Sliding gates are very convenient to use, but they can be improved by equipping them with an electric drive. This article will discuss drive device options, selection of suitable mechanism parts and features of assembling functional and reliable mechanics.

A motorized electric drive will open your gate at the touch of a button. It can be assembled from scrap materials, and installation takes no more than one day. There are two options for the electric drive for sliding gates. In both cases, the source of traction is an asynchronous electric motor, but only in the first case the force is transmitted by a sprocket and chain, and in the second case, by means of a pressure roller.

Choosing a motor and gearbox for gates

If three-phase voltage is supplied to the area, use a three-phase motor with a star connection of the windings. This will eliminate possible starting problems and allow you to use maximum engine power.

If three-phase power is not available, a single-phase capacitor motor will have to be used.

Note: such a choice can result in a serious lack of starting torque.

Choose a drive in the power range of 1.2-2.5 kW, depending on the weight of the door leaf. It is better to choose the lowest possible speed, for example, 6-pole or 12-pole motors with a speed of 1000 and 500 rpm, respectively, are perfect. Low torque is needed to avoid a high gear ratio and reduce the load on the drive shaft. Three-phase electric motors of the A100L8 series or single-phase capacitor motors, such as AIR 80, are suitable for installation. The cost of both options will not exceed 5,000 rubles.

The rotation speed of the drive wheel, depending on its diameter, should be 80-100 rpm. This value should be taken as the output torque of the gearbox. The input torque must be equal to the engine speed. For this kinetic scheme, single-stage worm gear reducers are recommended. The average cost of such a mechanism is 3,500-5,000 rubles.

What available tools can be used at work?

You can replace some of the parts with cheaper analogues if you are sure that you can reliably connect the elements of the kinematic circuit. For example, an engine from an old washing machine can be used as a power unit. In this case, when connecting the motor, you will need to determine the ends of two pairs of windings. This is done using a multimeter in resistance measurement mode, which is much higher at the starting winding.

The motor shaft and gearbox must be connected with a rigid or semi-rigid coupling. The first is a sleeve with holes of different diameters and keyways. The semi-rigid coupling is assembled from two flanges, which are connected to each other by rubber petals.

Instead of a gearbox, you can use a belt drive. To correctly determine the gear ratio, divide the diameter of the larger pulley, rigidly and coaxially connected to the drive wheel, by the diameter of the smaller one, which is mounted on the motor shaft.

This option implies certain difficulties in assembling the frame for fastening the elements of the kinematic scheme. For example, there are difficulties in constructing a tensioning device for a belt. They can be partially avoided by using an automotive timing belt tensioner roller. Also, when using a belt drive, you will have to pay attention to the design of an independent shaft with two radial-axial bearings. The shaft must be correctly centered, because it contains elements of two transmissions: the drive wheel and the driven belt pulley.

Rack and pinion drive assembly

The most common way of transmitting power from the motor to the gate is using a chain. A sprocket from a motorcycle or bicycle must be welded onto the gearbox shaft. The Gall chain with the appropriate pitch of the links is stretched horizontally along the entire gate leaf and attached to its edges. Thus, when the sprocket rotates in one direction or another, the thrust is transmitted to the chain, which, in turn, pulls the gate frame.

Mounting the motor and transmission mechanism

To construct the frame to which the engine and transmission mechanism will be attached, it is best to use angle steel with a flange width of 50 mm. The frame must be rigidly attached to the concrete base.

When choosing a motor and gearbox, pay attention to such a parameter as the height of the rotation axis. If it is not the same, then the base for the equipment will need to be made two-level.

The engine and gearbox are bolted with a self-locking nut to a flat and rigid metal support. The holes in the base must be oblong so that the position can be adjusted correctly.

Attaching the chain to the gate

The most obvious place to attach a traction rack or chain would seem to be the rail. This is a common mistake, because with this arrangement the mechanical transmission is subject to severe contamination, not to mention the problem of snow accumulation. It is better to install an additional drive beam on the door leaf, maintaining a height of 60-100 cm from the road surface. Attach a chain or rack protected from the bottom to this beam, protected by a side casing made of rubber or plastic. The ends of the chain are attached to the gate by welding.

Troubleshooting some chain drive problems

This method of transmission is associated with a number of difficulties. For example, a chain tends to stretch, especially under such significant loads. This effect can be eliminated by welding studs to the last link of the chain and passing them through the eyes attached to the gate frame. This tensioner allows you to periodically select the “weak link” and tighten the chain. You can also place a damper roller with a stiff spring on the drive frame, which will not only compensate for the sagging of the chain, but also prevent it from jumping off the sprocket due to the so-called “dancing”.

All these difficulties can be avoided if you use a rack with teeth instead of a chain. It is unlikely that you will be able to make one yourself; you will need the services of a locksmith workshop.

Drive roller transmission

There is an alternative type of gate operator that uses a pressure roller. Such a mechanism will be somewhat more difficult to construct with your own hands, but at the same time it does not require the placement of additional devices on the gate, and is not afraid of dirt, snow and ice formation.

Mechanism design

The essence of the method is simple: a roller with a cast elastic rubber tire is pressed under force against the outer wall of the rail guide. The tire profile should be straight, without tread, to provide maximum grip. The force is provided by a powerful compression spring. It is placed on the pusher stud and pressed with a locked nut and washer. The shaft axes are attached to the shelves of the U-shaped bracket.

To compensate for the force exerted by the roller on the door leaf, two similar counter rollers, but permanently fixed, are installed on the opposite side of the rail guide.

Accessories for pressure roller

It is necessary to find suitable rollers, which can be ordered from the catalog of components for industrial carts. Choose wheels with metal bases and sealed roller bearings that require no maintenance. The permissible load should be 300-360 kg. It is also important to choose the right springs for the pusher. Their total clamping force should be at least 3.5-4 kN, but not more than the bearing capacity of the wheels.

