# Finding drives for a two part mechanism

**URL:** <https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/finding-drives-for-a-two-part-mechanism/17748>\
**Category:** Finding Parts\
**Created:** [7 August 2023 05:35 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/finding-drives-for-a-two-part-mechanism/17748 "2023-08-07T05:35:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jim251754](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a4c791/32.png) [@Jim251754](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Jim251754)\
**Post date:** [7 August 2023 05:35 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/finding-drives-for-a-two-part-mechanism/17748/1 "2023-08-07T05:35:30Z")

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Mechanism 1: A carraige has to be moved on guide rails back & forth with a range of 70cm & a load of about 2 Kg. My 1st thought was a simple linear actuator, but at 70cm is there a better way like a simple screw drive or a belt drive ?  
Mechanism 2: The carriage has an axle fixed to a rotating arm 75cm long that has to swing thru an arc of 145 degs loaded with about 2Kg the end. My 1st thought was to have a servo motor drivinfg a small gear to larger gear on the axle.  
Both mechanisms need to be controlled to move in certain steps forward & back, but at this stage of the design development I’m more concerned with the mechanics than the control system.

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**Author:** ![Liam](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/liam/32/3562_2.png) [@Liam](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Liam)\
**Post date:** [7 August 2023 05:46 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/finding-drives-for-a-two-part-mechanism/17748/2 "2023-08-07T05:46:43Z")

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Hi Jim,

Would it be possible to narrow down the specs on your actuators a bit?

- What kind of forces are both looking to exert?
- Do you need position control? (or just getting to those steps?)
- Do you have any sketches of the system handy to gauge how everything ought to fit together?

Liam

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**Author:** ![Jim251754](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a4c791/32.png) [@Jim251754](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Jim251754)\
**Post date:** [7 August 2023 06:00 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/finding-drives-for-a-two-part-mechanism/17748/3 "2023-08-07T06:00:03Z")

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![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/uploads/core_electronics/original/2X/a/ac0bf3ea19b2d3ccb1b48c5d50548c2c4fee6758.png)  
This is my go at it.  
The carriage is moved longitudinally on guide rails each side.  
The arm is rotated on axle with a gear wheel driven by a small one.  
Torgue about 150Kg.cm.  
The motion is in a series of steps between certain points & back again so the end of the arm follows a specific path.

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**Author:** ![Liam](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/liam/32/3562_2.png) [@Liam](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Liam)\
**Post date:** [8 August 2023 02:36 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/finding-drives-for-a-two-part-mechanism/17748/4 "2023-08-08T02:36:48Z")

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Hi Jim,

Looks like a serious system!  
150kg/cm is getting well outside of the hobby realm so might be good to get in touch with an industrial supplier of servo’s.

Liam