I'm working on a project to build a turntable for my wife, where she can display her little knick-knacks. I'm looking for a small motor that can be easily controlled with a microcontroller. My goal is to have it complete one revolution every few minutes while using very little power and keeping noise levels down. I initially thought about using a stepper motor, adjusting the microsteps to make it more quiet, but I'm open to exploring other motor types as well. If anyone has suggestions for where to find a suitable motor or a good stepper driver for quiet operation, I'd really appreciate it!
2 Answers
A synchronous AC clock motor could be a great fit for your project. These motors are designed to turn slowly, and I once had an old alarm clock that would work perfectly if your turntable is balanced and has low friction. You can even find larger versions if you need to handle more weight!
You’re definitely on the right track with the stepper motor! When stepping every few seconds, they can be quite quiet. Just remember to lower the hold current to save power and reduce noise. Whether or not you add gears depends on your design; you could use a weaker motor with gears or go with a robust motor directly. Good luck!
I’m planning on using a belt system with a large pulley on the table and a smaller one for the motor. This should help achieve a nice slow and smooth movement, plus offer enough torque for small items like rocks or shells. Thanks for the tips!
That’s an interesting thought! I wanted something programmable for speed control, but maybe a simple clock motor could be a good backup plan.