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OT: Electric motor question / suggestion for a Christmas decoration
This thread has 19 replies. Displaying posts 1 through 15.
Post 1 made on Sunday November 29, 2020 at 23:40
Jeff at Zektor
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Happy Holidays to everyone. So I'm building a decoration that needs a low rpm spinning motor. I have a rotating Christmas tree stand but it can't quite handle the load of 30 lbs +/-.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Jeff
Jeff Haynes
The CA Guy
Coastal Source [email protected] 619-889-3700
Post 2 made on Monday November 30, 2020 at 00:49
buzz
Super Member
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Better bearings or better balance?

Also, how long should this platform run? Till the end of December? Once in a designer show house I provided a control system to operate a TV pop-up that was custom built by a machinist. I was very leary of its construction and slapped a motion detector and a timer on the lift. If someone walked into the room, the TV would pop-up and stay up for a couple minutes before retracting. It would stay down for a couple more minutes, then pop-up if there was motion. After about 20 days the lift failed.
OP | Post 3 made on Monday November 30, 2020 at 01:01
Jeff at Zektor
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On November 30, 2020 at 00:49, buzz said...
Better bearings or better balance?

Also, how long should this platform run? Till the end of December? Once in a designer show house I provided a control system to operate a TV pop-up that was custom built by a machinist. I was very leary of its construction and slapped a motion detector and a timer on the lift. If someone walked into the room, the TV would pop-up and stay up for a couple minutes before retracting. It would stay down for a couple more minutes, then pop-up if there was motion. After about 20 days the lift failed.

It will probably run 4 hours a night roughly. Hoping to find a motor with a 110 plug or a motor with a pigtail I can wire a cord to. I'll use a simple timer to run it during a specified time.
Jeff Haynes
The CA Guy
Coastal Source [email protected] 619-889-3700
Post 4 made on Monday November 30, 2020 at 02:29
buzz
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Maybe something like this will get people thinking.

There are some bad ideas out there. One DIY article ended with a suggestion that one could adjust the speed of a synchronous motor with a potentiometer.
Post 5 made on Monday November 30, 2020 at 02:49
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
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I got a couple of possible suspects by googling merchandise display turntable. Our place had one of these twenty-odd years ago. It ran on 120VAC and only went at one speed.

In my short google search, the first one that called out its capacity could only hold 11 pounds, but there's a lot of this kind of stuff out there.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The idea "Adjusting the speed of a synchronous motor with a potentiometer" shows a lack of understanding what a synchronous motor is as well as what you can do with a potentiometer. Now, if that potentiometer were adjusting the frequency of the line voltage, THAT could work. And cost WAY too much!
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 6 made on Monday November 30, 2020 at 07:18
highfigh
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How fast does it need to turn? Maybe you could find one of those lights with a three-color disc, from the '60s and adapt it.

A friend used one of those when his band dissolved and he went solo- called it his 'million dollar light show'.

If you check nearby, you may find a group called Makerspace or something similar. They do all kinds of interesting and inventive things.

You might find something here-

[Link: amazon.com]
My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
Post 7 made on Monday November 30, 2020 at 08:52
rmalbers
Founding Member
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Would the motors people use for robotics work, most are stepper type so they are low rpm, maybe to low?
Post 8 made on Monday November 30, 2020 at 11:34
Fred Harding
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Years ago, I helped animate the dolls for the local department store Christmas show on the 8th floor of their flagship store. It was a great job.

We bought a bunch of motors from Grangers...
On the West Coast of Wisconsin
Post 9 made on Monday November 30, 2020 at 11:48
buzz
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Is this an indoor or outdoor display?

There are a bunch of DIY YouTube videos showing how to build a motor driven turntable. Most of them seemed poorly conceived to me, using motors that are too small or not really rated for continuous use, but the videos might inspire a better approach. One relatively easy approach for home builders is using a pulley on the turntable and the motor, connected with a belt. Pulley ratios and motor speed can easily be calculated and you probably have an appropriate motor in your junk box. In any case consider the likelihood of children and pets being caught up in the contraption.
OP | Post 10 made on Monday November 30, 2020 at 11:55
Jeff at Zektor
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Thanks for the input. I think I found a heavier duty Christmas tree stand that appears to be heavy duty enough. The other consideration is that I need to feed light strands. The only other way to accomplish this with a different motor type would be with a rechargeable battery. Her request is turning into a big PIA.

On November 30, 2020 at 11:48, buzz said...
Is this an indoor or outdoor display?

