motor with memory??

[mnt]

I am not sure if this is the right place to post this or not, but here goes.

A friend and I are working on a project, and I don't want to say to much about it, but I need a little help.

I am looking for a motor set up (similar to a car seat motor in the way that it can have pre-set locations for the seat.) I need to be able to lift something that could way as much as 1000 pounds. So I am guessing hydraulic, either air or fluid. I don't think the car seat motor could do it.

I actually have some dentist chair motors, that are set up to move 2 directions (one motor for each direction) but I don't think they can handle the weight.

Does anyone have any idea how a car seat memory works, and if I could adapt it to other motors.

Thanks

[bluesparks]

Position sensors.

Move seat to where you like it, hit the program button. Seat controller (computer) reads the values of the position sensors (potentiometers) and stores them in memory.

When the button is pushed for the programmed setting, controller powers motors so the position sensors read what's stored in memory. If one direction reads too high compared to stores memory, it will move that motor in a direction that lessens the read value of the position sensor.

If you don't need programmable settings you could use limit switches to cut motor power.

[mnt]

Nice.

position sensors is something to check out. so maybe I could go something like, position sensor tells the motor where to go, motor powers hydraulics until it gets to that point, then stops. It would have to be settable.

I will search for position sensors in Google.

Thanks for the reply.

[Wyoming]

Also check into Googling 'limit switch'.

[walker]

take a look at a garage door opener for a lesson in simple limit switches. You might look at a HF overhead hoist for the ability to lift that type of weight. For more power, or a non cable type motor, look at a gearmotor. High torque and low speed.

[Greenbuggy]

I'm guessing this is an "invention" so you don't want to talk much about it, but it would help if you can specify the lifting needs. As much as 1000 lbs helps, but it would be good to know if that must be straight vertical, or if you can have some side-side movement? Also how large of a range does this half ton load need to be raised/lowered?

If it were me I would consider part of a car lift that uses screws to lift the load, a large (nema 42 or bigger?) stepper motor and gecko drive, hooked to a cheap laptop. Your answer to the above questions will probably tell us whether or not that would work.

[mnt]

You guess correctly, an invention indeed.

In the 1000 pound range would be about right, but I would like to overbuild for safety.

I think that ideally if it moved horizontally and vertically that would be great, if it just moved at an angle, say 45 deg or so that would be ok as well. I would avoid any side to side movement. Raising/Lowering from as low as possible to maybe 3 feet.

Thanks.