The mechanical tag has no wiki summary.
-2
votes
0answers
36 views
Independant Contractor Electro-mechanical assembly charges [closed]
I have the need for a higher-level assembly technician that can build brackets, standoffs, and cabinet hardware as well as make and solder wire harnesses to boards and connectors. What is the hourly ...
4
votes
1answer
99 views
Is it possible to control and reverse the direction of a dc motor through a headphone socket?
Yesterday, I found that it was possible to control a servo using a headphone socket with a fairly simple circuit.
I've got a project where I need to to control a dc motor via a headphone socket. Is ...
1
vote
1answer
131 views
Automating button presses
I'm working on a project which involves automating the pressing of some buttons on a device. There are five push buttons, which are quite stiff and require fast repetitive presses - around about ~7Hz ...
0
votes
3answers
480 views
Gerber to DXF converter
What's a good utility to convert gerbers to DXF/DWG?
The reason I ask: I'd like to create gerbers to give to mechanical engineers for use in SolidWorks to look for interference due to solder fillets ...
3
votes
2answers
238 views
Electronically controlled pneumatic lift, or something similar
Need to be able to firmly lift about 110Lbs (~50Kgs) weight, through a distance of upto 12 inches. The weight can be considered to be a flat & square wooden board, hinged to a flat platform, with ...
3
votes
1answer
245 views
Easier-to-machine alternative to pogo pins?
My project has a rectangular 5 x 6 grid, 1mm pitch pin header. Unfortunately, it needs to be cycled by the user over 300 times!
We've looked at pogo pins, because of the high cycle count, but the ...
1
vote
3answers
212 views
Hall-effect switch or photointerrupter
I'm dealing with a small automation project, a rack and pinion system controlled by an Arduino card with two limit switches to ensure that the rack moves within the boundaries.
I have been trying both ...
3
votes
3answers
173 views
Energy conversion from Electrical to Mechanical
I have a requirement where I have to design a very small device capable of pulling in and out a small piston through a feedback.I know it can be done using motor but AFAIK I need higher voltage and ...
2
votes
3answers
241 views
What is this type of motor called?
Firstly some background:
I would like to make a magnetic stirrer, like the ones they use in chemistry labs:
A small bar magnet sits inside the glass jar, while another bar magnet, attached to a ...
9
votes
4answers
349 views
Strong adhesive to attach part to PCB
I am looking for recommendations for a strong adhesive that would be easy to apply by hand in production quantities. This is for fastening an ABS plastic riser in between two PCBs.
Epoxy would work, ...
0
votes
0answers
115 views
Button Pad Design
I want to design a button pad similar to the one shown below.
I've tried searching for information on what goes into designing something like this but have found nothing. Particularly, what I am ...
2
votes
1answer
50 views
Multiple lengths in DAC datasheet
The last page of this DAC datasheet gives dimensions of the chip:
Some of these dimensions come is 3-tuples (such as the pin width: 0.30 | 0.37 | 0.45). What ...
4
votes
5answers
1k views
What does BSC SQ mean?
I'm reading this DAC datasheet. The last page (p. 32) gives certain of the chip's dimensions, some in units of "BSC SQ".
What does BSC SQ mean? Is it standard to express sizes in BSC SQ?
2
votes
1answer
100 views
Stymied in search for an electronic lock [closed]
I'm looking for an electronic lock to secure a small, wooden box (breadbox-sized). The box is ordinary: one side of the lid is hinged against one side of the box.
When I look for 'electronic locks' ...
1
vote
2answers
181 views
Fixing a transformer inside a metal case
I want to fix this transformer inside the case you see in the picture.
It doesn't matter if it lands on the bottom, walls or the ceiling of the case, I just want to learn how to fix an element like ...
4
votes
2answers
584 views
Securing PCBs - Screws Vibrating Out
I am curious what methods are most suitable for securing PCBs. I have a large PCB which is fixed to a sheet metal enclosure using #4-40 x 1/4" stainless steel screws. The receiving end is a #4-40 ...
1
vote
1answer
277 views
How to determine velocity profile for two stepper motor in robot driving
A robot has 2 parallel driving wheel. I don't know the friction of the ground surface. However, I can set the acceleration, starting velocity, ending velocity. The velocity profile has to be ...
0
votes
2answers
278 views
Rotating Platform That Starts and Stops Incrementally
I'm not sure this is the right place to pose this question, as it probably encompasses more than one field - EE, ME, programming, etc. But I'll ask the question anyway and hope that someone might ...
3
votes
2answers
162 views
Electro-Mechanical Connection: from screw straight up to electrical-wire?
I am developing a system that includes aircraft cables with threaded studs - screw endings that are used for mounting. Here is a picture of the stud connected to a cable:
Now I am searching for an ...
2
votes
3answers
2k views
Where can I get a small cheap linear actuator?
First, I should clarify: I am not looking for much power or much precision. I am looking for the cheapest thing I can plug into an arduino. I am just looking for stuff I can use for ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
Putting far more mechanical energy into a generator than its electrical load
Funny how I was pondering about this question for a long part of the day yesterday, and today I was at stackoverflow and in the box with the featured questions from other SE sites this very related ...
2
votes
2answers
528 views
Best way to detect horizontal vibration/shaking!
I need to detect shaking (not just vibration or small movements but significant horizontal rocking movement)! (its a long story)
I have an Arduino already in place, controlling some other stuff. ...
6
votes
2answers
346 views
Understanding a mechanical drawing
I'm trying to understand this mechanical drawing. (Another one. I asked a question about mechanical drawings a while back.)
I can work out most of the dimensions, but the mount pads are confusing ...
2
votes
1answer
224 views
How to choose laser galvanometers
I am currently looking to purchase laser galvanometers like this and this. However, as I'm not familiar with lasers, I'm not sure the criteria I should use to evaluate whether a given product is a ...
14
votes
2answers
1k views
How do old school, electromechanical elevators work?
Today Scouting New York ran some photographs of the mechanicals of an old, working elevator that dates back to the 1920s.
I was especially intrigued by this amazing picture of the control system:
...
7
votes
6answers
375 views
Track-mounted drive system
I would like to mount a slow-moving robotic "car" to a linear track of any incline from horizontal to vertical. The track should be rigid (attached to a boom if necessary) so that it can be propped up ...
3
votes
4answers
431 views
Help me decode this mechanical drawing of an SD card PCB layout
I'm trying to understand this mechanical drawing so I can create a layout for it in gEDA PCB.
Specifically on page 4. I've already managed to place GND 1 and GND 2; those were fairly simple to work ...
4
votes
9answers
3k views
hardware for pushing buttons
Many times I want my computer to interface old hardware. Such as radio, light switch, etc. This mostly involves pushing pressing and moving various buttons and switches.
I don't want to buy new ...
