Thread: Junk yard finds and their uses

I thought it would be fun to have a thread about the junque we drag home and then wonder what to do with. (Everyone does that, right? )
I don't mean repairing stuff for its original use, but creative 'repurposing'. (The word makes me cringe but it does convey the intent.)

Four eggs ample. Today I picked up this actuator from a hospital bed. I don't have the right sort of electrons to test it yet, so I don't know if it works or how far or how fast it moves. I suspect 'not very' in both cases. There are specs on the maker's website that I'm still trying to digest, but you can see it has a load rating of 6000N. Which sounds like a lot. But a duty cycle of 10%, which doesn't.
So assuming I can get it working, what the hell can I do with this treasure?

You could use it to lift the tiolet seat.

Drive your topslide on the lathe

Phil

I have a similar type of device, same function, different shape. I am considering making a lifting mechanism for a flat screen TV so the TV can be hidden down behind a cabinet and raised as required.
Mm.

Originally Posted by cookie48

You could use it to lift the tiolet seat.

Could be a bit slow if you really need to go.......

Powerfeed as Phil said is a good one, maybe a vent flap or somesuch?

I don't drag too much home these days......well i try not too....

Originally Posted by cookie48

You could use it to lift the tiolet seat.

You could use it to lift quite a few toilet seats. 6000 N is 1350 pounds of force. Over 600 kg

Tips around here don't allow you to take things away and hard rubbish collections that the council run are generally filled with broken furniture and tree prunings. However, at the last place I worked word got around that I did stuff with machines at home, so it was getting to the stage where I would have people approach me and ask if I wanted an old ________ that they were about to toss out because they didn't want it but it still worked...

As for the actuator, think of it as a pneumatic cylinder replacement - anywhere you can use one of those, you can use this. Usually they have motor driving a worm in them. If you were only lifting a light load you would be able to use it more often than the duty cycle would suggest. Pity your ute is only 12V (or it's 24V), as you could use it to provide motion on that. (I've seen them on water trucks to lower a tree watering boom)

Michael

Mini press? might be OK for sheet metal. Or some sort of clamping device?

You could convert your recliner rocker into one of those dawson chairs. Those ones that push you up and tip you out of your chair. May not need it today but you can start on it.

Auto door closer repurposed for a jointer guard.


Light cover for my welding bay fume hood made from a clothes dryer door.


Mobile Pizza oven made from clothes dryer drums. We even take it camping.

Originally Posted by cookie48

You could use it to lift the tiolet seat.

Putting it down might be more relevant. Never mind...

Originally Posted by Steamwhisperer

Drive your topslide on the lathe

That sir is a noble idea. Do you mean remove the compound's screw and replace it with this doover? You would lose manual control. Or do you mean just use the motor and connect it by other means to the existing screw?

Originally Posted by Metalman

I have a similar type of device, same function, different shape. I am considering making a lifting mechanism for a flat screen TV so the TV can be hidden down behind a cabinet and raised as required.
Mm.

That sounds like it would need a fair bit of travel. I think this only has 100mm or so. But if it can lift 600kg (thanks Laird) I guess you can leverage the travel. So to speak (it's kind of the opposite of leverage). What's a telly weigh these days?

Originally Posted by Michael G

Tips around here don't allow you to take things away

I feel lucky to have an old-school dump. I wonder how long it can last? Better stock up while I can.

As for the actuator, think of it as a pneumatic cylinder replacement - anywhere you can use one of those, you can use this. Usually they have motor driving a worm in them.

When I saw it I thought bewdy - a worm drive. The website is a bit coy about how they work:

A LINAK® electric linear actuator consists of a motor, a gear and a spindle including a nut.

Wikipedia says they usually drive a screw, and a nut does the pushing. Have you seen inside one? I wonder how long I can resist dismantling it?

If you were only lifting a light load you would be able to use it more often than the duty cycle would suggest.
Michael

That's good to know, thanks.

Originally Posted by _fly_

You could convert your recliner rocker into one of those dawson chairs. Those ones that push you up and tip you out of your chair. May not need it today but you can start on it.

Good plan, I might finish it by the time I need it.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far.

Originally Posted by Bryan

That sir is a noble idea. Do you mean remove the compound's screw and replace it with this doover? You would lose manual control. Or do you mean just use the motor and connect it by other means to the existing screw?

Either and or Bryan. All you need then is one of Joes controllers like he made for his rotary table. The tail stock is another thought.

Phil

Bryan, you've done well providing the actuator is not buggered. If it is, it can easily be repaired by Linak. I don't recommend pulling it apart, there's nothing servicable in there that you can fix.

I've used the LA31 actuator in many applications, and have had a close association with Linak here in Melbourne. The actuator is worth several hundred dollars and requires a control box and hand set to operate it.

The control box has built in over current sensing to stop the actuator at it's end stop positions. If hard pressed, I might be able to obtain a "shop soiled" control box etc.

I've used Linak actuators in beds, window shutters, hatches, TV lifts etc, and can vouch for their excellent quality and back up service.

Ken

Originally Posted by neksmerj

Bryan, you've done well providing the actuator is not buggered. If it is, it can easily be repaired by Linak. I don't recommend pulling it apart, there's nothing servicable in there that you can fix.

Oops. I already pulled it apart.

I've used the LA31 actuator in many applications, and have had a close association with Linak here in Melbourne. The actuator is worth several hundred dollars and requires a control box and hand set to operate it.

Oops. I already hooked it up.

The control box has built in over current sensing to stop the actuator at it's end stop positions. If hard pressed, I might be able to obtain a "shop soiled" control box etc.

I've used Linak actuators in beds, window shutters, hatches, TV lifts etc, and can vouch for their excellent quality and back up service.

Ken

Ken, thanks for the excellent info. Great to hear a story of quality and service.

I didn't find anything too scary in there. The only snag is those two big springs are very difficult to reinstall. In fact I haven't managed it yet.






Looks like it has potential as compound feed.


I bodged a power supply out of an old transformer and a $2 bridge rectifier. A switch to swap polarity and it was winding in and out like a champ. Later I googled rectifiers and found out how complicated they are. Sure glad I didn't do that first! It would be great to know if there's any real need for those sophisticated control systems. Hope I'm not doing any damage with my crude setup. So Ken I don't know if I need to press you hard or not.

It runs too fast for a power feed as is, so I guess I would ultimately be using a PWM module if that's the application. But there is another possibility. I also have a use for a gate opener - at least I would like to - and I think this would be perfect.

I'm guessing that those two stiff springs are there to provide an increase in torque that the current sensor can detect. (that is, at the end of stroke you compress the spring as well as push the load and the sensor has time to react to the increased current draw).
Last time I had a spring moment like that I (very carefully) compressed it in a vice, held it closed with some wire and then once in position un-twitched the wire. Safety glasses, a restraining device through the spring while compressing etc.
If I read the model number correctly it has a 150mm stroke. You might be able to slow it down by running on 12V. The electronics may not let you, and you won't get the full 6000N, but may do what you want.

Michael