Total novice, want to build a rack and pinion lift?

Help & Support Robot Parts
1

Hi all,

This is my first ever foray into robot building, i am however a very experienced software engineer.

My first project is a lift for a giant bottle (nebucanazzar size, weights 50kg)

I think i should build a see-saw for the bottle to sit on top of controlled by a rack and pinion on one end.

So i think i need a stepping motor of some description, and a rack and pinion rig? Then i can hopefully connect the motor to a breadboard then to a Raspberry Pi to control it? Does that sound sensible?

Can anyone help me figure out what size motor/parts i need? Links to noob guides very much appreciated, i’m finding it hard to find resources to get going

Cheers!

HC

2

What is the total travel from bottom to top?

3

It’s got to tip the bottle up to get it a good way towards empty, in small (1 glass) increments so i’d guess i should build for about a metre?

4

Not sure we fully understand. Do you mean lift or tip? Can you provide a sketch or some other visual of the setup and motion?

5
  • I did not win any art prizes at school :stuck_out_tongue:

How’s this?

i.imgur.com/yJGrLee.jpg

6

Ah, ok. So long as you can design the pivot which supports the bottle, you might use a linear actuator to do the tilting:
robotshop.com/en/standard-actuators.html
If you want to set the position, you’ll need one which has a built-in potentiometer.
Most DC linear actuators are controlled using a DC motor controller.
robotshop.com/en/brushed-mot … llers.html

7

Nice idea, thanks! Punchy price tag for my first foray but what the heck right?

Thanks for your patient help