With the help of automatic control of the entrance gate, you can simplify their use, and most importantly, make the car's entry into the garage or to the site as safe as possible. Needless to say about the advantages of the electric drive! After all, the opening and closing of the shutters can be done directly from the car. And if you need to run into the yard the car in which the guests arrived, there is no need to leave the warm and cozy room. Just press the button to open the gate leaf.
The cost of factory automatic gates is very high, so craftsmen are looking for cheaper options. In our article, we will consider how to independently make automatic gates without purchasing expensive products. Everything that we will use, you can find in your garage or buy at a flea market for a penny.
There are three types of automatic constructions in total:
- Swing.
- Recoil.
- Automatic garage doors.
Swing gates: features
Swing - the most common, they can be found everywhere. These are two wings that are attached to the side support pillars with hinges. They are simple and reliable, but necessary so that there is enough space before entering the yard. Otherwise, the sashes will not be able to swing open completely. Swing gates will come in handy in narrow passages. In addition, they have high strength and reliability when compared with other gate designs. As for automatic lifting gates, they are distributed exclusively for garages. And swing is much better than lifting.
But swing gates also have disadvantages. The most important thing is that there are very high requirements for the side posts. If the racks are not sufficiently rigid, this will cause them to tilt over time. As a result, the sash will jam. In addition, this fact can be called a disadvantage, that it is necessary to use two drives working synchronously. Other gate designs need only one electric motor and gearbox. This is the whole set of automation for the gate. True, you will also need a power source and installation wires, as well as sensors to turn off the drive.
Retractable structures
These gates consist of a canvas that moves away in any direction almost close to the surface of the fence. ATdepending on which surface is the reference, the system can be divided into the following types:
- Rail. In this design, the sashes are mounted on rollers that move directly along a rail mounted on the carriageway. Such structures are rarely seen today, since for their implementation it is necessary to make a perfectly flat platform, as well as constantly care for the rail.
- Cantilever structures are characterized by the fact that the main door leaf rests on movable rollers. The latter are installed on a concrete foundation. Moreover, this foundation is located outside the passage. The most reliable systems are the gates, which have lower roller carriages and an upper guide.
- Suspended structures are mounted on rails located on top. The sash moves along them on rollers. It is reasonable to install such structures where it is necessary to use a canvas whose height is more than 2 m. It can also be used if there is a large height difference at the entrance. In the event that there is not enough distance on the sides, suspended structures can be made from two canvases.
The sliding structure is considered the most practical, as it does not depend on whether there is space before entering the yard. The article provides a connection diagram for automatic gates. It is easy to assemble it with your own hands. With minor modifications, it can be used on both sliding and swing structures.
Design Features
Now let's talk a little aboutcons. The biggest one is that you need to equip the foundation. In addition, the design of sliding gates is much more complicated than that of swing gates. Also, you cannot install sliding structures in narrow areas; you need to have a margin of at least 5 meters away from the passage. But, despite these shortcomings, it is the structures of sliding gates that are easiest to automate. And they are quite comfortable and reliable in operation.
As for garage doors, any of the above designs can be used for their manufacture. And also use sectional, lift-and-turn or roller shutter mechanisms. True, they are more complex, so you are unlikely to be able to make automatic garage doors of this type at home with your own hands.
Which drives to use for automatic opening
In order to convert the rotational motion of the rotor of the electric motor into translational, you can use several methods:
- Install the crank mechanism.
- Place rack and gear.
- Use the features of a worm or screw drive.
- Install chain drive.
Using such kinematic schemes, you can make a reliable and efficient drive even at home. And now let's talk in more detail about which designs are best used for certain types of gates.
Swing gate system
In order to make swingautomatic gates, it is necessary to install lever or linear drives on the leaves. Linear are usually made using a screw or worm gear, they work on the principle of changing the total length of the working rod. Lever - these are designs that work in much the same way as a person's hand moves. The design consists of a pair of levers connected by a movable hinge.
In the manufacture of automatic gates with their own hands, linear-type drives are often used. They are easily installed on swing gates with wings that open in any direction. In the event that the canvas is hung on brick or stone pillars, it is best to use a lever mechanism. It is not picky about the location of the support.
What drives to make in artisanal conditions
At home, linear structures are very often made from ready-made antenna actuators. Sometimes you can find homemade drives with screw gears. Finished products are also used as lever drives. These are drives for power windows or car wipers. If we talk about true homemade products, then you can even find solutions that use compound levers and gear motors.
Sliding gate automation
In order to make automatic sliding gates with your own hands, you can use a set of ready-made automation. It already has a drive, a control unit, sensors, a gear rack. But if youif you want to save money, then you will assemble a reliable design from an electric motor, a gearbox, several sprockets and a chain (for example, from agricultural machinery or a gas distribution mechanism drive of a domestic car). In principle, with a special desire, you can even install a flexible V-ribbed belt.