Connecting the roller to the motor

We choose the method of transmitting rotation to the roller. You can use a V-belt drive for this, securing the driven pulley to the metal base of the wheel with three M12 studs. It also makes sense to use a couple of open gears if they can be securely mounted. The roller can also be mounted directly on the gearbox or motor shaft by first removing the bearings from the base of the wheel. In this case, the tension mechanism should act not on the axial shaft of the roller, but on the base of the gearbox housing, which is loosely fixed in the longitudinal slots of the frame. Also, do not forget about the permissible radial load on the front bearing of the gearbox - it should not be less than the pressing force of the springs.

After the drive is installed, you need to connect the motor, assemble and configure the starting equipment, which you will learn about

Sliding gates, which are opened by an automation kit, have become popular due to their attractive appearance, and in addition they occupy a minimum of free space on the site. Designs equipped with an electric drive are easily controlled by pressing a button. All the rest of the work is done by automation. If your level of knowledge allows, you can assemble some hardware elements yourself.

On what basis is the engine selected?

The drive that will be used for sliding gates consists of several main components: motor, control unit, gearbox. If you plan to assemble the hardware yourself, you need to select the elements of the mechanism in accordance with the parameters of the gate (dimensions and weight, intensity of use), so that the homemade drive will function properly, without interruptions or breakdowns.

Dimensions of the movable sash

The larger the gate, the more powerful the motor required. Weak automation will not provide sufficient force to transmit to the rack. A three-phase motor will function more efficiently. Accordingly, it is recommended to check what type of power source is connected to the gate.

Materials of load-bearing parts

Today, gearboxes with polymer gears are often found. This reduces the noise intensity, however, has a negative impact on the duration of operation. Some parts, in particular the shaft, are made of powder metals and silumin.

The use of plastic gears in the gearbox drives: 100% guarantee of reducing the operating period of the automation by 3 times.

If the filling of the drive units is made of steel, you can count on long-term service. The technical documentation does not indicate such nuances, so it is recommended to seek information from reliable sources.

Intensity of use

This parameter is determined as a percentage. The higher its value, the more reliable the sliding gate drive. In domestic conditions, it is enough to install an automation kit with an operating intensity of no more than 30%, with the average number of cycles being 5-6 per hour.

Industrial facilities allow more cars to pass through, so the drive for sliding gates should be selected with an operating intensity of 50% or higher. The number of cycles at this rate is 10 per hour. If the operating intensity corresponds to 70%, the number of cars per hour will increase to 13-15.

Weight of movable sash

The weight of sliding gates varies between 300-1000 kg. Accordingly, for each mass value it is necessary to select a drive with a certain power. For example, in domestic conditions, a movable sash usually weighs 250-600 kg. For a structure weighing up to 300 kg, you need to use an automation of at least 250 W.

The quality and power of the drive does not always depend on the country of manufacture and brand. Some Chinese drives are not inferior to automation from well-known manufacturers.

Analogues with a load level of up to 400 W can be used as a hardware unit for sliding gates weighing no more than 600 kg. A 600 W motor is used to transfer the generated force to a moving sash weighing up to 1000 kg.

Acceptable replacement parts

When the drive is assembled with your own hands, it is allowed to use parts and assemblies removed from other equipment. But this must be done carefully, taking into account all the possible nuances of such a replacement.

So, the automation kit must include a motor; it can be taken from a washing machine. The complexity of this solution lies in the need to determine the ends of the windings. If you have a multimeter, measure the resistance. The value of this starting winding parameter will be higher.

If it is not possible to use a suitable gearbox, instead of this unit, when installing it yourself, you can use a belt drive. In this case, it is necessary to determine the gear ratio.

For this purpose, the diameter of the large pulley in contact with the drive wheel must be divided by the equivalent size of the small one connected to the motor shaft. The main difficulty with this option is the need to use a tensioner, without which the belt will sag.

Modernization of the automation unit

The main elements that ensure the transmission of force created by the drive to the gate are a star and a chain. For this purpose, you can take parts from two-wheeled vehicles. If you fasten the chain to the movable flap, when the star moves, a thrust will arise and be transmitted to the movable flap.

How to secure a rack and pinion motor?

The basis of the hardware when assembling with your own hands is a channel, which is laid in the foundation. Then you need to make a frame from metal; a corner with a shelf width of 50 mm will do. If the height of the rotation axis of the engine and gearbox does not match, it is important to make a multi-level base for these units.

In the case where oval holes are provided in the frame, it becomes possible to adjust the location of the devices. The automation kit is attached to the corners by means of a bolted connection with a self-locking nut.

How to attach a chain to a gate?

A rack or its equivalent (chain) should not be mounted on a supporting block. This is unreliable and is fraught with regular contamination of structural elements. A homemade drive can transmit force to a chain attached to an additional block.

It is located at a level of 60-100 cm from the bottom point of the sliding gate. You can attach a chain from the bottom side. It is important that the automation kit is located at the appropriate level.

How to avoid problems during operation?

The main difficulty of the described DIY design is the sagging of the chain. This drawback can be neutralized by attaching the studs to the last link using a welding machine.

In this case, they must pass through the eyes, which are located on the frame of the sliding gate. There is an alternative solution. This is a damper roller equipped with a rigid spring.

Installation of the transmission mechanism with drive roller

This is a more reliable drive, however, it is not so easy to assemble it yourself. The main advantage of this solution is the absence of additional structural elements, which are usually attached to the movable sash (rack).

Design Features

Electric drive installation diagram

The supporting beam is subjected to pressure from a roller, the outer part of which is covered with a rubber tire. This element is located on an axis firmly fixed to a U-shaped bracket. It is this element that is affected by the spring installed on the pusher pin. And it also creates clamping force. And it is held in place by threaded fasteners.

In order to compensate for the load force, several more rollers are attached to the opposite side with the difference that they are installed in place.

