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A maker built laser-cut acrylic screw and nut dispensers to automate the tedious process of counting hardware parts for kit orders. The devices use a simple slot-and-trigger mechanism, with PLA filament as pegs for assembly. Several iterations are described: a nut dispenser, a bolt dispenser with a helical track, and a compact triangular version. Design challenges include hopper sizing, screw jamming, and track geometry. An Arduino is used to detect jams and reverse the motor. The post also touches on CAD tooling, noting OnShape's cloud lock-in and anticipation for FreeCAD 1.1.

Simple Screw Counter