Sewing machine threader
The client has virtually no wrist movement due to osteo-arthritis but retains reasonable finger dexterity. Sewing is her hobby. She is able to operate her sewing machine but has difficulty threading it. She is unable to use a wire loop threading aid due to her lack of wrist movement.
The solution was to design and fabricate a vacuum device to suck the thread through the eye of the needle from behind without obstructing the view of the needle from the operating position via a ‘U’ shaped tube mounted on a detachable presser foot. A solder sucker (a low cost, commercially available product for removing solder from electronic circuit boards) was used as the source for the vacuum.
The client is now able to thread the sewing machine herself allowing her to pursue her hobby independently.
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