Motorized Door

[dyingstar]

Hey Guys,

I have this idea for an automated door mechanism, kinda like the Doom3 mod (in the fact they are both doors) only a much, much simpler door. But the problem is, I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to motors. I would need the motor itself plus some kind of controller board.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks.

[elbarto241]

hey you go bro, there is another thread already made for this :D http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5499

that should help, good luck

[dyingstar]

Okay, bad analogy. Let's try this again. The ONLY resemblance it has to the DOOM 3 mod is that it is a door. It doesn't use a linear actuator, but a gear track thingy. Lemme see if I can draw a pic of it:

Door Closed:
http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/4059Closed Door.JPG

Door Open:
http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/9738Open Door.JPG

Does this diagram make any sense? Anyway, I looked at Wannabemodder's thread, and he used a pot to control his door. I'm looking to use some kind of PIC or Basic stamp module. I'm just clueless when it comes to that sort of stuff.

So, I guess what I should be asking is: does anyone here know how to program/interface microcontrollers with a motor?

Thanks guys :)

[elbarto241]

i think i get ur diagram. i dont know anyone specifically who knows about micro controller, best chance you have if someone catches this thread or cruise the works in progress and looks for someone working with a microcontoller and ask them a couple of questions.

[intergalacticman]

you could get a motor from a CD drive and solder/weld a gear cog to it.

[Spawn-Inc]

how big of a opening do you want? is this going to go where a 5 1/4 bay is going? what orientation is it going to be in? i was working on a sketchup for you but it closed (also had to go to walk in clinic cause something got in my eye. now i got a dam bandage on it for 24-36hours...) so i will restart. if its small then you can go with intergalaticman's idea and scrape parts, including the gears from a old cd drive. the trasy have a plastic track of gears tha you could use. you would need two cd drives though.

[dyingstar]

Hey Spawn, thanks for that.

The purpose of this door is to stealth a cd drive. However, it is not in the standard orientation. The cd drive will be built into the wall, if that makes sense. When it slides open, the disc drive will have room to eject. The pics above are from a top down view. Below is a side view:

http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/6622Front.JPG

I am looking to cram alot of components in a small case. So I need to save as much room as possible. If use a standard drive orientation (horizontal) it takes up alot of interior space (8 inches long). Even if I set it vertically, it still may hit components behind it. By setting it in the wall, literally, I can maximize space.

The motorized mechanism really don't serve a purpose except to look cool. Lol. I am trying to design it so the door opens and then the drive ejects the cd automatically. That's why I'm hunting for a micro-controller.

What do you think of the mechanism? Will it kill the drive, or is it safe? I have seen some servo control chips that allow you to set the motor speed. If it is moving slowly enough, I don't think it could hurt the cds or the drive.

[Spawn-Inc]

ok so here is my second attempt at using sketchup. you can download it here or just look at the photos below

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=5f4297a7b64072a18c03416916866a66

http://inlinethumb10.webshots.com/6601/2951155590100511463S600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb54.webshots.com/7541/2664016280100511463S600x600Q85.jpg

once my eye is healed i will work on the closed version.

[dyingstar]

To Spawn: Man, your sketch-up skills are good! I couldn't do that to save my life! Lol. Unfortunately, my bad MSpaint skills led to draw the mechanism the wrong way. I apologize :( . I don't expect you to go out of your way to redo the whole thing.

I've tried to draw a clearer picture. Here is a top down view of the opened door and drive:

http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/1700Open Door.JPG

I guess really what I mean to say is that the door is the cd drive. It is vertically mounted and the drive ejects parallel to the wall.

Anyway, the original point of this thread was to discuss microcontrollers. However, after some research, I think I have found a few solutions. The pictures were for explanatory purposes only. I apologize again to everyone who worked hard to understand my bad drawings and was left confused :dead: .

[Spawn-Inc]

ahhhhhhhhhhhh, thanks for the compliments, its not that hard of a program to use actually. that whole thing took maybe 20 minutes. and thats noobish time i think? i thought you wanted to see how it would look or somthing. when it comes to microcontrollers i haven't a clue. i try and do things mechanically vs. electronically.

[jdbnsn]

You say that you don't want to use a linear actuator for this? If I understand the diagram correctly, either a linear act. or servo would be much better suited to this job.

[dyingstar]

Jdbnsn: I was planning to use a servo to open and close the mechanism. I thought the word motor could refer to servo, but again, I'm clueless when it comes to these things. I think I see how a linear actuator could make it, but it seems a servo would be easier.

As far as I understand, there are 3 different types of motors: steppers, servos, and just motors. Is that right? Can someone explain the difference between how they work?

As far as microcontrollers, I think I've decided to go with Basic stamp. They are pretty simple, I think, as far as those things go, but it does what I want, and doesn't cost a fortune.

Thanks guys for your input.

[jdbnsn]

I don't know that much about motors either, I think a servo would be ideal for the job though.

[rendermandan]

jdbnsn is right, you would be better off using a servor for this. there is no need to have both arms powered. a servo would suffice.

[Spawn-Inc]

here is how you might be able to use a linear actuator if you have the space.

downloadable (http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=276194ef49b8a23a8c03416916866a66)

Pictures,

http://inlinethumb32.webshots.com/6303/2003769970100511463S600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb09.webshots.com/7112/2263723120100511463S600x600Q85.jpg

if you have the space you can go to a junk yard and find a car with power seat(s) and take one of the motors that look like this.

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showpost.php?p=84390&postcount=1 they would lift a good amount for what you want.