Machining a Fidget Spinner
Determined after my previous attempt to make a fidget spinner, I tried once again.
How I Ruined a $55 End Mill (Embracing Failure)
Learn about how I ruined a $55 end mill, embraced failure, and hopefully never repeat my mistake yourself.
Jonathan Bowen
This attempt was a significant improvement, as reflected in the below show reel.
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The design of the fidget spinner is very similar to the first attempt with a spinner body, a bearing, and two finger contacts. Different from the previous attempt, the finger contact now includes a star-like geometry to aid with grasping.
Machining the Spinner Body
The main body of the fidget spinner is machined from a large block of aluminum. This might seem wasteful except the block came from the remnant of a larger machine shop; it was already destined for recycling. I did recycle the chips.