This is what I was getting at when I made my earlier post about about
the old Gemini OR-360 TV rotators. The gear train is driven by a "540"
sized DC motor. I can tell you from experience that one of these rotors
will rotate a mini sized beam on HF. I do it everyday. So if we are
driving a smaller array, we might be able to eliminate some or all of
the gearing involved and go with one of the smaller motors. I can't
recall the issue but it seems to me I saw an article in QST where
someone was driving a small little beam on top of a tripod with a small
little motor. I still think a position pot is a better option for
pointing over a stepper motor though.
Michael, W4HIJ
On 2/27/2013 8:30 PM, Gus wrote:
Returning to this topic...
I'm thinking about a rotator that can handle a small system like the
Arrow, or the Cushcraft A270-6s or even the A270-10s. NOT big boomers
like the KLM 22/40 el CP yagis!
So we're looking at 1½ - 2 sq. ft of windloading, and maybe 10 lbs of
weight. (Including some sort of crossboom, clamps, coax and
counterweights. Rear mounted antennas like the Arrow will need a
rear-mounted counterweight.)
Anybody qualified to say what that adds up to in terms of TORQUE
required from the motors? With a little extra thrown in for a safety
margin, maybe?
I think a simple, low-cost, easily reproducible design is probably
doable, if we combine our ingenuity and expertise.
-- 73, de Gus 8P6SM
Barbados, the easternmost isle.
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