Important: Selection of components

If you decide to assemble a drive with a roller drive for sliding gates with your own hands, you need to correctly select the main elements of the mechanism. You can order from a range of products for trolleys for industrial purposes.

The main criteria when choosing: hidden bearings, which are not serviced; metal base. The load level should be between 300-360 kg. The clamping force created by the springs is also limited: no less than 3.5 kN and no more than 4 kN.

How to connect the rollers to the hardware?

One option is a V-belt drive. In this case, you need to secure the driven pulley with your own hands, using the metal part of the wheel and 3 M12 studs as a base. If this can be realized, a pair of gears can be installed.

Roller supports and adjusting stands: install them not only in a horizontal plane, but also coaxially, which will ensure minimal friction of the rollers on the walls of the guide

An alternative option is to mount the roller with your own hands on the shaft of one of the main components that make up the automation kit (motor, gearbox).

Correct installation of roller bearings and leveling stands.

But, first of all, it is recommended to remove the bearings hidden in the metal rollers with your own hands. The peculiarity of this solution is that the tension mechanism will not act on the wheel axle, but on the base of the gearbox.

An important nuance is that the radial load exerted on the front bearing of this unit should not be inferior in value to the clamping force created by the spring.

The choice of transmission mechanism is made between rack and roller options. In the first case, a star and chain are added to the hardware kit, while the drive roller is more reliable and undemanding.

Watch the video: Detailed assembly instructions

The multifunctionality of sliding gates allows them to be used not only in industrial buildings, but also in residential buildings. If desired, you can make them yourself. After reading this article, you will receive recommendations for preparing the opening, building the foundation, frame; drawings of the main structural elements are attached.

First you need to find out what resources you will need to make the gate. It may be cheaper to order a ready-made design than to buy numerous tools. Although most of them will still be useful on the farm. So, you need to prepare:

• shovel;
• welding machine;
• grinder;
• axe;
• building level;
• roulette;
• screwdriver;
• hammer.

Note! Almost all the tools on the list should be available in any home. The only exception is a welding machine, but you can take it from your neighbors or, as a last resort, buy it - such a thing certainly won’t be superfluous.

Having dealt with the equipment, you can begin to calculate the cost of building materials. In this case, we will talk about gates of standard sizes with an opening of 4 m. Everything you need can be bought in construction stores and metal stores, and also, if desired, replaced with something that is cheaper, more expedient, more durable, etc.

1. The concrete solution for fixing the “mortgage” is mixed from cement, crushed stone and sand in a ratio of 1:3:3.
2. Roller carriages will be installed on the “mortgage” (channel ½ the width of the gate). For greater strength, reinforcement no more than 1 m long is welded to the lower part of the channel. In total, seven to eight meter sections are needed and three at an angle (17-18 m in total).
3. The gate leaf measuring 2x4 m will be covered on one side with corrugated sheeting. To make it you need: 180-200 screws, 10 m² of corrugated sheeting, a package of electrodes, 5 m of 6x6 cm pipes, 20 m of 4x2 and 6x3 cm pipes, a can of primer, a can of paint, solvent.

Note! If you are planning a gate of a different size, then all the calculations must be done yourself. You can use online calculators, which are available on the websites of many construction stores.

Basis for the mortgage

The construction of sliding gates begins with creating a foundation for the “mortgage”. As already mentioned, the length of the “mortgage” should be equal to ½ the width of the gate, in this case it is 2 m. 9-10 meter pieces of reinforcement ø1-1.4 cm are welded to this element and a hole is dug 1 m deep and 30 cm wide ( approximately the width of the shovel bayonet + 30 cm for the channel).

• cement, 100 kg;
• fine crushed stone, 300 kg;
• sand, 300 kg.

The finished concrete is poured in such a way that it comes out at the same level as the “mortgage”, otherwise water will accumulate there. While the solution dries (this requires at least 7 days), all the necessary accessories are selected.

Mounting profile pipe

The upper rollers, as well as the catchers located at the top and bottom, can be conveniently secured using a 3x6 cm profile pipe. It is installed along the entire height of the pole, as well as in the places where the fittings are attached. There are two ways to attach this pipe.

Fasteners are often additionally reinforced with anchors. It is worth noting that over time, anchors installed in bricks become loose.

Concreting a pipe is more reliable, but it requires a lot of labor, which is not always advisable. The fastening will look something like this: the lower rollers are installed, then the door leaf, and the upper rollers are welded on top. Regarding the lower catcher, it is welded after the fact, focusing on the line along which the canvas approaches the post at the opposite end.

The “embeds” are welded to the pipe, using small corner profiles. In the future, the “mortgages” will be painted in the color of the door leaf.

Note! Without assembling the “embeds,” you will need extremely precise alignment of the reinforcing rods to the catcher and rollers, which in itself is quite difficult. Or you will have to fasten it with anchors, which, as mentioned earlier, is very unreliable.

Selection of accessories

After preparing the foundation and the “mortgage”, all the necessary components are selected. The accessories include:

• guide rail 5-7 m long;
• plugs;
• a pair of roller carriages;
• grips;
• end and top rollers.

Note! It is better to buy all of these components, since to manufacture them yourself you need special equipment and considerable knowledge in the field of technology. As a result, homemade fittings will cost more than store-bought ones.

First you need to determine the length of the rail. It should be 1.5 times the width of the opening. A product of 1.3 width is taken in two cases:

• if the weight of the gate is insignificant (less than 250 kg);
• if there is not enough space to open.

All fittings are usually designed for a specific weight - approximately 500-800 kg. If the canvas is sheathed with corrugated board, then you should select fittings for a weight of 350-400 kg. But if the material used for the cladding weighs a lot, then it is better to opt for 800 kg.

The canvas will “ride” on rollers, metal or plastic. With proper use, both options will last quite a long time, but it is still preferable to choose plastic ones - they make less noise when opening/closing the gate.

When purchasing, you should also pay attention to the presence of a top grip and rubber plugs.

