Prop Motor Test Two

MonsterGuts.com  12VWM  Wiper Motor

 

 

http://monsterguts.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=4

 

A small wiper motor from an unidentified car in china.  Units are new and inspected by Monsterguts.com



Specs:

• 12 VDC has high and low speeds
• High Speed @ 12V: 53 r.p.m.
• Low Speed @ 12V: 38 r.p.m.
• High Speed @ 5V: 21 r.p.m.
• Low Speed @ 5V: 15 r.p.m.
• Working Torque - 3.98 foot pounds (5.4 N m)
• Static Torque - 13.27 foot pounds (18 N m)Full Load: 2000mA @ 12VDC, 1080mA @ 5VDC
• No Load: 1020mA @ 12VDC, 780mA @ 5VDC

Price for one - $16.49 Shipping for 1 - $13.55
Price for ten - $16.49 each Shipping for 10 - $45.03

PROS-
Relatively quiet
High torque
Designed for continuous use
Electrical connection is relatively easy to get to. Will accept push-on crimp connectors.
This motor had enough torque to spin the 8oz test weight at high rpm without strain.

CONS -
Shipping for a single unit is relatively expensive.

Modifications -
The output shaft has a splined tapered shaft and comes with a mounting nut. It was easy to drill a hole in the crank arm that was slightly undersized and use the nut to draw the arm onto the shaft. The connection was easy and secure.

Comments - This motor has plenty of torque for most props.   You'll need a PWM controller or need to run the motor at a lower voltage to keep the speed of motion down.  The motor buzzes when used with an inexpensive PWM controller.  For many applications this motor should be the go-to choice.  It is relatively inexpensive, is easy to mount, and adaptable.  

Unverified rumor has it that for larger orders you can contact them directly and they will work with you on the price and shipping cost.

RECOMMENDED with comments.

Prop Motor Test One

Surplus Center Item # 5-1767
SUV rear wiper motor assembly.

http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=5-1767&catname=electric

New, right angle gear motor with reversing gear train to give back and forth sweeping motion. Originally for rear window of SUV. Could also be used for animated displays requiring similar movement. Integral park position switching.

Specs

• Speed 30 cycles/min.
• Voltage 12 DC
• Amperage 0.5 Amps
• Rotation Approximately 165 degree arc
• Duty Continuous
• Mount 2 angled tabs on bracket & threaded on shaft housing
• Shaft 0.393 dia. x 0.75" overall length. Tapered serrated section and male thread to attach wiper arm (not included)
• Size 7" x 7-1/2" x 4" 
• Shpg. 3 lbs.

Price for one - $19.99 Shipping for 1 - $11.98
Price for ten - $17.95 each Shipping for 10 - $24.51

PROS -
Quiet
High Torque
Designed for continuous use
Electrical connection is relatively easy to get to. Will accept slightly modified push on crimp connectors
This motor had enough torque to spin the 8oz test weight at high rpm without strain.
It is easy to adapt an arm to the shaft arrangement.

CONS -
Shipping for a single unit is relatively expensive.
Motor can not easily be removed from the mounting plate.  The gear train mounting is integral to the mounting plate.  Pull the plate and all the gears fall on the floor.

Modifications -
I cut away the wire for the parking connection.   So the parking function is undocumented.  The output shaft has a splined tapered shaft and comes with a mounting nut.   It was easy to drill a hole in the crank arm that was slightly undersized and use the nut to draw the arm onto the shaft.  The connection was easy and secure.

Comments - This motor waves the crank arm back and forth.  If you have need for this type of motion this motor would be a good choice.  You'll need a PWM controller or need to run the motor at a lower voltage to keep the speed of motion down.

Unverified rumor has it that for larger orders you can contact them directly and they will work with you on the shipping cost. 

RECOMMENDED with comments.

Prop Motor Test One

AllElectronics.com DCM-563

12VDC Right-angle gear head motor with worm drive.  Available in left hand too.

http://www.mpja.com/12VDC-78RPM-Motor-with-Right-Angle-Leadscrew/productinfo/19007+MD/ 
http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/DCM-563/12VDC-RIGHT-ANGLE-GEAR-HEAD-MOTOR-WITH-WORM-DRIVE/1.html

Specs

• No-load rating: 180 RPM @ 12Vdc / 1.3A. Overall length, 144mm (5.66").
• Motor diameter, 49mm (1.91").
• 12mm diameter worm shaft is 89mm (3.55") long. The last 12mm of the shaft has a 6 x 1.0 reverse metric thread.
• Heavy gauge U-bracket on back of gearhead, 1/4" holes with 7mm spacing. 3/16" quick-connect terminals.
• Designed for power seat adjustment in automobiles. Also available with worm gear in opposite direction, CAT# DCM-697.

