Easy Motorized Turntable for Photography

This is my inexpensive take on a motorized turntable for photography. It is 150mm in diameter and makes use of a scavenged microwave oven turntable motor, a few skateboard bearings, a rocker switch and a power cord from an old appliance. 

UPDATED: I added a file for the shell that has no holes for the switch or cord so you can make your own custom holes for the switch and cord you have on hand. The panel where you will make the holes is 3mm thick.

MAKE SURE all of your electrical parts are rated for the voltage and current supplied in your locale and that YOU ARE COMFORTABLE working with electricity. This device uses household power and could be DANGEROUS or PERHAPS DEADLY if improperly constructed. Be aware of the possibility that the motor may generate significant heat over time and allow for that in your usage.

The microwave turntable motor is similar to this one on Amazon.com. The dimensions for these motors seem to be fairly standard with a main body just less than 50mm in diameter and mounting screws and drive shaft in the positions shown.

The three bearings are 608 bearings commonly used in skateboards. Like these.

The power cord should be in good condition and rated for the household power supplied in your locale. I used a grommet similar to these where the power cord enters the turntable. The power cord hole in the turntable shell is 10mm in diameter and the wall thickness at that point is 2mm.

The switch I used is similar to this one. The diameter of the hole is 21mm and the wall thickness around the switch is 5mm. Make sure your switch is rated for household power!

I printed mine at 0.2mm layer height with a 0.4mm nozzle. I wanted the holes to be sturdy so I printed both parts with 4 perimeters and 20% infill. Printing with PLA seems to have produced sufficiently strong parts.

The screw holes for the motor mount are 2.5mm in diameter. That would work for either 3mm or #4 screws. The holes are 8mm deep.

The bearing mounts are snug enough with my prints that they press fit securely in place and no screws are needed. There are 2.5mm x 8mm holes in the model for screws if you want to add some washers and screws to hold the bearings in place. 

The scarecrow in the first picture is by Antal Kéninger from the 3-in-1 Halloween Package from BlackScrollsGames.com.