Lower Grill block that can open and close

[Weather Spotter]

I just swapped out the 1x board for a 2x4 chunk and the action is much smoother I think that the angle is better from the pivot to the grate connection.

[Weather Spotter]

Made to a point that I want to try them out on the car:

[gone-ot]

...what brand/type actuator are you using; and, how much current does it draw when actuating?

[NachtRitter]

Originally Posted by Weather Spotter

Made to a point that I want to try them out on the car:
<snip>

Wow! That was pretty quick!! Looks like with the 2x4, the vanes of the grate open and close all the way?

[Piwoslaw]

Originally Posted by Weather Spotter

Tools and Legos make a great mix

How about make it out of LEGOs?

[Weather Spotter]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

...what brand/type actuator are you using; and, how much current does it draw when actuating?

This is all I have for the actuator:
Universal Power Door Lock Actuator (2 Wires): eBay Motors (item 320579651247 end time Aug-29-10 08:33:14 PDT)

I have not measured the current when powered up.

@NachtRitter:
When I go to biuld something, once I have in my head a pic of what I want it goes fast.
It still only closes most of the way (say about 5% open). The stand off distance of a 2x4 plus 5 washers (under the pivot screw) puts the angle about right to pull/push the vanes up/down and in and out. They move up/ down by .75" and in.out by .4". Before all I was doing was the up/down movement. This holds the rod up and away from the grate making a slight angel which helps push in and out.

@Piwoslaw:
I thought of that, too bad it will not work. The Legos do not have the positive connection ability needed for automotive work, they would just wiggle apart.

[Weather Spotter]

Test run not so good:




With the grates flipped so that the air would tend to push them open I ran into some issues.
1. the AC line to its radiator hits the left vanes as they try to open.
2. the distance between the vanes and radiator is very short, aka very little air dispersion over the whole radiator.

What this means, I need to make a way to turn the grates around (like I had them in my first try). This might need a redesign of the actuator location/ mechanism.

[cfg83]

Weather Spotter -

Originally Posted by Weather Spotter

...

@Piwoslaw:
I thought of that, too bad it will not work. The Legos do not have the positive connection ability needed for automotive work, they would just wiggle apart.

That's what epoxy is for, . But use crummier Legos wherever possible.

CarloSW2

[Weather Spotter]

I will not wreck my legos by epoxying them!

besides the pivot arm length needed is longer than I have room for (twice as long).

[Piwoslaw]

Originally Posted by Weather Spotter

I will not wreck my legos by epoxying them!

My hero...