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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteA CNC mechanism moves a strong magnet beneath the table, and that magnet pulls a metal ball bearing through sand on the surface. The bearing leaves grooves that trace a programmed pattern—much like a two-axis plotter, except its drawing tool works through magnetic coupling instead of touching the sand directly.
How does the CNC sand art machine draw with magnets?
In the DIY machine built by Simon Sörensen, associated with the RCLifeOn YouTube channel, the motion comes from a two-axis CNC mechanism under the table. A strong magnet takes the place of the usual toolhead. Above the table, a metal ball bearing rests in a thin layer of sand; as the magnet travels below, magnetic attraction pulls the bearing along, and it carves a visible track in the sand.
The arrangement adapts a familiar CNC idea—moving a tool along two axes—to a surface the mechanism cannot touch. The table separates the moving magnet from the bearing, while the bearing does the drawing. The project was inspired by the commercial Sisyphus Kinetic Art Table, though the report does not provide a feature, price, size, or reliability comparison between the two.
What components does the reported build use?
Hackster News describes a circular table made from particle board, with a wall formed from flat, laser-cut wood pieces. Underneath, the machine uses a two-axis CNC mechanism assembled from common 3D-printer parts, including aluminum extrusion as linear rails. Some parts were salvaged from a Creality CR-10S. The build also uses a power supply, a generic RAMPS controller board, and a strong magnet attached in place of the CNC toolhead.
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For the drawing surface, Sörensen chose a mirror covered with the finest-grit sand he could find after experimenting with the surface and sand to get clear lines with less noise. The report does not give a grit number or sand brand, nor does it specify the mirror thickness, magnet grade or dimensions, bearing diameter, or a complete assembly drawing. Those omissions mean the account is an overview of a particular build, not a parts specification that can be copied dimension for dimension.
RGB LEDs inside the table walls illuminate the sand art. This adds visual presentation to the build but does not change how the magnetic drawing mechanism works.
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How does it make and erase patterns?
The CNC mechanism can run patterns automatically: as it follows a programmed path, the bearing follows the magnet and draws the route in the sand. The Hackster report also says an existing drawing can be cleared by running a spiral over it, redistributing the sand before the next pattern.
The report does not specify a pattern library, software setup, drawing speed, positional accuracy, maximum surface thickness, or noise level. Those details should not be assumed from the basic mechanism alone.
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What to keep in mind if you want to build one
- Think of it as a two-axis CNC plotter. The motion system supplies the path; the magnet and bearing transfer that movement across the table surface.
- Surface and sand matter. The maker experimented to get clear lines with less noise, but the published account does not identify exact materials or dimensions.
- Expect to determine the coupling yourself. No magnet or bearing size, grade, table thickness, or validated combination is given, so the report cannot establish a ready-to-build specification.
- Use the component names as starting points, not a shopping list. A steel ball bearing, aluminum extrusion rails, and a RAMPS controller are mentioned, but no exact products or compatible software configuration are specified.
For the project description and its reported components, see Hackster News’ report on the machine.
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