Automatic garage gate (portın automıtico)

Nota: Las fotos son 3D, en formato anaglifo y en par cruzado.

Hace unos años hice este engendro, y puedo decir que es una de las cosas que mejor resultado me han dado. La automatización del portón del garage es una excepción a la regla que dice que la comodidad se contrapone a la seguridad. Por lo menos en mi caso, nada más cómodo y seguro que llegar a mi casa, oprimir el botoncito del control remoto desde la esquina, ver cómo se abre el portón, y entrar directamente, sin siquiera detener el auto. De igual manera, al salir la operatoria es muy rápida: poner el motor en marcha, sacar el freno de mano, abrir el portón, poner marcha atrás y salir; al pasar la trompa del auto por la línea del portón, ya puedo apretar el botón de cerrar. Si hubiera algún ladrón merodeando la zona, tendría que estar muy cerca de mi casa y muy alerta para poder interceptarme, dado que no tengo que bajar del auto ni detenerlo en ningún momento. El tiempo de apertura es de 7 segundos, y lo mismo el de cierre.

Ni hablar de los días de lluvia, no me moja ni una sola gota. Mi mujer, agradecida.

Pero cuando quise instalar el abreportón automático, había un pequeño problema: la versión para dos puertas costaba más del doble. Y no soy de los que no se fijan en el precio. Así que decidí comprar un automático para portones corredizos y adaptarlo a mis necesidades. A continuación cuento cómo lo hice.

Note: The pictures are 3D, anaglyph and CES (cross eyed stereogram) format.

A few years ago I made this monster, and I can say is one of the things that have given me better results. The garage door automation is an exception to the rule that says that comfort is contrary to safety. At least in my case, nothing more comfortable and safe to come to my house, press the button on the remote control from the corner, see how the gate opens, go straight, without even stopping the car. Similarly, leaving the operation is very fast: put the engine running, pull the hand brake, open the gate, set back off and leave, and when the trunk of the car overpass the gate line, I can pull the close button. If there is a thief prowling the area, should be very close to my home and very alert to intercept me, given that I have not to get off the car or stop at any time. The opening time is 7 seconds, and closing the same thing.

Not to mention the rainy days, I wet neither a single drop. My wife, grateful.

But when I install the automatic gate opener, had a small problem: two-door version costing more than doubled. And I am not of those who do not look at the price. So I decided to buy an automatic slide gate and adapt it to my needs. Following I tell you how I did.

Step 1 Fixing (fijaciın)

Ubiqué el motor colgado de las vigas del techo, sobre una plataforma sostenida firmemente con soportes y puntales de hierro. Esto es fundamental, porque el motor hace mucha fuerza, sobre todo los días de viento. Como ya he dicho en otros instructables, la estética es lo que menos me preocupa.


I located the motor hanging from the rafters, on a platform firmly held with iron supports and struts. This is crucial because the engine makes a lot of force, especially on windy days. As I said in other instructables, aesthetics is the least of my worries.

Comments

[WWC]

Very nice. I once tried to make a gate opener out of a garage door opener. I say tried because it never really worked very well, or at all for that mater. I see if i would of applied your push-pull instead of my rotation idea i believe it would have worked. Good work!

[rimar2000]

Thanks for your kind words.

My device, like almost all DIY or home-made contraptions, has some fails. Example, after a big rain can occur that the latch locks. I made some days ago a little change, replacing the vertical iron rod that you can see in first photo of step 5 by a bicycle brake steel wire. That improved a lot the problem. but I do not trust it, it can always arise something, for metal fatigue, wear, etc...

[bfk]

Hermoso! Este es el tipo de la puerta de mi pequeño establo. Me puede copiar esto sólo para mostrar!

Mejor aún, el 3D es una gran manera de mostrar su invento. Si no te importa, voy a hacer eso en mi instructable siguiente. Felicitaciones a usted por un instructable doblemente impresionante!


Beautiful! This is the type of door on my small barn. I may copy this just to show off!

Better yet, the 3D is a great way to show off your invention. If you don't mind, I'm going to do that on my very next Instructable. Kudos to you for a doubly awesome Instructable!

[rimar2000]

Gracias por tus palabras elogiosas. A mí me encanta la fotografía 3D, y como no tengo suficiente dinero para comprarme una buena cámara, debo rebuscarme con dos camaritas baratas de esas que ya no se consiguen. Podés ver este instructable donde lo explico.

Thank you for your words of praise. I love 3D photography, and as I have not enough money to buy a good camera, I dig with two of those cheap little camera that are no longer available. You can view this instructable where I explain.

[pfred2]

Wow you made your own garage door opener. I have an overhead garage door with an opener, but it was all here when I moved in. I never timed it but I'd say it is a lot slower than your opener too. I used to use it but then too many bugs and frogs and other things would get into my garage. So unless I have to move something really big into my garage I leave it closed all the time now. Oh yeah, the cars live outside all the time now too. A thief would have to travel pretty far to get to my house. I do not think the trip would be worth it for them.

[rimar2000]

I get two conclusions: 1) you live in the countryside, far from the city. Here in Argentina such a thing is no guarantee of safety, there have been many assaults in rural areas; 2) obviously, in your area does not hail. Here are falling boulders often, my son ruined a nearly new car, and to me a hail broke a pane of glass at my back gallery.

It is fast, indeed, 6 or 7 seconds. The only problem with that is at closing, it strike a bit (or a beat). But the neighbors around 6 blocks are already accustomed ;)

Thanks for comment, you are always kind.

[pfred2]

You are right. I live in a rural area. I guess there can be crime here but we are all heavily armed so that can end bad. I have seen it hail here. Not often, but it can happen.

This is my  front yard:

http://i.imgur.com/8T4KE.jpg

My back yard:

http://i.imgur.com/0bM4J.jpg

Pretty empty.

To you I am kind, because you are OK. Some others, not so much.

[rimar2000]

I would love to live out of town, I feel revived, but I can not convince my wife.

"Normal" hail is not a problem. Last times are falling big ice boulders, egg hen size. They are very destructive.

Here in Argentina we (decent people) are disarmed, at the mercy of criminals who are armed they do. The law is to protect them from us!

[pfred2]

Sounds like a great place for whiskey drinkers to me if they like theirs on the rocks.

The country is peaceful. Sometimes out in my yard I can hear my own heart beating. Maybe I need to cut down on my salt intake? But it is very quiet here.

We are pretty lax about guns. These are the guns laws that apply to me:

http://crime.about.com/od/gunlawsbystate/p/gunlaws_de.htm

I have never been locked up or committed so I'm OK for anything but concealed carrying. I don't know 5 people here so I can't get that permit.

[rimar2000]

I see on Google Maps that your zone is plenty of natural beauties. Where are you precisely?

I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Villa+Elisa,+Buenos+Aires,+Argentina&hl=es&ll=-34.848918,-58.080465&spn=0.001263,0.002411&sll=38.827405,-75.481567&sspn=0.307046,0.617294&oq=villa+elisa,+&vpsrc=6&hnear=Villa+Elisa,+Buenos+Aires,+Argentina&t=k&z=19

My house is at center of the image, it have 3 little trees in front, and a wasteland at its right . We are 9 km form Río de la Plata, but the road is destroyed and the waters are contaminated.

[Phil B]

Very impressive!

[rimar2000]

Thanks, Phil!

"Necessity is the mother of invention"