motor drum beater help?

Forum 2005-2010 (read only) Hardware Interfacing
1

Hello,

Just getting used to working with arduino---finding it fascinating!!

I've been able to get small radio shack motor working as a beater with a paperclip on the end to activate strings. I'm now looking into more powerful motors and setups for beating drums and creating louder and more consistent sounds. I'm wondering if people have any suggestions for motor types, and also what power supplies/methods to power the motors. I'm going to be wanting to do about 30 motors at once ultimately.

Thanks!!!
E

2

Important questions for picking motors:

  1. How fast do you want to hit the drums?

  2. How hard?

  3. Do you want to control when they're struck precisely (e.g., to keep time with music) or just approximately?

  4. Do you live in the U.S. (where motors are available on the surplus market at a fraction of their new price)?

3

hey,

thanks for getting back to me---I'm looking to very precisely control the attacks. I live in the US. I'm also researching about solenoids, which I know basically nothing about, seems that people have had success with these, any thoughts?

4

I'm looking for a fairly strong attack and sound, nothing crazy but, loud enough.

5

I think in this forum someone posted a youtube link to some drums being played using solenoids. It was very impressive. You may find it by doing some searching.

6

Have you seen my project using solenoids?
http://www.thebox.myzen.co.uk/Hardware/Glockenspiel.html

7

I'm looking to very precisely control the attacks.

Then normal DC motors are out: you just can't get the kind of control you want with one.

You might be able to do something interesting with a stepper motor, but you almost certainly want to use a solenoid.

I have a few of these, and they deliver a pretty good whack, even at 12V.

8

hey,

thanks for the help..Im trying to understand a little bit more about solenoids. It seems that I would need to by one of the open / push types that go in and out from side to side :

http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDrillDownView?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&freeText=solenoids&search_type=jamecoall

is there one here anyone would suggest? Also, what I'm not understanding is what keeps the inner part from flying out of the case when it strikes---forgive my ignorance--

thanks again--

EK

9

hey,

Thanks again for the help. I'm getting there now still a little confused, but a bunch from allelectronics and most come with no springs. Just to clarify, I would need to find a spring that when the power is off will propel the striker a way from the body, (or the opposite i guess). This one appears to be the one used to strike the djembe in the last video http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10001_10001_149754_-1

Does that seem right? Even with the spring, I'm still unclear on this but hopefully--it will come together soon ;). I can't seem to get the ones I bought to work.

thanks again
EK

10

I would need to find a spring

A "full-line" hardware store (like Ace) that has an aisle of those drawer modules full of specialty fasteners will probably have a module with springs.

You could convert a cheaper tubular solenoid like this one (also from Jameco) to spring operation. Ideally, you'd do it by drilling and tapping the core, and using a washer like the expensive one does, but you might be able to get away with gluing it. Or not: all the beating and vibrating might cause the glue to fail over time. Since I already have taps, I'd go that route.