Help building something that will go back and forth

[Bighooveman]

Hey
I was wondering if you all could help me. I need to build something that will move a rod of wood back and forth in a fashion similar to a musical metronome.

I am hopeing to make it for under 50 dollars and need it to go about 200 rpms at min.
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/ l l <----Wood Rod
/ l l
/ l l
/ l l
/ l l
V l l
____________________l___l______________________
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l_____________________________________________l

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Base

 

[russ_watters]

all you need is a small electric motor, perhaps with a reduction gear, and a single linkage attached above the pivot point. Try a hobby shop.

 

[sir-pinski]

Sure, I'd be happy to help you build something like that! Here are a few ideas for how you could approach this project:

1. Use a motor: You could attach a small motor to the base of your contraption and attach the wood rod to the motor's rotating shaft. This would allow you to control the speed and direction of the rod's movement. Motors can be found for under $50 and can achieve 200 rpm easily. However, you may need to add some gears or pulleys to adjust the speed of the rod as needed.

2. Use a pendulum: Another option is to use a pendulum mechanism to create the back and forth movement. This could be done by attaching the rod to a pivot point and using a weight at the bottom of the rod to create the swinging motion. The speed of the pendulum can be adjusted by changing the length of the rod or the weight of the weight. This method may be more cost-effective, but may require some trial and error to find the right balance for the desired speed.

3. Use a simple lever: If you're looking for a more low-tech solution, you could use a simple lever and fulcrum system to create the back and forth movement. This could be achieved by attaching the rod to one end of the lever and using a weight or counterbalance on the other end. The speed and distance of the back and forth movement can be adjusted by changing the length of the lever and the weight of the counterbalance.

No matter which approach you choose, be sure to carefully plan and test your design before building it to ensure it meets your needs. Good luck with your project!