Note! If all the components are made carefully and are sold in original packaging, it means that the manufacturer is serious and uses only high-quality equipment. You should not buy parts that are sold in plastic bags or have uneven edges - this is a clear sign of “handicraft” production, and in case of any problems there will simply be no one to file a claim with.

Frame construction

Step 1. First you need to prepare a place for assembly. Its dimensions should be larger than the dimensions of the future structure.

Step 2. The pipes are prepared (for the frame you need to take 5x5x0.2 cm), cleaned of scale or rust, then treated with gasoline and coated with a primer. For priming, you can use a spray bottle (the work will be done faster) or a regular brush (the primer layer will be thicker).

Step 3. After the pipes have dried, the frame is welded. It is important that there are no holes left at the joints into which water could penetrate.

Step 4. Prepare the internal frame necessary for attaching the corrugated sheet. A smaller pipe 4x2x0.2 cm is placed on a larger one - 5x5x0.2 cm:

• in the middle if double-sided cladding is planned;
• closer to the edge, if only one surface is sheathed, there will be room for corrugated sheeting.

The pipes are welded in a checkerboard pattern in increments of 40 cm - this way they will not “lead” at high temperatures.

Step 5. Welding areas are processed with a grinder and covered with a layer of primer.

Step 7. After the paint has completely dried, the frame is sheathed. The corrugated sheet is fixed with self-tapping screws on the internal frame.

Video - Gate installation

Step 1. Roller carriages are installed on the “mortgage”, and the gate is placed on them (the rollers are threaded into the guide). Next, using a building level, the verticality of the structure is checked and, if everything is normal, the carriages are welded to the channel.

Many people use bolts for such fastening, since the carriages have suitable holes. But there is no need to do this, because taking measurements and making holes in the “mortgage” will take a lot of effort and time. Moreover, if even a millimeter error is discovered, you will have to cut off the bolts and repeat the procedure again.

Welding is more suitable because it provides room for maneuver - if necessary, you can always cut it off and move the carriage. Welding is no less reliable than bolts - with it, the gate will last for decades.

Step 2. From 6x3 cm pipes, “mortgages” are prepared for other components. In appropriate places, reinforcement rods are removed from the pillars, to which the catchers with rollers need to be attached.

Step 3. The end of the guide is equipped with a roller with special clamps, after which it is closed on both sides with rubber plugs. The location of all elements is carefully measured, then the roller carriages are welded.

Video - Sliding gates

Automation

Note! Automation can be installed only if the gate moves easily and without any jumps.

The technology for installing gate automation is described using the example of the Chinese model PS-IZ, which has proven itself very positively. The automation kit will consist of:

• electric drive;
• signal light;
• gear rack;
• remote control;
• photocells

For installation you will need the following equipment:

• welding;
• drill;
• drills for metal.

The drive will be powered by a cable of 0.2x0.2 cm, and for photocells 0.4x0.07 cm and 0.2x0.05 cm will be required. A cable with a cross-section of 0.2x0.07 cm is connected to the signal light. The electric drive will be fixed to the same channel, as well as the carriages.

Step 1. First, select the installation location for the drive. To do this, take a base (it should be included in the kit) and place the drive itself on it. The base is placed between the carriages and the working position is recreated - a gear rack is installed on the electric drive gear. The location of the channel is adjusted so that the rack is in the center of the gear and is fixed on the outer frame (but only on the profile pipe).

Step 2. The installation location is marked, after which the base is placed there and scalded.

Note! Quite often the drive has to be raised two to three centimeters. In this case, the remains of the profile pipe are welded to the “mortgage”, and the base is already attached to them.

After this, the electric drive is screwed to the base.

Step 4. The limit switches are screwed to the rail. They are mechanical and magnetic (the latter are more reliable).

Step 5. The drive is connected according to the manufacturer's instructions and then tested. If everything is fine, remove the Photo-GND jumper and install photocells.

Note! One element emits a light signal, and the other receives it. If there is a signal, the system functions normally, but if any obstacle appears in the path of the beam (car, animal, child, etc.), the canvas immediately begins to move backward.

Step 6. A signal lamp is attached to the left side of the structure with self-tapping screws. This is not necessary, but for safety reasons it is still better to install the lamp. To do this, you will need a cable with a cross-section of 0.2x0.07 cm. The cable is soldered to the Light and AC-N contacts on the board.

Actually, after thisDIY sliding gates drawingsand manufacturing instructions for which are given in this article can already be used. For a more detailed look at the nuances of installation, watch the thematic video.

Video - Homemade sliding gates

Unique automation for sliding gates with your own hands in a single copy

Every man at heart is an unsurpassed master. Therefore, it is not surprising that today more and more people are beginning to equip their properties with their own hands. This arrangement also includes the arrangement of the entrance to your site.

The most acceptable option is to install sliding gates rather than swing gates, since this design significantly saves the area required for the movement of the gate leaf.

Such Daedalus can be divided into two groups:

1. The first ones use ready-made components for automatic sliding gates and install them themselves.
2. The latter go further in understanding the definition of “automation for sliding gates created with their own skillful hands” and themselves make the necessary blocks of an automatic gate opening system from improvised units.

Savings on installation

Those who have decided not to save unimaginably and not torment themselves with the invention of long-existing engineering solutions, but have decided to purchase a set of existing units of automatic gate opening systems and install them themselves, can be advised to pay attention to the following points:

• the motor power must correspond to such a parameter as the weight of the gate; the drive power must correspond to the weight of your gate (the heavier the gate, the more powerful the drive). It is enough to remember that a low-power motor of 300 W is sufficient to move a gate weighing 800 kg;
• automation is also selected depending on the frequency of use. If no more than 10 openings and closings per day are expected, then household automation is sufficient;
• The type of control unit can be external or built-in.