There are a bunch of DIY YouTube videos showing how to build a motor driven turntable. Most of them seemed poorly conceived to me, using motors that are too small or not really rated for continuous use, but the videos might inspire a better approach. One relatively easy approach for home builders is using a pulley on the turntable and the motor, connected with a belt. Pulley ratios and motor speed can easily be calculated and you probably have an appropriate motor in your junk box. In any case consider the likelihood of children and pets being caught up in the contraption.
Jeff Haynes
The CA Guy
Coastal Source [email protected] 619-889-3700
Post 11 made on Monday November 30, 2020 at 11:56
benjh1028
Long Time Member
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On November 29, 2020 at 23:40, Jeff at Zektor said...
Happy Holidays to everyone. So I'm building a decoration that needs a low rpm spinning motor. I have a rotating Christmas tree stand but it can't quite handle the load of 30 lbs +/-.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Jeff

I've always found some interesting, dirt cheap electronics - including motors/actuators - from this site:

[Link: sciplus.com]

Ben
Post 12 made on Monday November 30, 2020 at 12:08
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
Joined:
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Here's the pro answer. It looks odd but it's made to do exactly what you seem to be looking for.

The thing shown below has a capacity of 50 pounds and costs $150. Masonite tops and steel tops are available in sizes from 8" to 17" in diameter. Or call them and find out what else they have.

I'm pretty sure that if you don't buy it at this price, you'll spend twice this much in time and energy coming up with a suitable substitute. For the top alone, it would easily take a couple of hours to plan, purchase, and fabricate it. If you have scrap material, it will take less time, but will it be nice and round? Will the mounting holes be in the right position the first time?



This is at [Link: xyzdisplays.com]

Capacity: 50 lb
Standard RPM: 2
Clockwise Rotation

Their other categories are
Rotating Display Turntables
Rotating Ceiling Motors
Wall Mounted Display Turntables
Battery Operated Turntables & Motors
Skeleton Display Turntables
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
OP | Post 13 made on Monday November 30, 2020 at 12:41
Jeff at Zektor
Active Member
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Posts:
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596
Thanks Ernie

On November 30, 2020 at 12:08, Ernie Gilman said...
Here's the pro answer. It looks odd but it's made to do exactly what you seem to be looking for.

The thing shown below has a capacity of 50 pounds and costs $150. Masonite tops and steel tops are available in sizes from 8" to 17" in diameter. Or call them and find out what else they have.

I'm pretty sure that if you don't buy it at this price, you'll spend twice this much in time and energy coming up with a suitable substitute. For the top alone, it would easily take a couple of hours to plan, purchase, and fabricate it. If you have scrap material, it will take less time, but will it be nice and round? Will the mounting holes be in the right position the first time?



This is at [Link: xyzdisplays.com]

Capacity: 50 lb
Standard RPM: 2
Clockwise Rotation

Their other categories are
Rotating Display Turntables
Rotating Ceiling Motors
Wall Mounted Display Turntables
Battery Operated Turntables & Motors
Skeleton Display Turntables
Jeff Haynes
The CA Guy
Coastal Source [email protected] 619-889-3700
Post 14 made on Monday November 30, 2020 at 17:49
buzz
Super Member
Joined:
Posts:
May 2003
4,366
On November 30, 2020 at 11:55, Jeff at Zektor said...
The other consideration is that I need to feed light strands. ... Her request is |
turning into a big PIA.

This adds a lot of mess. You'll need slip rings to bridge fixed power to the moving platform. Or if you are very brave, use a long lanyard, bidirectional motor, and a turns counter. Twist the lanyard exactly n revolutions, then unwind exactly n revolutions. Good luck with this scheme. Maybe it could last a month.

Battery might work, adding some weight and cost if you don't have one in your junk box. Most light strings assume 120V. (10 12V batteries or 77 D-cells in series? This will be fun to charge.)
OP | Post 15 made on Monday November 30, 2020 at 19:35
Jeff at Zektor
Active Member
Joined:
Posts:
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596
I found a "heavy duty" stand with elec receptacles. Supposed to support up to 120 lbs. We'll see. I'll let you know how it goes.


On November 30, 2020 at 17:49, buzz said...
This adds a lot of mess. You'll need slip rings to bridge fixed power to the moving platform. Or if you are very brave, use a long lanyard, bidirectional motor, and a turns counter. Twist the lanyard exactly n revolutions, then unwind exactly n revolutions. Good luck with this scheme. Maybe it could last a month.

Battery might work, adding some weight and cost if you don't have one in your junk box. Most light strings assume 120V. (10 12V batteries or 77 D-cells in series? This will be fun to charge.)
Jeff Haynes
The CA Guy
Coastal Source [email protected] 619-889-3700
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