trying to get some rattling action going

Forum 2005-2010 (read only) General Frequently-Asked Questions
1

hello

My current obsession is filing cabinets. I've got a filing cabinet whose drawers I've managed to go in and out slowly. I now want to get another drawer (on another filing cabinet, I'm that obsessed) to not extend and retract but to rattle. Any idea what sort of motor to use for said action (which would be rattling quite hard but not moving much distance).

cheers

Kyp

www.electronicsunset.org

2

I motor with an eccentric weight would do. Think "massager".
Alternatively, you could use a solenoid with a fair bit of weight, that would let you control the pattern of rattles better.

3

Hi

have you seen this project? It's by an artist who uses MAX/MSp to control an array of filing cabinets for performances... There is also this link to the Ars Electronica site.

D

4

Would you recommend a motor directly attatched with an eccentric weight to the drawer, and what sort of rpm / torque etc would it need? I keep getting motors that don't do much. It all needs to operate at 12V too.

If I went solenoid route, again what sort of size solenoid?

I saw an Istvan Kantor filing cabinet performance many years ago. What I'm doing is a bit less neoist. The cabinet responds to and communicates with a plant, a phone, another filing cabinet, a bin. His stuff was proper banging loud. He was using some sort of piston based action. I can't remember how it worked it was very dark. He was painted up a bit like dracula.

cheeers

K

5

Hi

this might be overkill, if you want really bone-rattling motors, have a look in the classifieds or Craigslist in your area, and get yourself a used battery-operated wheelchair or scooter. These have huge and very powerful gear motors in them, which can be interfaced to by replacing their comtrols with optoisolators driven by the Arudino. The motors in one of those things will move a fridge around a room.

If you just want a little rattling sound, then you could use a 110V or 220V motor, depending on your continet, swtiched by a solid-state relay. A one-ouce eccentric weight on the shaft of a 1/4hp motor will make a hell of a noise.

D

6

I want the thing to shake / tremble, but I also want the motor to make as little noise as possible. I think moving a fridge around may be a little bit overkill, yes.