  This largely depends on your preferences;

• electromechanical drive. When purchasing, pay attention to what the gears of the gearbox are made of. You should not buy those that use plastic gears. If you plan to use your design for several years, buy a unit that uses steel gears;
• To issue commands you will need to purchase a remote control key fob. The choice depends on the distance from which you want to control your gate;
• the next purchase will be a receiving antenna, usually 433.92 Mgz;
• safety photocells, they will prevent the gate from closing if your car or you are in the gate opening;
• To transmit the rotation of the drive gear on the engine to the moving gate leaf, you will need to purchase a gear rack;

• if desired, you can install a signal lamp that will signal the operating mode of the automation;
• To unlock the gearbox you need to purchase a special key. Having purchased all of the above, all that remains is to mount the above according to the assembly instructions, of which there are a considerable number on the Internet;

When choosing components, you should not focus on the low cost of automatic gate rollback systems. As a rule, they work tolerably when they are installed by specialists. And most importantly, you yourself will act as a guarantor of high-quality, long-term work and repairs will be carried out at your own expense, although the breakdown will not be your fault

Screwdriver motor for sliding gates

Some Samodelkins complete their individual automatic gate opening systems from units that are used in everyday life for a completely different purpose.

Electric motor. The most diverse ones are used - from electric motors for wheelchairs on electric ships to motors from washing machines. On one of the forums I came across a description of automatic sliding gates, the author of which used an electric motor from a corded screwdriver as a motor - its power is enough to ensure the movement of a gate made of corrugated sheets measuring 6x3 m.

Thus, the main selection criterion is that the engine simply happened to be at hand in the right place and at the right time, while being able to pull the structure that the owner built from channels, angles, pipes and profile material.

The gearbox for the motor is selected based, in principle, on the same criteria, the main thing is that the speed of rotation of the gear on the shaft ensures smooth movement of the door leaf.

Most amateur craftsmen who independently manufacture automation for sliding gates refuse to use gear racks as an element that converts the rotational movement of the shaft into the translational movement of the gate leaf. Instead, a bicycle chain or a Zhiguli camshaft chain is used. The required length is created by riveting several chains into one.

The photo above clearly shows how the chain is mounted to ensure tight tension and a clear match with the gear teeth.

There is another scheme using a circuit. In the chain conversion block, three gears are mounted sequentially so that the lower cut of the two outer gears is flush with the upper cut of the central one, which is mounted on the gearbox shaft. The chain is wound through the upper cut of the first gear, passed under the lower teeth of the central gear and brought out over the teeth of the third gear.

One end of the chain is secured to a corresponding stop, tightly welded to the edge of the gate, and the other is secured to the opposite side of the door leaf using a tension bolt. Since such a chain can be riveted from scraps that have already become unusable, the cost of this component begins to approach the cost of a bottle...

To transmit control signals, a car alarm is used with its voltage and current adaptation to those available in the assembled system, usually this is the usual mains voltage.

• Automation for profile sliding gates created by yourself will serve for a long time if you follow some rules.
• If you want your gearbox to last for many years, do not use plastic gears.
• The use of external coaxial cables will greatly increase the range of the key fob transmitter.
• If you decide to use a car alarm, you should not try, in order to save money, to complete it with a remote control for switching the lamp, lying in the closet.

Whatever path you choose on the journey called “do-it-yourself sliding gate automation”, do not make the cornerstone the amount of money you need to spend to bring your idea to life.

If there are not enough funds today, it is better to wait or consult with specialists. Don't forget - cheapness and haste often hide unreliability.

Options for homemade gate automation

After installing swing gates on their own, many people have thoughts about making their own automation. Think about several options for automation, assembled from various elements that will allow you to make automatic swing gates with your own hands.

Of course, it makes no sense to compete with European companies that produce high-quality automation for various gates. If you have enough money, the best option would be to order an automation kit from well-known manufacturers, but even if you don’t have sufficient financial resources, you can make automation, because you can’t forbid living beautifully.

Homemade automatic drives

If you absolutely want to create or remake something for automatic gate opening yourself, then there are already tested ideas. Try it too.

Automatic drives based on:

• Car jacks.
• Steering racks.
• Rotating mechanisms from satellite dishes.
• Actuators.

Car jacks as auto drives

To get started, purchase two rack and pinion car jacks. They are based on a screw assembly made of strong metal, which is designed to withstand loads when lifting the machine. We can tell you that they are often lying around near garages. Jacks do not withstand screw loads well; if they shift while lifting the car, the jack becomes unusable and is thrown away.

Rack and pinion car jacks

When composing the drive, screw a motor with a gearbox to the screw. You can use motors from an old washing machine that have a belt drive. On the auto parts market, you purchase rubber corrugation to protect the screw from precipitation.

Control can be done using a radio button from any security alarm system, which operates on the principle: one press - the relay is activated, pressed again - the relay is turned off. The relay will serve to control the motors from the washing machine control unit, and you will select the limit switches yourself. Such equipment does not look very aesthetically pleasing, so you can try another version of a homemade drive.

Steering racks from a car

A drive assembled from used auto parts looks neater and more beautiful. For those who know the structure of modern cars, it is known that the car contains so-called steering racks, which are perfect for swinging open gate panels, because the principle of their operation is similar to the mechanism sold by the industry.

Automotive steering rack

In the operation of a car there is such a thing as “play” in the steering wheel; when it becomes more than normal, the steering rack is changed. In principle, it can be repaired, but restoration will take a lot of time and labor. During service, they are simply replaced with new ones.

Near private garages or near small car repair shops in mini landfills, if necessary, you can find such slats from Zhiguli. The racks are usually thrown out with the steering rods; for experts it is clear that you get a ready-made trapezoid mechanism with a ready-made gearbox in the rack. All that remains is to attach the motor and controls.

Rotating mechanism from a satellite dish

It is quite possible to assemble gate automation yourself. When the planned work is completed, you will make sure that there is nothing particularly difficult in creating the simplest automation.

Especially if you use a rotating mechanism from a satellite dish with a worm gear, which works like a linear drive on a double-leaf gate.

