Grand Planet Spinner

This instructable has huge parts just copied from my other instructable, and watch it's movie The big difference is that this one is called Grand because it adds Uranus and Neptune, making it slightly bigger. I could have done that with the method described there (feel free to do so, the materials are all there), but it made the central pillar way too big for my taste. So I redesigned it and came up with a way to make it much less tall. Why not use this better method for the other instructable, because I think instructables should be easy to replicate. The other one is easy, it uses a toothpick as an axis for the planets to rotate around. This better version uses a hard to make axis that has a groove on one side. Describing both methods in one instructable would be too confusing. So there you have it, and lets start with the slightly edited original introduction.

Get ready to revolutionize the way you experience the solar system with my brand new invention - the Grand Planet Spinner! This tiny device, once a day at midnight, moves the planets to show their correct orientation around the sun. Unlike traditional orreries that only show the relative speed of motion of the planets, this device is designed to show the correct orientation. And the best part? You can easily make your own using just a laser cutter, a dremel and some off-the-shelf electronics - it's that simple!

What sets the Planet Spinner apart from traditional planetariums is the innovative mechanism that's inspired by vault locks. This mechanism, which has never been used in a planetarium before, is incredibly simple yet effective. It took me 2.5 months, 20 prototypes and multiple motors to develop, but the end result is truly amazing!

I've named it the Planet Spinner because that's exactly what it does - it spins the planets in their correct orientation. It's the perfect device for anyone who's passionate about astronomy or just loves cool gadgets.

The Planet Spinner is the latest evolution in planetarium technology. It builds on the legacy of the oldest working planetarium in Franeker, created by Eise Eisinga in 1774. Like a traditional orrery, the planetarium is very complex and uses a lot of gears. In contrast, the Planet Spinner is designed to be simple and effective. It's a testament to the power of simplicity and innovation. And thanks to its direct data feed from NASA, the orientation of the planets is always up-to-date and precise.

So why settle for anything less? Build your own today and join the revolution!

Supplies

• a piece of 1.5mm basswood 125x150mm
• this tiny stepper motor https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000538374661.html (150 ratio type)
• a TMC2209 (not 2208!) stepper motor controller board like this one https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004604384978.html
• this amazing processor board, an ESP32 C3 with https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004865447043.html (the display isn't really needed, but it came with it, so I programmed for it anyway)
• half a dozen of old fashioned toothpicks
• ten very tiny safety pins. These are about 18mm long, but more importantly they are pretty strong and made out of 0.45mm wire.
• in addition you need a solid round piece of wood 4mm in diameter and about 30mm in length.
• and a small piece of fineer (veneer) 0.3mm thick to make some small rings (but any firm, thin material will do)

You need a soldering iron, sanding paper, dremel, wood glue, a pair of cutting pliers and access to a laser cutter to make it.

Step 1: Laser Cutting the Building Materials

The first step in building your own Planet Spinner is easy and fun! Simply grab a laser cutter and a piece of 1.5 mm thick wood measuring 125x150mm, and let's get started!

Engrave the front using the first B&W image. The white background of all the B&W images has the exact dimensions of 192x192mm, so use that for the correct scaling.

Each letter on the engraving corresponds to a specific part and signals which side is the front - making the construction process even more straightforward.

Leave the material in the laser cutter. Next use the second image to cut a small square around the planets, remove the square, and flip it around so we can engrave the symbols on the back.

Once you're done with that, flip the square again and place it back so the front side is visible. Finally, use the last image to cut everything out. Just be careful not to lose any of the small planets - they may be tiny, but they're important!

Congratulations, you've now completed the first step towards creating your very own Planet Spinner. So let's keep going and bring this amazing creation to life!

(my 1.5mm basswood sheet, was actually more like 1.6mm. I tried to design the Planet Spinner in such a way that in most places the precise thickness is not too much of a problem, but sometimes you might need some sanding paper to make things fit).

