Motor for moving head

[uDaeth]

I need to build a moving head for a homecoming float. Think of the Pacman head. It's for the most part two half circles that come together when Pacman chomps. I'm going to be building a head with pretty much the same design, just narrower.

My question is, what kind of motor should I look for, and what additional parts, to make the chomping action happen on a continuous loop?

 

[davenn]

hi there
welcome

the size/power of the motor would depend on what the head is made of and how heavy it is
since you haven't commented on that ... a bit difficult to advise you

Dave

 

[uDaeth]

Going to make it out of thin plywood. Not as concerned about power right now. Just need an idea of what motors and parts I need to make it happen so I can get a general ballpark of how much this is going to cost.

 

[(*steve*)]

The power required will determine the minimum size of motor.

I suggest you have some idea of the torque required before you choose a motor.

I would consider using a geared motor to drive a cam which actuates the chomper. By careful balanging you can minimise the mass that is lifted and ensure that it falls again under gravity.

 

[Fish4Fun]

I would suggest making your moving parts from foam (available in 4x8 sheets from 1/2in to 2" in thickness from your favorite building supply center), this will greatly reduce the requirements for your motors. If a constant speed is good, then an AC gear motor is a great choice for places with access to AC. A DC gear motor or a stepper motor is a good choice for applications where AC is not available, or speed variation is important.

Estimated cost? $5 to $5k, you haven't supplied enough information for anything closer than that.

Fish