There is even an advantage, which is that the standard electric gate drive operates on a voltage of 220 V, and a constant voltage of 36 V is supplied to the motor in the satellite dish device through a step-down transformer. This is much better in terms of security.

Rotating mechanism from a satellite dish

To increase the speed of opening the door panels, the voltage is increased by 2 V. When working without a heavy load, such an increase in the supplied voltage will not lead to negative consequences, but to some extent the wear of the motor will accelerate.

You will need, of course, two drives, and choose the longest rods. If you're lucky, you can also purchase them from companies that sell these antennas. Prices for the device range from 35 to 50 US dollars, in addition, a transformer and remote control will be needed.

A remote control and a couple of remote control key fobs, the range of which is about 50 m, can be bought from any company that installs and maintains security alarms. This purchase will cost 30 - 40 dollars. The remote control must execute two commands. One command moves the gate panels in one direction or another, and the second command, at the request of the owner, can turn the lighting on and off.

Remote control key fobs

You can create such an automation system for double-leaf gates with your own hands quite quickly if you prepare all the materials and devices for installation. However, some modification will be required in the current relay. If there is an obstacle to their movement in front of the gate leaves, the relay is activated and returns them to their original position.

It is worth remembering that without automatic return of the gates to their original position, the motor, which continues to work, may bend the gate, and it will overheat and fail.

Industrial drives for gate automation are expensive for many people. The design of the drive proposed above can significantly reduce automation costs. The author of the proposed design has been using the gate for three years without replacing the automation elements.

Actuators with anchor motors

You can make a drive for double-leaf gates with your own hands, and at the same time save money, by purchasing and installing two identical actuators with anchor motors. By changing the polarity, you can reverse it, and the opening angle can reach 180°. In this case, a problem often arises with the synchronization of the movement of the valves.

When the drive for swing gates is made by yourself, it does not have sensors and is connected directly to the motor, as a result it turns out that the leaves do not operate synchronously.

Eliminating this phenomenon is quite difficult.

Even after achieving synchronized movement of the gate panels, it may happen that in snowy and windy weather they will lose their settings due to the appearance of a snowdrift on the path of movement of one of them. You can get rid of this if you install a full-fledged activator on both panels, that is, install a full-fledged gate drive on each leaf. This will lead to the fact that even moving at different speeds, the doors will still complete the movement and close, which is what is required of them.

When installing homemade drives for swing gates, you can encounter many different problems, especially if you do not have special knowledge on the specifics of installing such devices. When planning such a business, you should arm yourself with knowledge and watch several videos where craftsmen share their personal experiences.

When installing drives on gate leaves, you can fully appreciate the advantage of the purchased automation, which is that it comes with instructions with a detailed description of the work, a step-by-step diagram of equipment installation, a description of the specifics of operation and maintenance features. However, after installing a drive of your own design, you will know everything thoroughly and will be able to write your own instructions.

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Wiring diagram for swing gates. Wiring diagram for automatic swing gates.

This section is devoted to the installation of electrical wiring for automatic swing gates. For swing gates, wiring is somewhat more complicated than in the case of sliding (sliding, sliding) gates. Electrical wiring is best done together with the laying of pillars. In this case, you have the opportunity to hide the wires in the posts and thereby ensure the aesthetic appearance of your gate.

The first thing you don’t need to do is take thick wires - “old-school” electricians lay wires with a cross-section of 2.5 mm2 or more, up to 6 mm2 of copper, including for photocells, a key button, and other low-current. However, the era of three-phase motors with starters, lightning rods in cowsheds, soldering irons for basins and other “lame-making” has passed; now is the era of intelligent electronics. The only relatively thick wires that are needed for automatic swing gates are the power cable for the control unit and the power cable for the motors, and even then no thicker than 1.5mm2.

The figure above shows typical terminal contacts on the gate automation control board, the maximum wire cross-section that can be clamped into them without additional tricks is 1.5 mm, however, it should be taken into account that some wires have to be twisted together and then clamped into the terminal. On photocells these terminals are even smaller.

So, let's look at the wiring diagram for electric swing gates.

The red lines on it indicate the wires that we need to lay. The first thing you need to understand is that all the wires come to the control unit in the diagram, it is indicated by a green rectangle. It is recommended to leave free ends of 1-1.5 m. It makes sense to place the control unit on the side where it is easier to connect the 220V power cable. Lead all wires into the box with corrugation only from the bottom, otherwise water will get in.

So, we have determined that all the wires go to the swing gate control unit and come out in plastic corrugations from the installation site of the control unit box. In practice, this is implemented as shown in the photo below:

Let's consider the first cable coming from the control unit - this is 220V power supply, it makes sense to make it a PVS 3x1.5 cable. This wire goes from the drive to the outlet or circuit breaker. It is recommended to install a voltage stabilizer on the gate automation.

The second cable is from the drive to the signal lamp, in the diagram it is designated 2x0.75 (you can take 2x0.5 or even less, the amperage on the lamp is small). This cable goes from the block to the top of the post closest to the drive, if it is possible to better hide it in the post. If there is a decorative cap at the top of the post, route the wire to the face of the post directly under the cap.

Now let's look at the power cables for electric drives; each drive requires a 3-wire cable.

The cable should exit at a height slightly lower than the installation height of the drives. The cable must be flexible and multi-core. It is best to use PVA 3x1.5. The wire of motor No. 1 (closest to the block) goes from the drive to the block in a plastic corrugation (the wire, as practice shows, is better protected). In several places, the corrugation must be attached to the pole with special fasteners. If the poles are metal, then bring the wires inside and out directly near the swing drive. Like this:

For metal poles like this:

For the drive installed on the pole farthest from the control unit, a 3-core cable PVS3x1.5 is also required. This wire passes under the opening; it is convenient to run it in the same corrugation with the TX photocell wire. The photo below is an example of correctly executed wiring for swing gates.

