Motor for hinged mechanism.

Alako

Hiya,

Somebodyy here might be able to help me on this. I am a student and am building a prototype of a light that has an adjustable head to give a spread out, or more concentrated light throw depending on the users need.

The head of the lamp look somewhat like a flower, and there are LED's spaced throughout on the inside. I have reflective material on the inside of the light so when it is more closed, the light becomes more concentrated, and when the 'petals' are opened out the light is more dispersed.

What I need to figure out is the mechanism to open and close the head. I'd like the user to be able to open it or close it to whatever point they wish, so some sort of scroll wheel could be used? But I need tension in there to keep the petals at whatever point they are at. No jerky motion, so I think maybe a small motor? The mechanism would have to be discreet, as I am using an articulated arm so that's mechanical enough looking without extra stuff going on around the head.

I have no experience with motors and joints as such so trying to figure it out as I go along.

Thanks a million

Emily

coolwings

You need to look at how drill chucks work.
Get one play with it and see how a splayed ring of petals is winched into a tube which constricts the petals causing them to close (onto and gripping a drill piece).

The cheaper fly tying vises use a similar design.