Window-wiper motion

[carpedav000]

Originally Posted by MrCamilleri

We're a rookie team (6070) and we are trying to design a mechanism to raise an arm from a horizontal position to a roughly vertical position and back again, like a window-wiper. Ideally this is with the push of a button. Next we want to be able to retract the arm back to the starting position, with another button.

The force needed should be relatively low, as we are simply raising a square-extruded piece of aluminum.

Do we use a motor with some kind of shut-off switch that is tripped once the arm is in the desired position? Or should we use a pneumatic actuator? Or is there a servo that can do this for us?

Any kind of direction is appreciated.

Thanks,

How many times per match do you expect to raise/lower it?

Pneumatics would be pretty easy, as you can use a hard stop as opposed to using encoders. However, pneumatics would weigh more because you have to add on tank(s) and a compressor (depending on how often you plan to raise/lower the arm per match)

Hope this helps