Preparatory work for the manufacture of swing gates
And now let's talk about how to make swing gates yourself. They are highly reliable, durable, and can also provide performance in any weather. This is ideal if you do not purchase a control unit and actuators on the market. Their cost is several tens of thousands of rubles. That is why such designs are very often made by "homemade" ones.
First of all, you need to consider the following factors:
- Where is the installation of the gate.
- Which way will the doors open.
- Dimensions of both gate leaves.
- View and installation option of support posts.
- Points and method of mounting drives.
- Design of leaf drive.
- How will the cable be laid to the actuator.
- How food will be provided. Allowed both directly from the mains, and with the help of a backup battery.
- Features of the latch design.
You also need to take into account the features of all the materials from which the gates are made. Onlyonly after answering all the above mentioned questions, you can start designing the structure and choosing a drive.
Sash size
In order to determine the size of the gate, it is necessary to focus on the maximum width of vehicles that will pass into the yard. If only cars are planned to enter, then an opening of about 2.5 m is enough. But keep in mind: if you sometimes need to pump out the sewer, then most likely you will need a truck or tractor to drive into the yard. At the same time, it is recommended to increase the width of the carriageway to at least 3.5 m. Therefore, automatic sliding gates or swing gates must have a width of at least 3.5 m. Only in this case, any vehicle will be able to freely enter the yard.
Be sure to consider whether the car can drive into the yard at a right angle. If the road near your yard is narrow, there is no way to make a maneuver, it is recommended to widen the passage by about one and a half times. Also pay attention to whether the sashes protrude beyond the roadway when opened. And in the event that the site allows you to install a wide gate, do it. If you make an opening with a width of 4.5 m, you will ensure the free entry of any construction equipment or truck through automatic sliding gates.
Which material to choose for manufacturing
Steel pipes of profile section are ideal for making a frame. They have a very high degree of strength, and this is extremely important. And whenWith the help of profile pipes, you can make the whole structure very rigid. The article provides drawings of automatic gates. You can make them quickly enough with your own hands, but there is no need to strictly adhere to all sizes - focus on your site.
In order to fill the main canvas, you can use the following materials:
- Polycarbonate cellular.
- Forging.
- Fence or board.
- Sheets of metal.
- Profiling. It is allowed to use both painted sheets and unpainted.
Do-it-yourself automatic garage doors in which several materials are combined will look very nice. Forged elements and polycarbonate or wood look beautiful. What can we say, the choice of the main material for the manufacture of gates depends solely on what financial capabilities you have. But if you consider that you have already saved on automation and drives, you can spend a little more money on purchasing expensive stamped or forged products.
Production of support legs
Before you make automatic gates with your own hands, you need to calculate what load they will exert on the racks. As for the supports, they can be made from the following materials:
- Make out of brick or stone.
- Crafted from hardwood.
- Channels and steel pipes perform well.
- If desired, you can make racks even from reinforced concrete.
As for the choice of material for the pillars, thenit is necessary to take into account the total mass of all canvases. If the strength is not enough, then the doors will begin to converge, as a result of which it will be problematic to close the gate. At the same time, as you understand, the automatic drive will not be able to work normally.
In the manufacture of swing automatic gates with remote opening, there will be no difficulties, but the design implies that original sketches must be used. That's just exactly copy any drawing is not necessary. It all depends on your imagination and financial capabilities.
What you need for work
In order to build a swing gate, you will need to stock up on a variety of materials:
for the installation of racks you need metal pipes, brick or stone. If you make the pillars in the form of masonry, you need to prepare metal for mortgages;
in order to make a frame for automatic gates with remote opening, you will need profile pipes, a section of no more than 60x60 mm and no less than 40x20 mm;
- in order to fill the frame, you can use steel sheets, corrugated board, wood, polycarbonate or forging;
- loops to install canvases on racks;
- details of locking mechanisms.
Installed elements are metal parts that are installed in masonry joints in order to subsequently secure sashes and other structural details. Elements are made of sheet steel, angles,channels.
To give stability to the entire structure of the rack, it is necessary to concrete. Build a foundation under pillars of brick or stone.
Gate drive
You can make a drive from parts and assemblies from cars and household appliances. So, for the automatic gate opening mechanism, you can use:
- gear electric motors generating a force of at least 120 N;
- power windows;
- screw-type jacks (as for domestic "classics");
- actuators for driving satellite dishes.
The remote control system can be made from a simple car alarm or a central lock. It is enough to connect the electric motors of the drives using conventional 12-volt relays. You will also need at least two limit switches, a lamp and wires.
