How Do I Design a 2-Axis Solar Tracker Mechanism?

[Danger]

I'm glad that you're not in a hurry, because W had to work early today. That means that I would have had to carry the damned thing walking to work. She's leaving me again tomorrow morning. We split up at least once a month. (Okay, I'm kidding... she goes to babysit the grandbrats every month or so.) If she can't drive me to work, I'll just take the Mac upstairs and replace her Windows-burning piece of **** with it. I don't know why she won't just let me do that anyhow, since the only thing that she uses it for is to read her e-mail (and I have to open the file for her since she doesn't know how despite repeated lessons). One way or another, I'll get a decent picture to you shortly.

 

[rngd]

I've been thinking of a simpler structure (see attachment) if I decide to use servo motors instead. Any comments ?

The round base would probably be made smaller.

 

[Danger]

A servo is simply a motor that actuates some sort of mechanism on demand, as opposed to something like a clock or electric drill motor that runs constantly as long as it's powered. Usually, it is incorporated with some sort of mechanical linkage and gear train inside a modular housing. If that's what you're talking about, rather than just having your parts attached to the motor shaft as your drawing indicates, then it'll work just fine. You'll probably have to fiddle with the linkage ratios quite a bit to get the rate of movement that you want, but you'll have to do that regardless of the mechanism.

 

[rngd]

Yea, with the servo I can just attach it to the shaft without worrying about the gears, etc.

Any idea how I should attach the servo shaft to the big shaft behind the panel ?