Attached below are two svg files created by florentbouchez from my original files. You might use those instead.

black shapes: engrave
red lines: cut
fuchsia lines: do not cut or engrave, just here for calibration/visual verification

How to use:

Using layer 10-planets-back-engrave-cut-square: engrave the back side of the planets and cut the square around them. Flip the cut square in the machine, making sure not to move anything around. Using layer 20-engrave-cut-all: engrave the front side of the planets as well as all other engravings, then proceed with the cutting of all parts, incl. the planets themselves. Finally, cut the spacers using the spacers.svg file

Step 2: Building the Base

Let's dive into building the base! To get started, grab some smooth and splinter-free toothpicks - you'll need three of them and insert them tightly into disk A. Next mount part B, C and D over it, using some wood glue. The three M parts are glued on top of D and are used to keep the display upright.

Step 3: Creating the Axis

Get ready to make the most special part of the Grand Planet Spinner - the axis! You'll need a piece of 4mm round wood (mine turned out to be 3.9mm), and a dremel equipped with a 1mm thick grinding disk. Carve out a nice, deep, central, and straight groove to create the perfect axis. It might take a few attempts to get it right, but with some patience and practice, anyone can master the art of woodworking. Let's get spinning!

Step 4: Top of the Base

Now that you've successfully created the axis, it's time to continue assembling the Grand Planet Spinner. Begin by gluing the two disks labeled J to one end of the axis. Then, attach this construction onto the backside of disk A, which will be the top side. Next, glue gear H onto the zodiac disk. Once complete, these two components should rotate smoothly and freely around the J disks.

Before we continue with the top, lets finish the bottom with the motor and the electronics in the next step.

Step 5: The Motor Frame

Let's tackle the Motor Frame step! This one is a breeze. Start by inserting a two toothpicks into part E and then glue part F in place. Once the glue has set, trim the toothpicks on the F side and sand them down so they're flush with the surface. Now, on the other side of part E, simply slide the motor onto the toothpicks, taking care to note the orientation of the tiny PCB on the motor itself. Next, push gear G over the motor axis, making sure it's a snug fit but with a tiny bit of space left between the wooden motor frame and the gear. And with that, you've completed the Motor Frame step!

Step 6: Electronics

Let's get electronic! This step is all about setting up the brains of the Planet Spinner. You'll need two printed circuit boards, one with the ESP32 and another with the 2209 controller. Don't worry, it's not as complicated as it sounds. All you need are a few wires, which you can easily connect to the boards. To make things easier, use very thin wires like the ones that come with the motor.

First, you have to carefully loosen the display from the board, but only so it is still connected. According to the seller, the display is attached to the board using super glue, but it must be very bad super glue. To me it looks more like double sided tape. Still you have to go slowly and carefully, as you don't want to damage the display. I just used my nails to do it. I left the glue/tape on the display.

Next, let's work on the 2209 board. It comes with pin headers, but they take up too much space for the tiny Planet Spinner. So, completely remove the ones for TX, RX, and CLK. Don't worry, we won't need them. You can also cut all the other pins, except VDD and GND, which we'll use to power the machine. On the backside of the board, connect VM to VDD, GND to GND, and MS1 to GND.

Now, let's connect the 2209 board to the ESP32 board. Connect DIR to pin 3 on the ESP32, STEP to pin 4, MS2 to pin 7, and EN to pin 8. The ESP32 board gets power by connecting its 5V pin to VM on the 2209 board, and its G pin to the GND on the 2209 board next to it.

See, that wasn't so bad, was it? Just follow the pictures, and you'll be all set.

Step 7: Connecting the Motor

Now, it's time to connect the motor! This step is a piece of cake. Simply cut the wires to the appropriate length and connect them in the order of white, red, yellow, and black to the pins 2B, 1B, 1A, and 2A, on the 2209 board as shown in the picture. It doesn't matter on which side of the pcb you solder the wires, both work just fine. You may be wondering, "What's the right length?" Well, the best way to determine that is to fold the electronics around the motor, just like in the picture. To ensure there are no electrical issues, I've added a layer of insulating tape around the end of the motor. Although it's unlikely to cause any problems, the tape provides some extra protection and peace of mind.

