Thanks John. And OT is always fine with me...I learn lots from those.
For something like you're proposing, I might consider electric linear actuators...or I'd be looking at stepper motors driving ball screws, with an Arduino controller maybe? Or use sliding track (like heavy drawer slides) and pneumatic cylinders? We considered all of those when we did a drop-down bed, but that was a bit different (since we could lift from above) so we ended up going with a rotating pipe system, around which seatbelt webbing wound. Whatever you do, please show us!
And many thanks, Tejon, for the support and for understanding why we started doing these. Yup, in that grinder I'm using one of the $29 diamond cutting wheels. I do find them to be worth it for cutting the ribs, for a few reasons. They do last longer and they cut a pretty narrow kerf...and, most importantly for these situations, they don't change diameter so I can make the same depth of cut as long as the wheel works. I wouldn't say they actually last 100X as long, like the packages say, but they certainly last long enough to make the price difference worthwhile. Just be careful on thin material, like the skins, since the blade slots can catch unless you do a "climb cut" with it.
I loved that little gem.
Linear Mode
