eye strain
  • Threads needles quickly
  • This will work for threading and inserting needles on any home sewing machine

Filament for printed parts, an embroidery hoop and ordinary sewing-machine consumables are plausible sourcing categories, but the creator does not identify brands, recommended materials or merchants. They are not a verified shopping list, and the available documentation is too incomplete to turn them into a definitive parts order.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
LNKA Embroidery Hoop Screwdriver 3in1 Multi-Purpose for Brother
LNKA Embroidery Hoop Screwdriver 3in1 Multi-Purpose for Brother
Embroidery Hoop Screwdriver Brand new and high quality 3-in-1 Multi-purpose; Sewing screwdriver has three different screw tips.
$18.79
Bestseller No. 3
Bobbin Winder for Sewing Machine Fully Automatic CNC Programming Electric Winding Machine, Adjustable Speed Automatic Winding Machine High Torque Winding Machine for Sewing Machine Thread Winding Use(
Bobbin Winder for Sewing Machine Fully Automatic CNC Programming Electric Winding Machine, Adjustable Speed Automatic Winding Machine High Torque Winding Machine for Sewing Machine Thread Winding Use(
New fully automatic programmable winding machine; More than 99 channels can be set, each channe can be set up with a maximum of 9999
$752.99
SaleBestseller No. 4
Dritz 253 Machine Needle Inserter & Threader for Sewing, Blue
Dritz 253 Machine Needle Inserter & Threader for Sewing, Blue
Ideal for specialty threads; Needle threader reduces eye strain; Threads needles quickly; This will work for threading and inserting needles on any home sewing machine
$7.41
Best Value
Embroidex Adjustable Single Thread Spool Holder – Stand alone Embroidery, Sewing or Quilting Thread Holder or Stand – Ensures Smoother Feed = Heavy Plastic Base
  • UNIVERSAL SPOOL HOLDER – Besides a wide range of spool sizes, this unique spool holder helps you hold even the large conical spools of threads which are otherwise difficult to accommodate in a built-in thread holder and require a lots of hacks like mason jars, etc. – larger spools cost less and offer you more thread compared to standard size spools. This stand, thus, not only makes life more convenient for you but also makes the sewing, embroidery or quilting more cost-effective.
  • BUTTERY FEED – The standalone thread stand or thread spool holder is ideal for machines with horizontal spool holders. It makes thread come out at even pace and smoothly off the spool, thus eliminating any chances of frequent thread breaking or tangling. This is one of the best solutions for cross-wound cones which unfold or unwind over the top of the cone.
  • SMART DESIGN – There is a central pin for holding the spool which is capable enough to hold very big sizes of spools too. The thread from the spool is threaded through the hook at the end of the tall vertical guide and then it can be normally threaded through the machine as usual. The tall guide bar ensures that the thread feeds from a point which is higher than your machine to make the feed ultra-smooth.
  • SUPERIOR BUILD AND DURABLE DESIGN – The reinforced Plastic base of the thread holder imparts it stability and lets your spool stand still for a hassle-free sewing, quilting or embroidery experience. The use of superior quality materials ensure high durability and long life – thus making your investment get good returns even in the long run.
  • 100% RISK-FREE SATISFACTION GUARANTEE - We also offer you 100% risk-free satisfaction guarantee to let you buy with confidence; no questions asked. However, we are quite sure that you will be super impressed with the quality of this sturdy and effective spool holder and will love the benefits that it brings home.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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