Step 8: Mounting Motor & Electronics

Start by placing the motor and the folded electronics boards into the wooden base. You'll notice small notches in the base that should hold both PCBs in place. Take Part L and slide it over the toothpicks, ensuring that it secures the motor and electronics firmly in place.

Next, it's time to cut the legs to your desired length. Longer legs will make the Planet Spinner look like a mini table, while shorter legs will give it a more compact and stable appearance. I added a picture with the end result to make it easier for you to pick your preference. Make sure to leave at least 1.5-2mm of clearance to accommodate the power cable.

Once you've trimmed the legs, take a moment to ensure that everything is securely fastened in place. This will help prevent any wobbling or movement during operation. With the motor, electronics, and legs in place, your Planet Spinner is almost ready to go!

Step 9: The Zodiac Disk

On the backside of the Zodiac disk, you might have noticed a tiny hole nestled between Gemini and Cancer. Take one of your trusty safety pins and gently bend it straight. Then, carefully rotate it back and forth through the hole - no pushing allowed, as we don't want to damage the wood. Once the pin is in place, cut off the sharp end and leave a 3mm peg. Use the little disk with the sun on it and push it gently over the toothpick. This will securely hold the Zodiac disk in place while still allowing it to rotate freely.

Let's talk stepper motors. One thing to keep in mind is that they don't know their exact orientation when first powered on. This is why many stepper motor applications have switches to define the home position. I originally implemented this feature in my first prototypes, but then I had an epiphany: why not attach the motor directly to the Zodiac disk instead of one of the planets? By spinning the disk itself, I could essentially establish the home position without any extra fuss.

So, let's take advantage of this clever little trick, and continue with building up the solar system.

Step 10: Spacer Disks

It's important to ensure that when one planet rotates, the others don't move along with it. Luckily, we have the perfect solution - thin spacer disks! These disks fit snugly into the grooves of the axis and should remain stationary. I used 0.3mm fineer for this purpose, but you can use any other suitable material you have on hand. Simply cut the spacer disks out using a laser cutter, and you're good to go!

Step 11: The Solar System

It's time to add some planets to the Grand Planet Spinner! Begin by grabbing the disks with the long arms, which will hold the planets in place. Take nine more safety pins and bend them straight, then slowly rotate them into the holes at the end of each arm and cut them to the desired length. It's better to leave them a bit too long than too short, as you can always trim them later. Next, gently push the planets onto the safety pins. Be careful not to split the wood! If you prefer, you can drill a tiny hole at the bottom of each planet and use some super glue to attach it to the pin. This is the method I used, and it worked well for me.

Start by adding Neptune to the axis and ensure that it rotates smoothly. Then, add one of the thin spacer disks you made earlier, making sure it doesn't rotate at all. Repeat this process with the other planets but using the smaller 1.5mm thick disk to hold Mercury in place.

With the planets in place, it's time to cut off the top of the axis. For the sun, you can either glue it flat onto the smaller disk or use your last safety pin to drill a tiny hole in the top of the axis and glue the pin and sun in place. Just make sure that the center of the sun is slightly above the top of Mercury, so it doesn't interfere with the sun's rays. Have a look here too see how that looks. In my case, I wanted to make my Grand Planet Spinner even more special, so I used a big golden ball (earring) instead of the sun. And voila, your solar system is complete and ready to shine!

Step 12: Step 10: Programming

Let's get to the exciting part - programming! To get started, you'll need to download Arduino IDE (https://wiki-content.arduino.cc/en/software/) and connect your Planet Spinner to your computer with a USB cable.

