Braking

[gwin99]

Originally Posted by GeeTwo

If you don't want to add pneumatics, you could still do a bicycle or disc or drum brake and actuate it electrically. Mount a nut and length of threaded rod (or bolt) in the space where you would have put the cylinder and couple the threaded rod to a motor or gearmotor (e.g. PG27) shaft. I'd advise using limit switches so the motor stops once the brakes are engaged or disengaged.

Another solution is to have an "always on" brake. This is something that provides enough drag to hold your heaviest load without keeping the motor running, but that your motors can still lift through. Many teams will use this sort of solution in the form of a worm gearbox.

An appropriately selected counterweight or counter-spring can reduce the amount of both lift and braking that you will need.

Is there a way to add friction on the end of the shaft not being driven? Note, we are using hex