How to mount a platform onto the shaft of a stepper motor

Other Hardware Motors, Mechanics, Power and CNC
1

I have a little side project I want to play with which consists of stepper motor rotating a round platform (similar to a record player) - the stepper motor points shaft up and a small platform is attached to the shaft such that when the arduino signals the motor to rotate x-number of steps in either direction the platform would rotate also. As an example, imagine a small laster pointer attached, on its side, to the platform and the stepper motor rotating 180 degrees back and forth thus creating a continuously moving red dot of light for a cat to chase after.

Here is my problem...other than shaft couplers and collars I have found nothing which I could use to securely attach the platform to the shaft. I imagine I would have to obtain a pulley/wheel of some kind, which has a set screw (as my motor's shaft has a flat side on it) and then jerry-rig the platform to the pulley/wheel but I have yet to find such a pulley/wheel. Maybe I am just using wrong search words. Can anyone point me in a direction either via URLs or search terms or maybe even personal suggestions?

Thanks,
Randy

2

If your project is lightweight enough you can use one of these clamping hubs which any platform could be made to work with.

In general there's rarely any cut-and-dried answer when it comes to mechanical linkages. Just be precise in explaining what you're doing and someone should be able to help you.

3

BINGO!!! I can make one of those clamping hubs work - that's exactly the type of 'thingie' I was looking for.
Yea, I will be lightweight - just several sensors on the platform.

Thanks Chagrin, I really appreciate the link.

Randy

4

For similar simple attacments to a shaft, I made my own collar from a piece of wood with a hole the size of the shaft drilled in it, and then drilled a small hole in the side of the wood to the hole in the center. Put the piece of wood on the shaft, then a small bolt/screw is threaded in the side hole to go against the shaft flat spot. Hot glue the wood to what ever needs to be rotated.