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Need some help from the auto-rotating monitor experts...
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DNA Dan:
For the molex computer stuff I used www.frozenCPU.com Be careful though, you could spend and entire paycheck here!

If you're concerned about ventilation, I used this for my fans up top http://www.frozencpu.com/products/9389/bus-202/Manual_12V_Variable_Speed_Controller_-_4-Pin_Molex_Connector_to_Dual_3-Pin_Fan_Connector.html?tl=g47c17s285

That website has a lot of good parts for using PC molex power supply connection to do whatever you really need.
nitz:
Awesome, thanks DNA Dan, this makes things pretty clear. :applaud: :cheers:

This is what I love about this forum...ask for some help with something and get it in spades. Since coming here I've learned/done stuff I probably never would have attempted otherwise.
DNA Dan:
Same for me dude. I am just paying it forward to keep the community alive.
Ond:
I have been following along with this discussion, just some thoughts....  Stepper motors although more expensive than other motor types mentioned allow for simplicity of design.  With precise control of rotation you can focus on keeping the overall solution simple.  Someone mentioned that gears can be expensive.  I put a lot of thought into this and came up with a highly affordable but very robust solution in the form of toy helicopter Gears.  I looked up the biggest baddest model helicopter on the market and then sourced the spare parts from that.  The gear set uses a 'fishbone' profile that is very strong (think of the forces at work in a big ass helicopter model taking off) and also means zero slippage.  I've seen slippage issues with friction based rotating solutions.  From memory there was change out of about $35 for the gear set I bought so I bought a back up pair just in case.  The large ratio of these gears allows for high torque to play with.  I've yet to push the turning speed to see what I can get out of it, but that's next on my list.  Maybe rotate through 90 degrees with consistant precision stopping in under 1.5 seconds? (or shred the gears trying  :lol ).

If you want bearing strength I recommend automotive bearings and bearing cages with a steel shaft to mount the monitor onto.
DNA Dan:
For me the real appeal of a stepper motor is you could mount it AS the bearing itself. You'd need a beefy stepper, but the shaft could act directly as the rotation point with the monitor attached directly. You would save time and money on not having to screw around with the rotation parts so much, (lazy susan bearing, axle or whatnot) but the savings alone will not account for the cost of these industrial stepper motors. If mounting directly you'd probably want something 20mm shaft diameter or so and those can run hundreds of dollars. The other issue is the software interface. You'd have to use labview or some other software, something I lack experience with.

I like Ond's idea about a stepper with a gear ratio in there. This way you could have the cost savings of a smaller stepper. The issue again though is you need to create the rotation mech, unless the gearbox can handle this directly.
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