Alt-BEAM Archive

Message #01738



To: beam beam@corp.sgi.com
From: Richard Piotter richfile@rconnect.com
Date: Wed, 24 Mar 1999 20:58:48 -0600
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: Buy Lego motors!


You can get a better motor for Photovores and such out of walkmans from
a free box at a garage sale. 800 mA is a LOT for any solar powered bot,
considering I thing Solarbotics largest panel only generrates 15 mA (I
think). That'd take a while to charge. Besides, Solarbotics pager motors
are smaller and cheaper, and you'd be suprised how many OTU's you can
find if you have the right places around town to look, and know where to
look. Believe it or not, second hand stores are awesome! buy all the old
clocks and toys, and start salvaging! I got a portable electronic word
processor with and adjustable LCD, backup battery support, battery
opperation, and wall outlet adaptor for $25 US!!! Junk yards are great
too! Just go there and ask if they have a pile of stoves,a dn tell the
owner what you're looking for. I once found a cow feeder filled to the
top with old IBM mainframe boards, In a RURAL, middle of no-where junk
yard!!! You wouldn't believe what you'd find if you know where to look!
I got over 50 high value (1000µf to about 22000µf) from miscelaneous
stuff I found free. I can't wait to check out all the new garage sales
this summer (new town! Mwahahaha! :)

Jonathan D Rogers wrote:
>
> Hey, I just ran some tests on my so-called 9V lego motor, and it will
> run, albeit at a lower speed, at voltages all the way down to 3V. I'm not
> sure about the torque at this voltage, but it turned a little gear system
> I had set up (a 24-tooth gear driving a 14-tooth gear-I forgot how to
> calculate the ratio)at 3V with no problem and amperage of about 800mA.
> Like I said, the torque may not be fantastic, but gear redcution could
> help with that. I'm thinking that you don't want a very high RPM on a
> Suneater so it doesn't fall down stairs, etc.
> So, even though these motors aren't cheap at $17.50 a piece, I think they
> could be quite good for making Suneaters, Photovores, and perhaps even
> walkers.
> They also make a 9V motor with built-in gear reduction, and a really tiny
> 9V motor. I have one of the micro-motors, which may be useful for making
> small 'bots...I haven't got one of the geared ones, though.
> I'll keep y'all posted on this, since it could be a great new motor
> option...
> I'll also try the voltage-upper stuff and see how it works!
> Thanks, everyone!
>
> Jonathan

--


Richard Piotter
richfile@rconnect.com

The Richfiles Robotics & TI web page:
http://richfiles.calc.org

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