Next comes the wiring of the photocell cables. It is this stage that causes the greatest difficulties, so let us dwell on it in more detail. Wiring for photocells is best done with a 4x0.22 “intercom signal cable”.

The first thing that causes difficulties is where to install the photocells. Photocells are installed at the ends of the poles, at the same height of 500-600mm from the ground. See photo:

For swing gates, it is sometimes useful to install a second pair of photocells, especially if the gate is not transparent and you cannot see what is behind it. These photocells are installed behind the gate at a distance of slightly more than the length of one leaf. To install them, it is necessary to concrete the racks (in the simplest case, a 60x30 pipe) and conduct wiring to the control unit. The control contacts of these photocells are installed in the STOP and GND terminals; the jumper located there is removed. Automation kits usually come with one set of photocells, so if the case described above is relevant for you, then it makes sense to purchase another pair of photocells.

The photocell closest to the control unit (receiver, RX) requires a 4-wire wire - 2 power wires, and 2 more control contacts. In the diagram this wire is designated 4x0.35. It goes from the pole to the drive. They often forget that 4-wire cables are needed and put 2-wire cables, be careful. If possible, it is better to hide this cable in a pole, leaving a free end of 15-20 cm. If this is not possible, you need to strengthen the wire on the pole, fortunately there are now enough fasteners for the wire. Often this wire is laid in the seams between bricks and then sealed with mortar.

The photocell on the pole farthest from the drive (TX) requires a 2-core cable; in the diagram it is designated 2x0.35. It is better to do the wiring again with the same signal wire 4x0.22, you can use 2 wires, or you can use all the wires by twisting them in pairs. The wire of this photocell passes under the opening; it is convenient to run in the same corrugation with the power wire of engine No. 2), so make sure that it is reliably protected, because vehicles will pass from above.

The problem is that an ordinary stone, even a small one, can cause the system to fail and the gate to jam. To increase the durability of the automation, the specified parameters are selected down to the minimum values. To decide, you should measure the distance between the inside of the post and the loop. To avoid problems in the future, it is necessary to strengthen the post and also weld the bracket around the entire perimeter. From our article you will learn about how to install an automatic gate drive, as well as all the operating features of the device.

• The drive is either mechanical or on the same principle as the valves.
• The force mechanism is made of reed switches; they also work as limit switches.
• Gates that open and close automatically.
• Put the stop at the bottom to close and it won’t wobble.
• How to bend a pipe without a pipe bender for a canopy.

The reduction coefficient depends on the thread pitch; the smaller the pitch, the more force the actuator can transmit. Similar designs have found application at the entrance to a garage or country house. Therefore, without experience in interacting with such systems, it is better not to start installing automation yourself. You can also attach a couple of blinking LEDs to the outside and connect them. Incorrect installation of the drive can have negative consequences, ranging from tearing off the brackets to which the entire system is attached to breaking the sashes. During the development of the gate, it is necessary to provide for emergency opening in the event of a breakdown or power outage. Naturally, for an ordinary garage or cottage this will be more than enough. It will either be too expensive and not justified, or it will leak, flow to the ground and hum!

The automation attached to brick pillars deserves attention. An email with further instructions has been sent to this email. But again, why does the second channel go to close, and the second channel to open the second gate? As practice shows, a variety of devices can be used for these purposes: car parts, for example, steering racks or window lifts, actuators, and jacks. Cool, I have hands. I like to do something myself. It should be noted right away that the automation for swing gates is a rather complex mechanism, which will not be easy to assemble and install with your own hands.

The ability to configure key fobs on different channels to eliminate interaction with neighboring automation.

They open very quickly, a pedestrian or a lady with a stroller will not have time to move away. Do-it-yourself lifting gates, detailed report. To open the doors manually or automatically, you need space in front of them. Below we will tell you how to make automatic gates with your own hands, providing instructions with photo and video examples. Sorry if I said something wrong, I really liked your work!

DIY swing gates made from power windows [video]

• I have never disassembled the starter, I need to look at what kind of gearbox it is.
• These blocks have a power input and several outputs.

Don’t know what else to do in the yard if everything has already been redone and your hands are itching?

Automation for swing gates Rotelli MT 400. Unplanned malfunctions often occur when the doors move in different directions. How to make automatic swing gates for a summer house or garage. New ones are expensive here, so I installed the cheapest one I found.

It rattles, so what, but how convenient! The video is COOL, most importantly the explanations are clear and understandable! These are for 4 glasses. It is possible to connect a backup battery, a lock, a signal lamp, and an opening button.

Humanity has not yet come up with a more reliable hydraulic system, and the operating mode of hydraulic drives is very wide and depends entirely on the oil used. There is a high probability that the brackets will be able to cause considerable damage to the pole, causing it to crumble and partially collapse. By using levers, it becomes possible to install devices on the poles themselves, while the levers will be able to open and close the doors, being located at a distance of up to 20 centimeters from the edge of the supporting structure. How does this device work against strong winds? There is a function of alternately closing and opening the doors. Thanks to its simplicity and unpretentiousness, understanding the features of the system will not be difficult. This Guy Will Make You Envy Its Callisthenics! The gate will be too fast, you will have to reduce the tension.

Optimal video cards for mining, bitcoin mining reviews. When swinging the gate outwards, you can use both types of drives, since they do an excellent job of the job assigned to them. It can be done from any car in principle. This is what it means when your hands are in the right place. At the final stage, the owner of the summer cottage will only need to install limit switches.

Damn, I was thinking about how to write something simpler, otherwise this isn’t the first time I’ve had to explain this directly, but there’s nothing to directly add here.

Among the main advantages of satellite antennas are versatility, durability, reliability and a huge service life. It is also necessary to regularly monitor the condition of the gates themselves, the leaves, the drive and the main elements.

