hiding the front license plate

[Onefast99gsx]

R/C servos are running on about 6 volts (4 1.5 AA batteries). I don't think you're going to get enough 'throw' out of a r/c servo. Most of them only turn about 180*. You might get 2" of license plate movement which isn't enough.

If you can find an electronic solenoid with enough throw, that would work also. The weight of the plate would keep it down when needed. When you want it up, flip a switch to send 12V to the solenoid and it would suck it up with the power of the electromagnet.

[HiImBrian]

That is why I said a R/C Servo. Its small can fit behind the crash bar if its there. And I was thinking more about this. But also if need be you can bend the plate so it fits. Either way with a track system that lets the plate slide up and down. You can mount two Servos up in the bumper and have them pull the plate up and down. Either way I think it will work. You are thinking to far into this man. Only problem I can think of is to get the servos to move.

I thought about using 2 servos because I notice they are small and lack much power, but it all depends on the speed consistancy. If you mount a servo on each side of the plate, it is possible for the plate to come down at an angle because of two various speeds. I don't really think this would be much of a problem though, it was just a though.

I found a place that sells different size servos and I was planning on heading over there tomorrow and really getting this thing started. My next step is figuring out how to connect the brackets from the plate to the servo. I haven't decided how I want the gears to move the plate.

[HiImBrian]

R/C servos are running on about 6 volts (4 1.5 AA batteries). I don't think you're going to get enough 'throw' out of a r/c servo. Most of them only turn about 180*. You might get 2" of license plate movement which isn't enough.

I've thought about this, which is why I wanted to go look at some different size servos and see if they make some that can rotate more than 180 degrees.

If you can find an electronic solenoid with enough throw, that would work also. The weight of the plate would keep it down when needed. When you want it up, flip a switch to send 12V to the solenoid and it would suck it up with the power of the electromagnet.

That sounds like it may work, but I would rather have it work backwards considering I'll mostly have the plate up unless I need it down for something. Sounds a little more advanced for me as well.

[Onefast99gsx]

Are you familiar with CNC machines like lathes and mills. Why not use a lead screw type mechanism like a mill. Forget the servo and use a 12v stepper motor. Basically you would have a stepper motor attached to a threaded rod maybe 3/8" or so. Then you would have a 3/8" nut fastened to the bottom of the plate on the backside of it. The turning of the lead screw(threaded rod) will push the nut up/down depending on the rotation. A power window circuiit would be perfect to give the 12volt + / 12- to change direction.

[HiImBrian]

Are you familiar with CNC machines like lathes and mills. Why not use a lead screw type mechanism like a mill. Forget the servo and use a 12v stepper motor. Basically you would have a stepper motor attached to a threaded rod maybe 3/8" or so. Then you would have a 3/8" nut fastened to the bottom of the plate on the backside of it. The turning of the lead screw(threaded rod) will push the nut up/down depending on the rotation. A power window circuiit would be perfect to give the 12volt + / 12- to change direction.

I really like that idea. It seems like it might be a little slow though with all the threads on a screw. The idea does seem really simple thought considering the threaded rods could act as possible braces for the plate as well. The downside is that power window motors are kinda pricey and larger than I would like to use. I was told there are different powered servos so I'll see if that would be a possibility. Thanks for the advice.

[HiImBrian]

http://www.fbimini.com/product.asp?actiontype=flicks&idno=8436

Got a couple ideas from that design. I have a pretty good idea in my head of what I want to do, I just dont know how I could attach a threaded rod to a motor of some sort that would cause it to rotate like a drill would. Hmm I could always just mount a drill in my bumper and haha....nooooooooo

[HiImBrian]

http://www.stylinconcepts.com/Articles/retractorplate/Article.aspx

There's another idea. But for $300 no thank you. They used a power seat motor which sounds interesting. Probably the reason its $300 though haha. I like this one a lot though because its so small. That's what I'm trying to get at.

[HiImBrian]

Well i haven't forgot about this thread at all. I've been doing some searching for cheap linear actuators and I can't seem to find any that travel 6-10 inches for under $100ish. Like I said, I want to keep this as cheap as possible so I make this a realistic alternative to throwing the license plate in the window. If anybody knows where I can get some cheap linear actuators lmk. I've done a yahoo search and called a few places and check ebay. Nothin but expensive 300lbs capible actuators or 3 inch door locks.