Cape Ealing

so, the first set of components (worm gear with ball bearings from RS components) that i used to try and drive the mount were completely useless!

the first problem (I can’t believe they sell them like this) was that the worm gear had no way of securing it to the shaft that it was to sit on. Ordinarily, you expect to have a set-screw (a little screw that goes through the worm gear and touches the shaft – you tighten that screw and the worm fixes to the shaft). Indeed, that is the way that the worm itself (ie not the larger cog / gear) attaches. But the cog/gear did not have one. Beware! This meant that while I could slide the worm gear onto the shaft there was no way of securing it there. these components are from TransDev and I would be very wary of them!!

In their defence, i should add that the pdf documents on the RS components site do not show a set-screw on the main cog but given that every other one i have come across (including their own worm) does i think it was a fair assumption that they would.

anyway, that was a pain. also a pain because they are the cheapest i could find(!).

the other items i got from rs components were some ‘ball transfer units’ (ball bearings). these were to sit between the top plate of the mount and the bottom. this would ensure that there would be little friction between the two plates. however, the ‘ball transfer units’ are rubbish. well, at least they were rubbish for what i was trying to achieve. they were certainly not ‘friction free’ but instead provided a pretty bumpy ride for that top plate.

So, with a worm gear that i couldn’t attach to the shaft and ball bearings that were nothing of the sort, it was a disappointing day!

Anyway, back to the drawing board…

Ben