Need Help using a Slide Pot to make an linear extending pane

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Hey guys, so I am new to this forum, I do have a ton of soldering experience so I think I can do this DIY project I am planning.

What I want to do, is make a panel/surface that I attach to the motorized slide pot so that when I click a button the motorized slide pot will extended the panel towards me, thus bringing the object to me. I am not really sure what I would need or exactly how to do this.

I was thinking just attach a small metal panel to the slide pot (motorized) and use a control board and toggle switch so that when I toggle the switch one way, it extends it to me, when I toggle it the other way, it retracts it, so id need a polarity switch?

Can someone help me figure out what I need? Also is there a larger slide motorized pot or is this one, https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10976 the largest? or if I could make a manual one motorize that is longer thatd be awesome also.

Thank you

Terry

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Try Googling linear actuator and H-bridge. You can also have a look at https://www.sparkfun.com/products/13140 and its associated documentation.

Good luck,

  • Chip
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thrgk:
I was thinking just attach a small metal panel to the slide pot (motorized) and use a control board and toggle switch so that when I toggle the switch one way, it extends it to me, when I toggle it the other way, it retracts it, so id need a polarity switch?

While I'm not sure that the motorized slide pot is the most rugged or reliable way to motorize a panel, it does have advantage of being mechanically pre-assembled.

Do you want the panel to automagically stop when it’s “fully” opened and closed ? Do you want a single momentary push button for open&close (ie - it’s auto reversing) ? Two buttons or a toggle ? Do you want it “all analog” (ie - no programming) or would incorporating a [micro-controller be OK ?](Adafruit Trinket - Mini Microcontroller - 5V Logic : ID 1501 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits)

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FWIW this type of project has come up before. Here’s a GIF illustrating how a drawer (lt blue line) is driven (somehow) by a typical brushed DC motor (M1) and gearbox (GB) to open and close. A toggle switch (SW1, DPDT) selects open or closed positions. The motor then runs until the drawer motion activates one of two limit switches (SL1, SL2). When open, the limit switch and diode (D1, D2) insure no power is being dissipated (power and return currents shown by dashed lines). That was a prime requirement for the original poster as he was running this off a battery.

(click on to open and animate)

Given you have a pot for position feedback, you could eliminate the limit switches and diodes, replaced by other circuitry.