Automatic Window Blinds Controller (PICAXE)

Step 3 Modify And Mount The Gear Motor

The GM3 gear motor has a shaft that sticks out of the housing on both sides. Use only the side of the shaft that is flat on two sides. Do not use the side that is flat on only one side (like a D). That side of the shaft is actually a spacer and will not turn the blinds more than a few times before stripping and falling off.

Remove the rod from the blinds that you normally turn to open and close them. You will notice a small hole in the flat piece on the top end of this rod. Get a drill bit about the same size as that hole (about 3mm). Drill a hole in the motor shaft at about the same distance from the end of its shaft as the hole is from the end of the rod.

Mount the motor to the bottom of the project box using 4-40 bolts and nuts. Note that there is a small nipple sticking up on the side of the motor that goes towards the project box. Place a small washer over the nipple to keep the project box straight with the bottom of the project box when the bolts are tightened. The drilled end of the motor shaft should be sticking up like in the picture. This will allow you to mount the project box to the blinds while keeping the motor shaft in a position that will allow the hook on the spindle coming out of the blinds to go through the hole in the motor shaft.

Go ahead and put the hook through the hole in the motor shaft, and hold the project box against the blinds at the top of the window. Drill a small hole through the back of the project box and into the top of the blinds. Do not screw the project box to the top of the blinds yet. This hole will be used later to mount the controller to the blinds using a self tapping screw.