Motor Selection

mitlrpro

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livetoride

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Slightly left of field here but have you thought about a window wiper motor? They are 12V, Cheap and easy to come by and you can control how quick they move?
 

djgra79

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I've bought a couple of the same motors for use with Halloween props this year. Haven't hooked them up yet but mine would only move foam boards. Not sure they could handle much load or weight of wood, but cheap enough to try I guess.
Wiper motor would be a good bet too, or a garage door motor. I've ripped out my old garage door motor but it was too fast at 40rpm, so am getting a buck converter to reduce the voltage and therefore the rpm.
 

damo1271

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I don't think there is a simple yes or no answer to this.

The answer is going to depend on two things.
Firstly what is the force needed to be exerted on the moving parts (Santa arm) in order to make them move.
Secondly what is the force that can be exerted by the motor.

Assume the 20RPM model has the same torque as the 160RPM model (10.5kgcm) and the torque figures are accurate. The motor can therefore move a mass of 10.4KG at a radius of 1cm.
Unfortunately it is not then as simple as weighing santa's arm. :(

You also have to consider how much vertical movement the santa arm is going to require. More movement means a wider radius at the motor and therefore less mass that can be moved. The attachment distance between the pivot and the motor linkage will also affect the torque you need in conjunction with the prior factor. Both of these factors can be offset somewhat with counter weights on santa's arm.

A wiper motor can probably be bought for the same price from the local car wrecker and would have superior torque. Ive seen them used on all sorts of things from winches to rotisserie units.
 

Skunberg

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Seen wiper motors use for 1/4 and 3/8 inch plywood for a arm or train wheel. You can use simple pulleys to convert the RPM as required. Or even rod linkage can effect rpm. Lot's of options to sort through.
 

scamper

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Here is one completely out of left field. microwave turntable motor!
They are slow and very high torque.
They do vary in speed and voltage, so you will need to double check. But lots of people throw away microwaves, so rip it out and have a look. It is usually written on the motor what the specs are.
Otherwise, yes, I would go to a wrecker and get a wiper motor.
that is if I didn't have a motor out of a 12v toy scooter already 8)
 

fasteddy

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Yes a car wiper motor works well for this application, have seen others use this before with great results and can be bought cheaply from a wreckers, has high torque, and safe 12vdc, pretty much what the others are saying
 

mitlrpro

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Thanks for all your answers....looks like a trip to the local wrecker and some trial and error.
 

JPB

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I have used a microwave turntable motor in the past to fix a wire frame deer with a nodding head. On a wire frame you cant hide a large motor so the microwave motor was perfect.
 

mitlrpro

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djgra79 said:
I've bought a couple of the same motors for use with Halloween props this year. Haven't hooked them up yet but mine would only move foam boards. Not sure they could handle much load or weight of wood, but cheap enough to try I guess.
Wiper motor would be a good bet too, or a garage door motor. I've ripped out my old garage door motor but it was too fast at 40rpm, so am getting a buck converter to reduce the voltage and therefore the rpm.


Have you hooked yours up to your Halloween props yet? I'm thinking of the corflute route now...
 

Fing

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Jaycar sell some geared motors, used one recently on another project and seemed to have plenty of Torque. Bit smaller than a wiper motor
of course your milage will vary....
Cheers
Fing
 

djgra79

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mitlrpro said:
djgra79 said:
I've bought a couple of the same motors for use with Halloween props this year. Haven't hooked them up yet but mine would only move foam boards. Not sure they could handle much load or weight of wood, but cheap enough to try I guess.
Wiper motor would be a good bet too, or a garage door motor. I've ripped out my old garage door motor but it was too fast at 40rpm, so am getting a buck converter to reduce the voltage and therefore the rpm.


Have you hooked yours up to your Halloween props yet? I'm thinking of the corflute route now...


Not as yet as I'm waiting on a replacement (one was DOA) and I'm also waiting on some cam arms for them.
That and I haven't cut out the foam board yet :)
 

OldMarty

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Yep! Windscreen wiper motors are awesome, they are strong, heaps of torque, only need 12volts and are cheap at most car wreckers ;-)

I use them everywhere, and in many cases i also use microswitches to set the end limits (depending on the props).

;-)
 
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