Source for crib mobile motor?

[jdon]

I'm in the early stages (planning) on building a crib mobile for our newborn grandson. Son/Daddy likes the idea of having a motor suspended from the support to rotate the hanging parts slowly.

Does anyone have any ideas of where to find a compact electric motor geared down for slow (<5 rpm) rotation? It wouldn't need a lot of torque.

So far I've struck out with Googling "crib mobile motor"- most hits are either cheap looking plastic windup music boxes, or clunky disco ball rotators.

Neither fits the plan I have in mind: steam bent wood support, and brightly colored small, lightweight wooden toys suspended. I sure don't want the motor to be the dominant part of the mobile. Any ideas are greatly appreciated.

[chopnhack]

Maybe salvaging a motor from a kids RC car with a gearbox to do the reduction? Since these operate on rechargeable batteries, it wouldn't need to be wired up to anything. I think we have a big fan of RC on the forum, I know he's into helo's but maybe he may know more on this.

[Daryl]

You will need a gear head type motor, I would suggest ac so it wouldn't have brushes. Here is one from All Electronics, just add a transformer.

http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a...R-MOTOR/1.html

[greenacres2]

While cleaning the garage/workshop i ran across a slow rotating motor from something in our past. You could have it for the cost of mailing, but i'd guess that it's 3" w x4" l x 1.5" h--sounds bulky for your use.

earl

[JoeyGee]

Could you just go to a second hand shop and buy a used plastic mobile and take the plastic cover off and replace it with a more attractive wood one?

[mpc]

Some of the battery powered clock motors are set up to drive a "sweep" second hand, rather than one that jerks/steps every second. They're not strong motors but come pre-geared-down and are low power/low voltage. It'd be fairly easy to snip the wire between one of the battery contacts to the circuitry and insert an on/off switch if desired.

mpc

[eezlock]

crib mobile motor?

I think that I'm understanding what you are wanting here.....something put above a baby crib to entertain a child? You could use a small rotissorie motor
like a BBQ grill has it turns real slow and not too noisy either...just another idea here.

[jdon]

Thanks for all the great ideas-

Haven't had any time since posting to do anymore investigating- yeah, basically a miniature rotisserie motor, with a vertical axis.

I might give the clock motor a try- maybe a trip to the local thrift shop is in order. It also occurred to me that maybe a small stepper motor (salvaged from an old floppy drive I haven't gotten around to tossing) might work. I'll have to run it by my EE son- it's for his son, after all. I'm out of my league in digital controls (my last birthday card from EE son said: "Not old.... old school!"

I'll keep forum posted, and if successful, will even summon enough courage to post pics of finished project.

[Charlie R]

Check the gear motors at McMaster Carr then try your local appliance repair for a used one.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#ac-motors/=hp1j5k

[LCHIEN]

one idea is to buy a quartz clock movement from Klockit.com - they run of a single AA battery for a long time and are relatively small (about 2" x 2" x 1/2" thick). Possible problems: second hand shaft turns at 1 RPM. May not handle large loads but I do know that Klockit.com has some higher torque clock movements that are designed for larger and heavier hands, possibly for more money and or shorter battery life (but the regular movements last for months or years).

Regular quartz clock movements only cost a few bucks... somewhere in the neighborhood of 3, 4, or 5 bucks.

Here, a high torque movement for $8. Still not capable of handling a really large load, though...
http://www.klockit.com/products/dept...sku-aaaag.html

and another (Seiko) high torque for $13:
http://www.klockit.com/products/dept...sku-10045.html

[cabinetman]

A watch winder motor may work.

.

[greenacres2]

I think that I'm understanding what you are wanting here.....something put above a baby crib to entertain a child? You could use a small rotissorie motor
like a BBQ grill has it turns real slow and not too noisy either...just another idea here.

Thank you!! That's what the motor i found in my garage is...i've been trying to figure it out. Would be a great speed for this use, just big.

Side note--i remember the day we broke the spit--small turkey (though too big for the rotisserie), not properly trussed, flopping at every revolution...it was frustrating as could be, but oh so funny to watch!!

earl

[tommyt654]

What you might want is a windup spring motor, not an electric one(safer), they are readily available on e-bay and such, look up wind up motor or spring motor and search till you find one applicable,should be plenty as folks try to restore those older tin made toys a lot nowadays .http://www.ebay.com/itm/C0121310-Boa...item3a747f23e2