How can I slow down my spiro mirrors?

[jaycey]

Ive got a 2 mirror/motor spiro project on the go, they are powered by a single CR123a going to 2 100ohm pots.

Trouble is when the pots are at their highest resistance the motors are still spinning to fast for my liking.

Any ideas how to slow them down more without changing the power source?

 

[3zuli]

use pots with bigger resistance (try 200 or 500ohm)
what type of regulation do you use? A or B? and what motors?
btw you can use the C for reversing, but it needs 1 more battery

 

[jaycey]

I use A for regulation, and I have them setup for motor reversal already. I really want to keep the pots I am already using as they are very nice precision 10 turn units.

Could I just put a resistor in in line on the positive side to drop the voltage?

Thanks

 

[3zuli]

Could I just put a resistor in in line on the positive side to drop the voltage?

yes, you can. try different resistances.
but I recommend you using the B

 

[photonaholic]

The use of electronics would produce more linear results. and far greater control.

It just makes your project more complex.

The positive side is, electronics would allow for greater tuning ability to the final projection.

Or simply put - cooler image possibilities.

 

[3zuli]

The use of electronics would produce more linear results. and far greater control.

It just makes your project more complex.

The positive side is, electronics would allow for greater tuning ability to the final projection.

Or simply put - cooler image possibilities.

right, you can use for example this PWM schematic:

it's (very much) MORE effective than a pot

 

[Deleted member 8382]

I suggest you to use some kind of meshing gears. You can find them easily on your old legos

 

[phoenix77]

You can get all sorts of gearing assemblies by disassembling any old hard-drive..... rob

 

[HIMNL9]

^ You mean cd drive, i suppose ..... never found gears in an hard disk



@ 3zuli: LOL at "(c) Elektor Electronics" ..... if i look in one of my 15 years old collection of schemes, i see something a lot similar (maybe better say almost identical ) ..... and mine, was derived from an unusual application of 555, took from an also more old application note

 

[3zuli]

^ I just googled PWM 555 and this was the 1st pic