After 3 prototypes and several motors I finally got this cat toy motorized, still pretty loud though I wonder if I can dampen the gearbox somehow

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• pageflight@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Does it get cat approval?

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• jared@mander.xyz ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Maybe grease the gears, or slow it down?

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• unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Thats is really loud 🤔 It doesnt look like you have a lot of space for dampening tho sadly. If it has a hole for oiling it you can try that, otherwise i would try a different motor.

  Maybe a mini stepper motor? Those are more complicated to control but if you add a microcontroller it would give you a lot of potential for more unpredictable/erratic movement of the toy and reversable directions which the cats might find fun.

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  • StarvingMartist@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    I mean the motor is actually smaller than the base of the teasers that it’s spinning around, I probably have an inch and a half of space around the thing, only thing is, it’s an open gear box for some reason, so I don’t want to go sticking cotton or something in there to deafen it, I could oil it sure but its a brand new motor it theoretically should be pretty smooth.

    Another thing that may be affecting this is weight distribution, the “slot” for the motor arm is more or less just hot glue, it has a good grip but I doubt its totally center, and I bet that matters with this wide of a balance it has to compensate for.

    Idk I might try and 3d print another one with a custom slot but getting the threads right for the toys arms might be a bit of a bitch

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    • unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Idk what the motor looks like but im thinking that if you have a 3d printer then you could make a cover that goes around the gearbox and then afters is nice and sealed you can wrap it in fabric or rubber or something. I dont think the friction or vibration of the motor arm would cause such a high pitched noise.

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• itsathursday@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  What kind of motor is in it? I recently bought a 2.5rpm motor and have yet to test it. Hopefully it’s not this loud…

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  • StarvingMartist@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    a.co/d/ecbOUjg

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• CrimeDad@lemmy.crimedad.work ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Food grade lubricant?

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• callcc@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Look into BLDCs maybe the ones for gimbals as you need very low rpm.

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• keepee@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Are you using straight cut gears?

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  • StarvingMartist@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Not sure, do you mean like, angled real sharp? Because I believe there’s a bit of a rounded fillet on the teeth of the gears

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    • keepee@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spur_gear

      Look into helical gears

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