posted
I was brainstorming for ideas for amp racks and was thinking of ways that I might be able to motorize my amp rack since my truck is only wide enough to mount two amps side by side. I'm thinking about making the "door" that the amps are mounted to drop down so you can see a third amp behind it, so I was wondering if the lift ratings on linear actuators was for closing too.
From the side it would look closed like this | | and open like this |/. will the actuator be able to pull the door closed again?
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Oooooooooh yeahhhh.. linear actuators are strong!
12volt actuators range anywhere from 20 pound pull ratings up to 2,000 pound ratings. It just depends how much power you really need. If it's just gonna swing a door open it doesnt have to be very strong at all.
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics
R POT Designs - Carbon Fiber Watercraft Performance Products
Posts: 431 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
I was wondering if it'll be able to close the door too. the amps will be mounted on the door and it'll probably be made of particle board or MDF. I'm guessing the weight of the "door" will be maybe 20-30 lbs, maybe more. The door closed will be like this | |, and open like this |/ and maybe even close to flat |_. The force it has to pull with to close the door will be considerably more than 30 lbs, maybe around 60? I don't know the physics of it, but I was wondering if the actuators retract with the same force as they extend w/?
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Linear actuators are expensive. If you find a good deal on them let me know where you buy them. I'd like to use them, but because of the price I've put it off. I need two short ones with very little torque and one longer one with a bit more strength. Local shops around me don't carry them or even order them. I can only find industrial places that sell them and they were damn expensive. Thanks! SantaBorg@hotmail.com
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A company called Warner Electric makes actuators. Very expensive. I think The Wholesale House used to, and possibly still might. Don't know. I haven't done much searching for this things yet. I could also be interested in some if anybody finds them at a reasonable price.
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some of the replacement actuators for sat dishes are very similar... and much cheaper. The only problem being that most are 24" or more.
you might be able to make one with a DC gearbox motor and threaded rod... I have heard of using the motor from a cheap cordless drill also (b/c it has a built in clutch - i.e. limit switch).
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