Originally Posted by
Vlod
The budget is a key.
If you run something that long, then you probably should get continuous duty motor and not mechanical end switches like opto or magnetic. And then again - is it just for 5 day or every 5 days?
What is your load on it? What is your current? Will you put it all in a box, will you provide forced ventilation?
You can do servo but it will cost you.
The reason for using steppers or servos is to provide accurate infinite positioning. In you case, there are two moves to the end.
I would buy linear actuator desired distance and power and a delay timer or use an arduino to trigger the moves as long you already have it.
I run arduino in a ticket machine and it works ok (every once in a wile it freezes if not used for a long time, just cycle he power to reboot and it’s good for another month)
I run nema23 steppers in a small cnc router and they do get hot. I’ve seen people put heat sinks with fans on them.
I think the longest I run them for 8 hours every day for a week. But if you don’t have much load then you could reduce the current. It all depends on the end result. If you just playing with it or you making commercials machine. Will it be anytime accessible or you put it in a tower or sent it to space. How reliable it has to be.
I would not use an Arduino in a commercial application, it’s better to buy reliable PLC.
For AC or DC geared motors you need different type of control. TB 6600 driver designed to work with steppers up to 3 Amps only.
Depends on the load, available power and budget you can pick the motor, gearbox and controllers.
If you just playing with it - experiment them to death… just put couple thermal fuses that it would not cache on fire…