- Thu Jun 13, 2013 1:10 pm
#160460
I need 60+ motors that spin reliably at exactly 1rpm (like the second hand on a clock). I would use actual clocks, but a cheap clock's second hand is actually very unreliable. I plan to use the "second hands" (IE arms coming off the shafts of each motor) to spell a word, like this sculpture I made in 2010: http://aliciaeggert.com/works/show.php?id=103 (which uses the hour and minute hands of 30 electric clocks to spell the word "eternity" once every 12 hours).
Since I need such a large quantity or motors and "second hands", I am looking for the cheapest (but still reliable and accurate) solution. The load I would applying to each motor is very minimal (second hands are very light), so torque is not an issue.
Would continuous rotation servos be right for this application? Is it possible to set a servo's rpm to exactly 1? If the motors are turned on/off regularly, would their stopping point need to be adjusted all the time?
If servos are not the right solution, can small/cheap gear motors be controlled to spin at exactly the speed I need?
I assume my other options are
a) stepper motors
b) a high-torque 1rpm motor and a lot of pulleys to turn the rest of the shafts...
Please let me know your thoughts. I appreciate your help!
Alicia
Since I need such a large quantity or motors and "second hands", I am looking for the cheapest (but still reliable and accurate) solution. The load I would applying to each motor is very minimal (second hands are very light), so torque is not an issue.
Would continuous rotation servos be right for this application? Is it possible to set a servo's rpm to exactly 1? If the motors are turned on/off regularly, would their stopping point need to be adjusted all the time?
If servos are not the right solution, can small/cheap gear motors be controlled to spin at exactly the speed I need?
I assume my other options are
a) stepper motors
b) a high-torque 1rpm motor and a lot of pulleys to turn the rest of the shafts...
Please let me know your thoughts. I appreciate your help!
Alicia