0
$\begingroup$

I have never built anything with gears before, and I find myself needing to do just that. Given that I have very little background, I'm mostly looking to be pointed in the right direction.

The Task

I need to design and build a rotation stage that can both rotate freely in both directions, while simultaneously being able to be elevated through ~0.5 m. Both motions should be driven independently, and I cannot put a motor in the room the platform will live in. The motors need to be about 5 m away, in a different room, around several corners. So, I figured this sounds like a job for a drive shaft (or maybe belts/chains, although I am trying to avoid as much position uncertainty as possible). The actual power requirement is low --- no more than a few kg on the platform as it's being moved. Pardon the potato drawing.

A rotating, elevating platform

The Problem

The problem I keep running into is how do I keep the rotational motion system working as the platform is moved through its full linear range. Doing either alone is straight forward --- bevel gears or a worm for the rotation, or a rack and pinion for the translation. My problem is getting them to be able to do both, without the translation uncoupling the rotation system.

Help

I can't imagine that this isn't a solved problem, somewhere. I just don't know where to look for the answer. I've put a few days into Googling and, while I am now much more comfortable with the types of gears out there, I haven't found anything that starts to explain how I should proceed with combining elements. Any resources people know that could help, or places to look at similar designs would be very helpful.

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
3
  • $\begingroup$ Have a look at a car screw jack or one of those mobile access elevators etc $\endgroup$
    – Solar Mike
    Commented Jan 14, 2023 at 6:57
  • $\begingroup$ what range of rotation is required? $\endgroup$
    – jsotola
    Commented Jan 14, 2023 at 7:32
  • $\begingroup$ is mounting a motor on the linear stage (or the rotational stage) out of the question? $\endgroup$
    – NMech
    Commented Jan 14, 2023 at 10:20

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
0
$\begingroup$

I suspect that your answer is a well-lubricated splined shaft. The splined shaft is the translation shaft, while the rotation is a matching internally-splined gear being turned by the rotation input.

The translation input as a rack and pinion will apply the vertical force from below the translation shaft, with an appropriate surface to mate with lubrication or a bearing.

Created via Tinkercad and a combination of graphic software packages to create the gearing portion:

mockup of lift and rotate

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.