I'm working on a small wind turbine project, about 20-30 cm wide and the same height. I want to use a round metal rod in the center to support a wheel for a rubber band, along with two other wheels for the blades. The challenge is that I don't have access to machining tools for precise cuts, so I'm limited to using a hammer or bolts. I'm looking for ideas or specific parts that can help securely attach the wheels to the smooth rod so they can spin together without wobbling. I've sketched out a rough design (linked in the post) and would appreciate any suggestions for clamp-like parts that could be bolted down strongly to the rod, ideally with vertical holes for extra security. What part names should I look for on AliExpress to make this work?
1 Answer
You might want to consider using pipe clamps, especially ones like the Cheeseborough. Just keep in mind that they usually come in larger diameters than what you're looking for (around 10 cm). If you can find a dedicated rigging shop or a specialized hardware store, they often have a wide variety of specialty clamps that might fit your needs better. You can even try sketching your design using tools like SketchUp or Blender to visualize it better!
Thanks for the tips! I’ve added a rough sketch in my original post. I’m still exploring options but haven’t found any rigging shops nearby, so I’m browsing through AliExpress for parts.