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Join Date: Aug 2010
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Help Me Find Two Mini AC Motors for a Science Project

02/05/2013 8:27 PM

im trying to find two mini ac motors for my daughters 3rd grade science fair, shes decided to do an earth quake exhibit. we wanna take two sheets of cardboard that will act like land masses and a motor under each one to simulate movement. wondering if anyone can help

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#1

Re: Help Me Find Two Mini AC Motors for a Science Project

02/05/2013 8:46 PM

Maybe she has an old toy that has a motor or two in it that also drives some gears, interesting to cannabilize for parts. If not head to your nearest toy store and find something on clearance with the requisite donor mechanism. There's always Radio Shack's robotics section. Good luck.

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#2

Re: Help Me Find Two Mini AC Motors for a Science Project

02/05/2013 8:49 PM
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#3

Re: Help Me Find Two Mini AC Motors for a Science Project

02/05/2013 9:17 PM

Why AC, you can put an eccentric load on a DC motor spindle and make it shake. This place usually has some deals on small motors and stuff.

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#11
In reply to #3

Re: Help Me Find Two Mini AC Motors for a Science Project

02/06/2013 1:42 PM

Another good source of (cheap) small motors, scientific and electronic apparatus, magnets, odds-n-ends, and miscellaneous "stuff" is Americal Science & Surplus:

http://www.sciplus.com/

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#4

Re: Help Me Find Two Mini AC Motors for a Science Project

02/05/2013 9:41 PM

A shaded-pole motor should do it; they are AC and come in small, economical sizes. Grainger is one source.

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#5

Re: Help Me Find Two Mini AC Motors for a Science Project

02/05/2013 10:46 PM

Edmund Scientific is still a good place to look for stuff like this.

http://www.scientificsonline.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?p=2&q=motors+ac

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#6

Re: Help Me Find Two Mini AC Motors for a Science Project

02/05/2013 11:13 PM

Is there a Goodwill store nearby? Pick up a small appliance with a motor - a mixer comes to mind, variable speed. Keep it safe!

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#7

Re: Help Me Find Two Mini AC Motors for a Science Project

02/06/2013 3:41 AM

How about a battery-electric drill with something L-shaped in the chuck, on the basis it's a whole heap safer than fishing about with mains electricity?

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#8

Re: Help Me Find Two Mini AC Motors for a Science Project

02/06/2013 7:14 AM

Computer fans

If you can use DC motors Radio Shack has some small ones for projects. One of them a vibrating motor.

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#9

Re: Help Me Find Two Mini AC Motors for a Science Project

02/06/2013 9:13 AM

Got any old cell phones? They usually have small DC motors equipped with eccentric shaft weights that provide the "vibration" when they ring. Would fit your bill nicely I think.

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#10

Re: Help Me Find Two Mini AC Motors for a Science Project

02/06/2013 9:55 AM

Please be very cautious if you want the motors to run at anything less than their fully rated speed.

When I was going through college (Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo) some Architecture students manufactured a scale model building for earthquake demonstrations. Since they wanted the motor to go slower than its rated speed, they elected to use a variable speed drill and tape the trigger at a useable speed.

The resultant heat buildup in the motor caused a fire that destroyed one of our engineering buildings and the loss of many students work.

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#12

Re: Help Me Find Two Mini AC Motors for a Science Project

02/06/2013 1:57 PM

3rd graders + high voltage = possible child protective services intervention

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#13

Re: Help Me Find Two Mini AC Motors for a Science Project

02/06/2013 10:25 PM

If a vibrating motor is required there are plenty of "mail order" establishments selling battery opperated vibrating devices for only a few dollars. Some I am led to belive have remote control opperation and variable vibration sequences

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#14
In reply to #13

Re: Help Me Find Two Mini AC Motors for a Science Project

02/06/2013 10:30 PM

Come up and see me sometime!

--Mae West

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#15

Re: Help Me Find Two Mini AC Motors for a Science Project

02/07/2013 2:48 AM

Turntable motor in a microwave oven.

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#16

Re: Help Me Find Two Mini AC Motors for a Science Project

02/07/2013 7:49 AM

Hi Matt,

I would suggest using this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Motorcycle-Seat-Vibrator-Motor-Panasonic-6-to-12-V-DC-3000-RPM-Powerful-/280851509924?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item41640df2a4

It is a good size and you could even place a couple under the cardboard. You could even go as far as using a linear actuator to move the two pieces of cardboard apart.

-Rob

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#17

Re: Help Me Find Two Mini AC Motors for a Science Project

02/07/2013 9:05 AM

You can find motors like what you are looking for in hobby stores as Hobby Lobby.

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Power-User

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#18

Re: Help Me Find Two Mini AC Motors for a Science Project

02/07/2013 9:48 AM

I would suggest the very small pump motors used on countertop or decorative home fountains or water displays- these should be readily available from landscape or decorating stores as replacement units

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Associate

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#19

Re: Help Me Find Two Mini AC Motors for a Science Project

02/07/2013 12:54 PM

Someone else already hit on it. Use surplus cell phone vibrators. They're probably not AC, but you can get around that. They very inexpensive - you could use several if needed - try www.allelectronics.com or www.mjpa.com

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Participant

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#20

Re: Help Me Find Two Mini AC Motors for a Science Project

02/07/2013 9:09 PM

Stop by the local pawn shop and pick up an old xbox 360 or PS3 controller, while not A/C they have 2 low voltage motors with eccentric weights to provide vibration "feedback". May be a cheaper / compact way to go?

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Power-User

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#21

Re: Help Me Find Two Mini AC Motors for a Science Project

02/13/2013 11:19 AM

An old electric shaver should vibrate enough for a minor earthquake.

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