The forum discussion centers on creating an automatic rocking bed for a 3-year-old child, designed to replicate the rocking motion provided by a parent. The original poster (OP) seeks to replace their legs with a motorized solution, specifically mentioning a curved wooden plate and the need for a quiet driving mechanism. Various suggestions include using a washing machine motor, exploring commercial options, and considering the design's safety and effectiveness. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding the specific rocking motion required and the engineering challenges involved in creating a safe and functional DIY solution.
PREREQUISITESParents, DIY enthusiasts, and engineers interested in creating safe and effective rocking solutions for children, as well as those exploring mechanical design principles in furniture.
Before I get into it and start answering your questions, are you a mechanical engineer that could construct such an item?jrmichler said:in order for us engineer types to start brainstorming useful solutions, it is necessary define "rocking" in terms that engineers understand:
Do you want a pivot point down low, such as in a rocking chair?
Do you want a pivot point up high, such as in a hammock?
Or is back and forth, such as a bed on wheels good enough?
Or a pivot point down the middle of the child, where the child rolls back and forth without sideways motion?
How far - minimum to maximum centimeters peak to peak, or degrees if rolling?
How fast - slowest to fastest rocks per minute?
Maybe you could provide a video clip showing the best motion. Add somebody holding a ruler to show the range of motion.
Can you make something like this?Lnewqban said:I have found this DIY project, just as a reference:
https://www.hackster.io/news/this-d...omatically-rocks-babies-to-sleep-1b3727d317a1
I believe that using a hard smooth floor as the lower surface on which to roll a frame back and forth, could be more economical, while keeping any dangerous mechanism out of reach of the little one.
Perhaps a simple excentric weight, which a slow motor (like the ones ceiling fans use) makes it rotate horizontally, combined with cross sliding guides (like the ones for desk drawers) could be the simplest idea.
I have no doubt that most who contributes here can. The issue is, that it's not 'we' who has to construct the item, but somebody who we do not know: according to the original post everything we cook up here has to be both low level enough to be done DIY without special parts and with limited supervision only and still child-safe.MotherMayhem said:Before I get into it and start answering your questions, are you a mechanical engineer that could construct such an item?
Obviously as the seeker, not the engineer myself, I will admit complete and total ignorance and be willing to ask the questions.Rive said:I have no doubt that most who contributes here can. The issue is, that it's not 'we' who has to construct the item, but somebody who we do not know: according to the original post everything we cook up here has to be both low level enough to be done DIY without special parts and with limited supervision only and still child-safe.
I design and build new machines, furniture, etc.MotherMayhem said:If you are here to offer services, that would be epic.