I need help locating the correct components to build a [yoyo] string-making rig

Hello everyone, sorry if this isn’t the best place to post this topic. I don’t know a whole lot about electronics, but I have a pretty good vision for what I need these electronic components to do.

For a little context behind my vision, I’ve time-stamped this YT video at a spot where it shows a similar concept:

https://youtu.be/VvK-C71KfZ4?t=49

I am currently spinning one string at a time with a Dremel, but I’d like to upgrade my rig to facilitate an improved version of the bar of motors seen in the video above.

I need a few motors. Small ones that:

  • spin at 12,000 + rpm

  • can be stopped on a dime

  • somehow resist spinning in the opposite direction [relieving the string torsion] once stopped

  • can be programmed to run for a specific preset time [no longer than 15 seconds +/-]

  • have a coupling on the shaft or something similar to accept a hook

  • might even be cool if the motors could be run in reverse, but only if it doesn’t impede the motor’s ability to do point no. 3 in this list
  • Bonus:

  • remote or control panel of some kind to program/ fine tune very specific run times and rpms; also a “go” button to start the programmed spin time sequence, and manual “go” mode

  • preferably inexpensive
  • If someone could point me in the right direction, I’d be grateful!

    Hi smiley.

    Unfortunately I don’t see any parts in our catalog that would meet your needs and I’m not sure where to direct you to find what you’re looking for. I do hope you find a solution though!

    Hello Chris, is it possible for you to point me in the right direction? Or to describe a motor that would most likely fit my needs? Or to provide the correct terminology for the criteria I’m looking for?

    I apologise if my lack of knowledge is annoying, I just “don’t know what I don’t know” and can’t really find resources to help me sort this out. This was the first resource that I found where I could hope to talk to an actual knowledgeable person.

    Hi Smiley.

    What I was trying to say by “I’m not sure where to direct you to find what you’re looking for” is that I’m not familiar with any other stores or shops that have a motor that would meet your needs.

    You’re looking for something pretty specialized and I have never come across anything similar before. You might see if you can track down a motor manufacturer on Google and see if they either have a motor that would work, or would be willing to build some for you.

    Short of that, you might be able to build your own motors, but sadly that’s not something SparkFun has the expertise to assist with.

    Isn’t this a website that sells parts for robotics? You’re telling me that there isn’t a single product or resource you have available to make this incredibly simple design?

    Even if there isn’t a motor that has all of those functionalities built in to it, I imagine there has to be a way to build a mechanism or electronic remote of some sort that is capable of adding these functionalities to the rig as a whole, right?

    It’s a very simple set up I’m after. The guy in the video I shared seemed to use some very simple motors and a button to drive them. I need consistent results, and components [a simple timer] that can be fine tuned will help with that. None of the products in your electronics store can help me achieve this goal?

    What you’re asking for is not going to be simple, especially since we don’t stock everything you would need. If you’re trying to reproduce what the person in the linked video has done, the easiest way to do that would probably be to see if you can contact them via Youtube or through a comment on the video. There is not enough detail given in the video for us to identify what components are being used or how they are connected or controlled.

    We’re actually an electronics store that also happens to sell some robotics parts. Sadly we don’t stock a motor that comes close to 12,000 RPM and don’t have any motors that can stop on a dime, let alone stop on a dime anywhere near the speeds you’re looking for. (For comparison, 12,000 RPM is not far off from the normal operational speed of a commercial airliner engine.)

    If you’d like to look at the motors we do carry, those can be found [here. It’s possible one of those might be useful for your application. The closest thing to what you’re asking for would be the [4900RPM micro gear motor and you could probably use a [3mm shaft coupler to connect a hook to that.

    As far as a timer goes, we don’t really carry any, but you could build your own from an [Arduino, a hand full of parts, and by writing some software to drive everything. We don’t have anything ready made and I don’t have directions for building and coding a timer but a few Google searches should turn up something that will help get you started.

    If you’re looking for consistent results, rather than using time, I’d recommend you consider a motor that has an encoder built in. We don’t carry those either, but with an encoder and the right driver and software you could consistently rotate the motor a known amount of revolutions and ultimately that’s probably more important for your application than how long you spin the motor.

    I wish I could help you more, but I’ve not tried to do what you are wanting to do. Contacting the fellow that made the video you linked might be the best option for you.](SparkFun RedBoard Qwiic - DEV-15123 - SparkFun Electronics)](Shaft Coupler - 1/4" to 3mm" - ROB-12412 - SparkFun Electronics)](Micro Gearmotor - 4900 RPM (6-12V) - ROB-12408 - SparkFun Electronics)](Motors and Drivers - SparkFun Electronics)