Once you've installed Arduino IDE, go to File/Preferences and add "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/espressif/arduino-esp32/gh-pages/package_esp32_dev_index.json" to the line after "Additional boards manager URLs." Then select "ESP32C3 Dev Module" as your processor and specify the USB com port your Planet Spinner is connected to.

To get your Planet Spinner up and running, you'll need to install a few libraries, including TMC2209, U8g2, OneBitDisplay, BitBang_I2C, and ESPAsyncWebSrv. You may also need to install ESPAsyncTCP and AsyncTCP.

Once you've installed the necessary libraries, download the grand_planet_spinner.ino file and open it in Arduino IDE. Then edit lines 5, 6, and 9 with your network name, password, and timezone.

Next, compile the code and send it to your Planet Spinner through the USB connection.

Congratulations, you're now the proud owner of a fully-functional planetarium!

Step 13: Adding a Skirt

Let's add some style to the base of our planetarium! This is where your creativity can shine through - there are endless possibilities for materials and designs. I personally went with a vinyl that had a stunning copper look, and also made a version using some beautiful fineer. You could even use a unique piece of paper that catches your eye!

Cut your material using the B&W image.

If you go with the fineer option, all you need to do is bend it over some steam and it will curl almost by itself. Just a word of caution - if you choose to use vinyl, do not cut it with the laser cutter as it creates aggressive and toxic gasses. Use a sharp knife instead.

Once you have your material glue together to make a nice circle. Make sure it's a tight fit so it stays in place just by friction. Simply slide it over the feet from the L part and voila - your planetarium now has an added touch of elegance!

Step 14: Power Connector

The clunky USB connector on the Planet Spinner didn't quite fit the sleek and polished look that I was going for, but fear not! This is where the two pins on the TMC2209 board come in handy. Take an old USB cable that you have lying around and cut off the connector. You should see four wires, two of which are probably red (5V) and black (GND). You can double-check the voltage with a multi-meter if you have one, just to be safe.

Now, take the black wire and connect it to the pin in the corner of the TMC2209 board, and the red wire to the pin next to it. If you're feeling adventurous, you can even solder the wires directly to the pins. But if you're like me and prefer an easier solution, you can make a little plug using a female pinheader. I made mine three pins wide, so I never have to worry about inserting it the wrong way.

The finished cable goes between the L part and the motor to the side of the Planet Spinner.

But, a word of caution: never connect both this cable and the USB port on the ESP32 board at the same time, as this could potentially damage your computer.

Congratulations on completing your very own Planet Spinner! You're now the proud owner of a sleek and polished planetarium that will mesmerize and amaze anyone who sees it in action. Enjoy the wonders of the universe right from your own home!

Step 15: Show Time

Wow, not only does this mighty tiny grand planetarium move the planets into the correct orientations, but it also has a fantastic web interface! When you power it up, it displays the IP address it got from your router on the display. Simply enter that address into your browser followed by /PlanetSpinner, like 192.168.0.72/PlanetSpinner, and you're ready to go! You can set a new date on the webpage, and your Planet Spinner will happily comply with your request. NASA supports any year between -9999 and 9999, so you can explore the night sky from any point in history or the future! How cool is that?

There is even a special button to select a geocentric view of the solar system. In this case the earth is in the center of the device and the sun takes the position of the earth. The planet orientations will be slightly different as now it shows the direction of the planets and the sun as seen from earth. Great if you are into astrology (I'm not) or want to check on conjunctions like the one from almost 250 years ago 8-may-1774.

Step 16: Final Remarks

The Grand version of the Grand Planet Spinner is a bit more complex, and it takes longer to spin all the planets in the correct orientation. This is because it needs to grab Uranus and Neptune first before spinning the other planets. But the end result is truly stunning and worth the extra effort!

If you enjoyed following along with these instructions, please consider subscribing to my channel on YouTube at youtube.com/@illusionmanager or showing your support by buying me a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/illusionmanager. Thank you for joining me on this fun and creative project!

(the images are from one of my earlier ideas for a planetarium)

(all design was done in 3dsmax)