Moving along the grooves, they break under the ceiling in the lock, thereby overcoming the right angle, and the gate slats move under the ceiling, freeing the entrance to the garage. This mechanism is a full-fledged electric motor due to the fact that the worm or rod gear is completely consistent in nature with the action of the drive. The electric drive is powered by a small 12V battery, which makes it independent of stationary electricity, especially when combined with a solar battery. A linear device is used when the result of the measurements obtained is less than one and a half centimeters.

Total about 6k for everything. Before using gates with automatic equipment installed on them, it is necessary to thoroughly test the equipment to determine the stroke remaining after opening the gate, eliminating at the same time all identified flaws and shortcomings. For this reason, the area in front of the gate should be cleaned to avoid damage and malfunctions. Naturally, you won’t have to pay anything if you already have old satellite dishes that you don’t mind using for spare parts. The solution is also very simple, you just need to swap the wires on the electric drive. Your situation may be worth changing so that the gate opens inwards, if space allows!

There are similar ones from the Volga 3310, but I haven’t found them on sale. The budget turned out to be no more than 6000 rubles for December 2015. Can you figure out how to raise sectional doors inexpensively? I assembled the circuit on a stool, so far I used a switch instead of a radio control, tried it on one gate, everything worked. Gas stops took the cheapest roofing felts from Kalina roofing felts from 21083. The door closer module works like this: We apply an impulse to the blue core and it begins to work out its program of closing all the windows one by one. After this, the gates move synchronously and if you delay one of them, it will turn off, and the first one will finish opening or closing. On the second point: on one of the closers, swap the leads to the drives. We move on to the manufacture of an automatic drive, the task of which is to open the gate when a car approaches.

Therefore, it is necessary to establish a certain period of operation of the gate leaves and the force with which the gate opens and closes. Yes, I recently worked with a crane. Installation is carried out on the inside of the opening. Then they do it differently, mounting the equipment at the top.

Homemade double-leaf gate drive design

If the gate begins to open more slowly, or a characteristic squeak is heard when it moves, it means that the device should be immediately impregnated with lubricant. I installed the drive on the gate, it has been raining for three days while I am working on the control circuit. In addition, you can hang some kind of LED spotlight above the gate, so that when it opens, it automatically turns ON.

Sliding gates are very popular among consumers. The drive device allows you to control the structure at a distance of 10 meters by pressing a special remote control. The gates begin to open slowly. Agree that such manipulations allow you to reduce the time and effort required to enter your territory.

The main disadvantage of this mechanism is its high cost. There are several techniques that help you assemble this structure yourself. How to make a sliding gate drive with your own hands? You will find the answer to this question in our detailed guide.

Features and technical characteristics of the recoil mechanism

It is quite simple to build such a structure. To do this, you need to prepare spare parts for the sliding gate drive, the appropriate tools and a sufficient amount of free time. The main component of the mechanism is a small asynchronous motor.

There are two main types of gate opener:

• chain;
• roller.

Before you start building the structure, you need to choose the right engine. If there is a three-phase line on the territory, then the device of the moving base must be made of the appropriate type. Here the winding will have a star connection. Thanks to this, you will be able to get rid of many troubles during the process of starting the mechanism. The finished device will operate at maximum power, thereby reducing the occurrence of interruptions.

Single-phase motor models in the drive device are characterized by low performance. The maximum power of the installation is 2-2.7 kW. This value is determined by the total weight of the iron sheet. The optimal rotation speed at start-up will be 1500 rpm. Thanks to the low torque, it is possible to get rid of the maximum load on the capacitor motor.

The drive wheel should make no more than 200 rotations in one minute. This value will be the output torque in the gearbox. Its value should be equal to the engine speed. When installing the mechanism, use a detailed installation diagram. It allows you to avoid common mistakes.

What can you make a drive from at home?

The main component of such an installation may be a power motor from an old washing machine. When connecting the system, it is necessary to correctly install the ends of the winding on each side. A multimeter will help determine the power coefficient of the device. He will correctly measure the resistance of this mechanism.

The gear shaft and motor can be connected using a rigid coupling. In some cases, a semi-rigid type of product is used. The first model, made in the form of a sleeve on the surface of which there are holes of different diameters. In addition, there are keyways. The semi-rigid coupling consists of flanges. Special rubber gaskets help connect them.

You can replace the factory gearbox with a belt drive. When using this part, it is recommended to pay special attention to another mechanism, which includes an independent shaft and two bearings. During the assembly process, special care must be taken with respect to the centered area of ​​the device. The fact is that there are two transmissions here, which are responsible for the movement of the gate during the start-up process.

Master class on creating automatic gates

We bring to your attention a self-assembly of a sliding gate drive. Here we will use a rack and pinion transmission. We attach a metal star from under a bicycle or motorcycle to the gear shaft. When choosing a chain, it is necessary to observe the diameter of the links. They should fit tightly to the surface of the star.

Next, we fix it along the entire length of the gate in a horizontal position. When the mechanism starts, the sprocket begins to move along the links, thereby ensuring the opening or closing of the system. To fix the engine with gears, it is necessary to make a metal frame in advance. This design will allow you to correctly position the main element of the sliding mechanism.

To do this you will need angle steel 5-6 mm thick. When the metal frame is ready, it is fixed in the thickness of the earth. Concrete mortar ensures tight fastening of this structure. Experienced professionals recommend paying special attention to the height of rotation of the gearbox during the startup process.

To tightly fix the gearbox and transmission motor, special fastening bolts and nuts are used. The presence of oblong holes allows you to adjust the position of the motor during operation.

The next step will be to install a chain on one of the parts of the gate structure. Experienced professionals recommend fixing it along the guide of the rail mechanism. During frequent use, it is necessary to keep the surface of the chain clean. Dust or small debris can collect in its openings, which complicates the work process.

A rubber or plastic roller attachment will help get rid of this trouble. It has a P-shaped mount. When the chain moves, the rollers begin to move at the same level as the sprocket, thereby preventing small debris from getting into the transmission paths.

Photos of sliding gate drives