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Want to build a automatic opening drawer?
could i use a dvd tray as the actuator if it is under a light enough load? what is the max it could probably open?
thanx for any help you can offer
could i use a dvd tray as the actuator if it is under a light enough load? what is the max it could probably open?
thanx for any help you can offer
Comments
Best Answer 9 years ago
Very little power in the DVD tray BUT the principle is good.
A rack and pinion is the traditional way (as in DVD) but you could make arrangements with some string and a motor for example.
Good free running draws on tracks is the key so they are easy to move.
Remember that with a heavy object (eg a FULL draw) the inertia will be considerably increased from when it was empty and light.
T emulate that Smoooth action you so often see in CD players etc look for some smart grease and use a spring to pull the draw open when the catch is released, you will have to push it back though.
Smart grease info here:
http://www.nelsonthornes.com/aqagce/AS%20sample%20material/Head%20of%20Design%20and%20Technology/Product%20Design/AS%20Product%20Design.pdf
Answer 9 years ago
oh okay that makes sense i had a old tray laying around got curious the drawer will only hold 3 lbs give or take a few ounces i need about 6 inches of acutual travel.
1 year ago
1 year ago
Use an automotive electric window motor and assembly to draw the drawer open and closed. Use a ball bearing or roller type slide for guide. You can wire a kick out for when the drawer opens as far as you want as a safety measure.
The electric window motor will require significant juice though...12v 10amp I believe or close to.
For this I would use a computer power supply and group all the yellow in one bundle and group all the black wires in another.
You will need to search for the proper wiring of a PC power supply. Works great though
8 years ago
Would love to have something like this Ikea thing, but much cheaper:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30238703/
9 years ago
so with research i have decided against the original curiosty..... naturaully i decided to go with push to open soft close drawer slides im gonna do a step by step for the drawer should be a fun lil project
9 years ago
A DVD tray opener would be much too light to open any drawer that weighs more than a few ounces.
I would suggest you think of a worm gear type garage door opener. Copy the design using an all-thread rod and a large nut. Fasten the nut to the drawer and the all-thread rod to an electric motor. You can scale the sizes to open pretty much any drawer you need. Reverse the direction of rotation of the motor with a switch and it will also close the drawer when you're ready.
Answer 9 years ago
thanx allot for your suggestion any threads to follow on how this is done?
Answer 9 years ago
None that I am aware of. That doesn't necessarily mean there aren't any, I just haven't seen one.
As for the method, its fairly straight forward, affix the nut to the bottom of the drawer and mount the all thread rod so that a motor can, either directly or indirectly, turn the rod. That will either push or pull the nut depending in the direction of spin of the motor.