Price for one - $17.95 Shipping for 1 - 7.00
Price for ten - $17.95 each Shipping for 10 - $7.00

PROS -
Quiet
High Torque
Seller has good shipping policy
Good customer service
Seems happy in low torque continuous use
Electrical connection is relatively easy to get to.  Will accept slightly modified push on crimp connectors
This motor had enough torque to spin the 8oz test wieght at high rpm without strain.

CONs -
long output shaft with unusual thread.  Acme thread nuts are expensive (~$7.00 each)
Buzzes when used with  PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) controller.  More on PWM in a later post.
Shaft is hardened. making it difficult to cut or drill
Electrical connections can be in the same plane as the right angle crank

Modifications -
I cut away the plastic cover for the electrical connections by using a small hacksaw parallel to the body of the motor.  This made accessing the terminals easier but is not really necessary.

The output shaft was cut down using an abrasive cutting wheel and a Dremel tool.   I used a small U-bolt to attach the crank arm.   I'd also grind a flat side on the output shaft to prevent the arm from rotating on the shaft.

Comments - I really like this motor for the quiet operation and high torque.   A PWM controller is really needed for most applications.

RECOMMENDED with comments.

ScaryTinkers Haunt Tour 2012 Day 10

Nightmare On The Bayou
Houston, Texas
www.nightmareonthebayou.com

Finding Nightmare on the Bayou is a bit challenging because I could not find a sign for the haunt on the street.   Look for the costume company and NOTB is behind it.  Parking is free and conveniently located.   This haunt is made up of 5 separate sections that feed into each other. 

The first section is a chain link fence labyrinth.  Lighting is well done and allows the actors to find some dark spot to leap out from.   There was a novel approach to the ground cover here.  They used medium sized (1") rounded river rock over landscape cloth as the base.   For the fog effect they used misters.   The mist settled on the rock making it wet.   The net effect was to lubricate the stones giving a 'draggy' effect without the mess of sand or mud.

You cross the driveway to enter the second section.  This is the main haunted and is enclosed in metal warehouse building.   The haunt starts strong with a twisting hall of skulls lined with skulls and lit by strobe lights.  Detail level is moderate throughout the haunt.  Lighting is good.   This is the first haunt I've visited to use video based bug effects.   Here's how the gag works.  There is a  hallway with white walls and plastic cockroaches glued to the walls.  From behind a video of moving cockroaches is projected down the hallway.   The overall effect is quite good.   The guys at Nightmare managed to space the fixed cockroaches in such a way to leave room for the video roaches to move convincingly.   Overall this is one of the best effects in the haunt.

The remaining mini haunts are fairly small.   One section is a shipping container with a prop at the front end, a 12 foot airbag, and a prop at the end.  It is best to consider this one haunted attraction broken into sections rather than 5 attractions.

 $34.50 for general admission.  The entire haunt takes about 30 minutes to complete.

Scary Tinker's Haunt Tour 2012 - Day 8 Part 2

Ecopocalypse
Austin, Texas
http://ecopocalypseaustin.com

Every once and a while you come across something unique, Ecopocalypse certainly qualifies.  This non-linear attraction portrays the world after an ecological collapse of the planet.  Think Mad Max without Tina Turner.

All the usual cliches are missing.  No demons, no zombies, no vampires, no chainsaws....   The lighting is a couple of notches above dim so you can see your surroundings and the actors.   The actors will try to engage you with semi-scripted dialogue intended to drive the narrative and guide you through the attraction.   There are lots of startle scares and some blood used.  

During the pre-admission introduction, (No touching, No running, etc...)  visitors are told that there is no one way to find your way out of the show.   Customers are encouraged to explore the Ecopocalypsean world and that back tracking to see the entire venue is a good idea.   A wrist band presented upon ticket purchase entitles you to multiple trips though the labyrinth that evening.

The attraction is one part haunted house and one part interactive dinner theatre (minus the dinner).   At $20 admission this haunt is a good deal.   Located one block off the infamous 6th Street in Austin it is easy to put together a fun evening that include scares, food, and live music.