Brief introduction:
This blog will show you how to create a mechanism which automatically opens and closes a door. You can make some variations depending on what do you want to use this mechanism for; it all depends on you imagination.
Requirements:
The only things you need are basic tools you can buy on hardware stores and a proper workbench.
First Step: The structure
-We will create a basic structure by cutting two pieces of wood (the size is up to you) and joining them with two framing squares forming a 90 degree angle. We will also cut a section of the horizontal wood to create the gap where the door goes. This structure is essential in order to arrange all the electric mechanisms and wiring
Second Step: Electric mechanisms
- The process for opening the door relies on two mechanisms:
- A metallic rod which is glued within the engine
- A switch for the door to open as well as close
- The metallic rod mechanism: this is the most important piece of equipment of all the proyect as it is the mechanisms that allows the door to open properly. Firstly we need to drill through the center of a peg of wood. After that, we will need to put in place two screws which need to be the same size as the hole. This will allow the door to open and close when connected to the engine due to the screw-like rod.
- The switch: we need to create a mechanisms that stops the electric current when the door reaches the rod´s end. There many ways of doing so but our recommendation is to do it with two paper clips beacuse of their flexibility.
Third Step: the three way switch
- We need to create another switch which can make the door go from left to right and viceversa. We need the following materials:
- 6 tacks
- 1 peg of wood
- A drill and a soldering iron
We begin by drilling a hole in the center of the wood and we will place a tack in such a way that the peg of wood can turn in place. We will then place two other tacks on the side (both on the same side).
To finish with this process we will nail three other tacks so that the two side tacks on the conmutator are in costant contact with the center tack and, if turned, with one the two tacks in the sides. Make sure that the conmutator touches every tack properly.
Fourth Step: Wiring
- You will need your soldering iron for this step. To make the proyect work we have to solder 3 extra
cables so that there are two cables soldered in one output of the engine.
- First cable: this is the trickiest of the three as it needs to be cut in two. We will solder one end of the cable to the output cable of the engine and the other end to one the sides of the switch. The other cable has to be soldered from the remaining side of the switch to the tack in the center.
- Second and third cable: these cables are soldered to the two remaining tacks next to the conmutator.
Fifth Step: System funtioning and finishing touches
- To check if it works properly just plug two cables from a power to the tacks of the conmutator and turn the conmutator to one the sides to check if it goes from left to right and viceversa properly.
- Make sure that the engine you are using is secured and locked in place properly, otherwise the door won´t open
- Check that the switch works properly
- Make sure that the volts from the power supply match the power of the engine, otherwise the door will open very slowly or very fast.
