You don't use the bearing at all in your design? That would save lots of $$$.
Can you share a pic? Thanks.
DIY Swirler Stein
- Thread starter miwoodar
- Start date
Can you share a pic? Thanks.
DeathWish302
Clown Hoarder
Sorry meant the bushing method. As for costs, the bearing method is about $4 more expensive than the pvc bushing method.
DeathWish302
Clown Hoarder
ODG!!!... I'm pulling this thread from the grave. With the introduction of Vortech's, does anyone still have their Swirlerstein running? I have my original and a new one still swirlen away.
Just wondered if anyone has had problem to date. Mine has been nothing but bullet-proof!
Just wondered if anyone has had problem to date. Mine has been nothing but bullet-proof!
Death Wish:
Do you have a parts list of how you built yours? Going to look through this thread during lunch for ideas.
Do you have a parts list of how you built yours? Going to look through this thread during lunch for ideas.
DeathWish302
Clown Hoarder
Yeah, kind of goes like this.....
1) 120V AC motor (microwave turntable motor)
2) 6004ZZ Sealed Bearing http://www.vxb.com/page/bearings/CTGY/ShieldedBearing
3) Wire, Wire nuts, Grommets, Heatshrink tubing & Electrical tape
4) 1/2"ID PVC of whatever your preferred length
*I turned this down on the lathe to fit the 20mm ID of the bearing, but you could use a dremel or sand by hand.
5) 1/2" FPTxSLIP to attach to the PH acrylic holding fixture.
6) Acylic to make holding fixture for whatever style PH your using. I have a Koralia and MJ, so I only know those types.
7) Project Box, Electrical Outlet Box or Custom Acrylic Case. I prefer the 4"X4" Grey Electrical Boxes since they are easy to obtain and cheap.
8) Some acrylic or angle pvc to make a mount. I prefer to make a simialr mount as on the orginal Sea Swirl with PVC angle and some nylon fasteners.
9) PH of your choice.
Thank you very much for that.
Saltwaternooby
SPS junkie
Anyone have a link to a motor still?
ok revamping this thread as i think its a great DIY.
I have just finished making one but am having a little trouble getting it to swing more than a 1/4 of a turn. i think i have a little trouble with my swing arm being a little too soft and might need to change it to a stiffer one. Not sure on the length of the tie rod end either, might need to play around with lengths.
Might post some pics later.
I have just finished making one but am having a little trouble getting it to swing more than a 1/4 of a turn. i think i have a little trouble with my swing arm being a little too soft and might need to change it to a stiffer one. Not sure on the length of the tie rod end either, might need to play around with lengths.
Might post some pics later.
hollback
Team RC
I also put two of these rotators together but from my own design. Here is what I came up with. It even has the ability to adjust the speed of the rotation! The increase of growth I have had since adding these to my display has been like nothing I have ever seen! I am rotating two Tunze 6105's that are controlled by an Apex.
I used the actual Tunze c-clamp mount to hold the pump from the top. Works like a charm.
Here is a shot of the box itself. Ignore the acrylic spacer under the box. I have very thin bracing (Oceanic Tech Series tank).
Here is the inside of the rotator. Basically a motor, axel, swing bar, bearing, gearing and the speed control.
I used the actual Tunze c-clamp mount to hold the pump from the top. Works like a charm.
Here is a shot of the box itself. Ignore the acrylic spacer under the box. I have very thin bracing (Oceanic Tech Series tank).
Here is the inside of the rotator. Basically a motor, axel, swing bar, bearing, gearing and the speed control.
Last edited:
I also put two of these rotators together but from my own design. Here is what I came up with. It even has the ability to adjust the speed of the rotation! The increase of growth I have had since adding these to my display has been like nothing I have ever seen! I am rotating two Tunze 6105's that are controlled by an Apex.
I used the actual Tunze c-clamp mount to hold the pump from the top. Works like a charm.
Here is a shot of the box itself. Ignore the acrylic spacer under the box. I have very thin bracing (Oceanic Tech Series tank).
Here is the inside of the rotator. Basically a motor, axel, swing bar, bearing, gearing and the speed control.
That looks great. I might have to redo mine now after seeing your handy work. How much swing do you get?
I'm assuming the grey bar is the swing arm with a roller or something running inside?
Did it take long to get the length correct?
You still using the same motors they talk about in this thread? I'm using a microwave turn table motor.
Thinking of doing one for my return next.
Thanks for the pics
sweet ride
New member
I also put two of these rotators together but from my own design. Here is what I came up with. It even has the ability to adjust the speed of the rotation! The increase of growth I have had since adding these to my display has been like nothing I have ever seen! I am rotating two Tunze 6105's that are controlled by an Apex.
I used the actual Tunze c-clamp mount to hold the pump from the top. Works like a charm.
Here is a shot of the box itself. Ignore the acrylic spacer under the box. I have very thin bracing (Oceanic Tech Series tank).
Here is the inside of the rotator. Basically a motor, axel, swing bar, bearing, gearing and the speed control.
Very well done!!!!
As previously asked, were did you get your parts, and would you be able to put together a step by step procedure on how you build your unit with the speed control as well. oh and what side is the box?
hollback
Team RC
Sorry everyone. It was a busy weekend and I didn't have time to reply.
Thanks! Having the Tunze on their controlled by the Apex is unreal. I'm getting the same amount of growth I previously had in a year in about 3 months!!! Tunze pump are sweet but I can't believe I ran them stationary for so many years.
Most of the pvc and nylon parts came from McMaster.
Correct. The bar is a swing arm with a gear rotating it. With this setup there is no adjusting of the length needed. The closer the pivot point is to the motor gear, the wider the rotation but the faster the swing. I think I'm getting about 55 degrees but I'd have to measure to make sure.
The motor is a high torque, low rpm motor that is literally not available anywhere. The only place I have been able to find them is in bulk for $160,000 for 40,000 of them! They were used in the automotive industry and are very popular in the Halloween prop community but they dried up at the end of 2011.
Thanks man! Yeah luckily I purchased a few extra motors before they disappeared.
Most parts came from McMaster but there are also about half a dozen custom CNC machined parts. I'd love to do a step by step on how I put it together but with three young children, all of my extra time goes to scraping glass and water changes.
The housing is 7-3/8"x4-1/2"x2-5/8"high.
Thanks! Having the Tunze on their controlled by the Apex is unreal. I'm getting the same amount of growth I previously had in a year in about 3 months!!! Tunze pump are sweet but I can't believe I ran them stationary for so many years.
Most of the pvc and nylon parts came from McMaster.
Correct. The bar is a swing arm with a gear rotating it. With this setup there is no adjusting of the length needed. The closer the pivot point is to the motor gear, the wider the rotation but the faster the swing. I think I'm getting about 55 degrees but I'd have to measure to make sure.
The motor is a high torque, low rpm motor that is literally not available anywhere. The only place I have been able to find them is in bulk for $160,000 for 40,000 of them! They were used in the automotive industry and are very popular in the Halloween prop community but they dried up at the end of 2011.
Thanks man! Yeah luckily I purchased a few extra motors before they disappeared.
Most parts came from McMaster but there are also about half a dozen custom CNC machined parts. I'd love to do a step by step on how I put it together but with three young children, all of my extra time goes to scraping glass and water changes.
The housing is 7-3/8"x4-1/2"x2-5/8"high.
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