Little help on electrical motors and bords for rotating wheel

[A.clyde]

Hello.

I have this model, which I need to finish as a school project. Let me briefly get you know with it. It pretty big - 1.80m high. It is made out of plexiglass parts, cutted on CNC router, and then assembled together to form the final model.
I need to make it rotate! using electrical motor, which connects to the electricity grid (AC motor I belive..). What I am asking you for is basically assistance... What types of motors will do the work (be powerfull, and rotate it slowly)? How can I connect it with a controling board, so it works properly, and what board it is good to use (be smaller as possible). Any ideas of how I can connect the motor to the plexiglass parts so it actually makes them rotate.
I know my post sounds that I do not know what I am doing, but every answer/product link/online resource/idea will be greatly appreciated and useful for me.

Thank you.

 

[KlausST]

Hi,

I think it should rotate slowly. And it needs not much power.

It depends all on weight, bearings and balancing.....

My first thought is to use a small DC motor and a small dc power supply maybe one with variable output voltage to adjust speed.
Maybe 10W are sufficient..

Hope this helps
Klaus

 

[chuckey]

As above BUT small motors rotate at a high speed, so a huge reduction will be required, i.e. a 1000:1 gear box or simpler a friction drive on to the edge of the wheel. "Borrow" an electric drill/screwdriver for a try out.
Frank