As the title states, I'm essentially trying to figure out how to create a miniature garage door opener. I'll say right up front I know very little about electronics beyond the most basic components, so my dilemma is knowing what I want to do but not what components I need to do it.
The basic premise of the project is to use a small electric DC motor, 6-12v depending on what's required, to move a small plastic panel up and down the front of a cabinet. The panel itself only weighs 4-6 ozs. I'd like to have this set up such that the motor is activated by pressing a momentary switch and starts the panel moving, we'll say up to start. When the panel reaches the top of it's path, approximately 8 inches, the motor should stop, holding the panel in place. The next time the momentary switch is pressed the motion should be reversed so that the panel moves down to it's original starting position. Power for the motor will be supplied by a standard computer PSU.
With my limited knowledge of electronics I don't know if I'll need some kind of control unit to to stop the panel in the appropriate position and reverse the direction of the motor or if this is something I can accomplish with a series of switches and relays. The intent is to keep this as simple and cheap as possible. I don't need any complicated control scheme, just push the button the panel goes up, push it again the panel goes down......garage door opener. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
The basic premise of the project is to use a small electric DC motor, 6-12v depending on what's required, to move a small plastic panel up and down the front of a cabinet. The panel itself only weighs 4-6 ozs. I'd like to have this set up such that the motor is activated by pressing a momentary switch and starts the panel moving, we'll say up to start. When the panel reaches the top of it's path, approximately 8 inches, the motor should stop, holding the panel in place. The next time the momentary switch is pressed the motion should be reversed so that the panel moves down to it's original starting position. Power for the motor will be supplied by a standard computer PSU.
With my limited knowledge of electronics I don't know if I'll need some kind of control unit to to stop the panel in the appropriate position and reverse the direction of the motor or if this is something I can accomplish with a series of switches and relays. The intent is to keep this as simple and cheap as possible. I don't need any complicated control scheme, just push the button the panel goes up, push it again the panel goes down......garage door opener. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.