[sudo-access] [sudo-discuss] help build a motorized front-door opener for omni commons

[hol at gaskill.com]

I can come work on the hardware side this evening.  Would an off the 
shelf electric screwjack work just as well?  I have one spare, 200# 
force and 12" throw, 12V 4A stall current IIRC.

On 2017-01-19 15:23, Jake wrote:
> note:  this email goes to four lists.  Please reply only to the Access 
> and
> Building lists to avoid clogging Omni and Sudo lists with this thread.
> 
> I just want to bump this thread and see if anyone is available to work 
> on the
> physical aspects of the door opener I describe below, and as shown in 
> this
> diagram:
> 
> http://spaz.org/~jake/pix/omnidoormotor1.png
> 
> I am willing to do the electronics part of it and make it work with our
> existing system, but I would like others to help with the building of a 
> bracket
> to hold the motor in place over the door, and the woodwork and 
> nuts&bolts of
> making the 2x2 stick with steel cable attached to it.
> 
> -jake
> 
> 
> On Tue, 17 Jan 2017, Jake wrote:
> 
>> the wheelchair motor that Robb wanted to use for a projection screen
>> raise/lower thing is something else.
>> 
>> The motor I want to use for the front door opener is this one:
>> 
>> http://imgur.com/gallery/MLuT7
>> 
>> it's in sudoroom in a milk crate.  Robb and I remove the wheel and the 
>> tire,
>> and now it's ready for the motor to be mounted on a bracket that will 
>> hold it
>> in the right place, which is slightly higher than the top of the door, 
>> and
>> basically 2' south of the door's hinges.
>> 
>> then, a 2x2 of wood will attach to the top corner of the door with a 
>> hinge, and
>> it will have a cord of this rubber-wrapped steel cable (which I have) 
>> go from
>> one end of the 2x2 to the other, taking a couple of turns around the 
>> motor
>> wheel.  It will look like this:
>> 
>> http://spaz.org/~jake/pix/omnidoormotor1.png
>> 
>> as you can see from this diagram, when the motor turns its wheel 
>> clockwise (as
>> viewed from above) the 2x2 stick will be pushed in the direction that 
>> opens the
>> door.  If it's not clear, the rubber-wrapped steel cable (shown in 
>> red/black
>> stripes) is attached to the 2x2 stick at both ends, but it makes a 
>> couple of
>> turns around the wheel of the motor on its way.
>> 
>> anyway, i chose this motor because when it's not being energized with
>> electricity, it's free-moving which means it won't interfere with 
>> regular door
>> movement.  But when we activate it, it will be strong enough to open 
>> or close
>> the door as we tell it to do.
>> 
>> The issues you mention about battery backup are not a problem.  We 
>> already have
>> a battery backup for the front door card (and soon RFID) access 
>> system, and
>> this motorized thing will be battery-backed as well.
>> 
>> I am willing to do the electrical part of this project, and I have 
>> already
>> acquired the rubber-coated steel cable and motor, but I ask that other 
>> people
>> take care of mounting the motor on a suitable frame above the door and 
>> help
>> make the 2x2 stick on a hinge which will attach to the door.
>> 
>> I will be at sudoroom tomorrow night (tuesday night at 7) in case 
>> anyone wants
>> to meet with me about this.
>> 
>> -jake
>> 
>> On Mon, 16 Jan 2017, David Keenan wrote:
>> 
>>> I remember hearing about that wheelchair motor -- if it's the same 
>>> one,
>>> last I heard Robb had wanted to use it to raise/lower a projection 
>>> screen
>>> for the stage..? So I didn't think of it for this project, but if we 
>>> can
>>> use it and save ourselves some money, that's great!
>>> 
>>> I realize you may have already considered this aspect but as a DIY 
>>> opener
>>> will also need to comply with code requirements, do you think you can
>>> design a system measurably compliant with:
>>> 
>>> - opening / closing force (<5lb) and speed (max. *N* seconds to 
>>> close)
>>> requirements throughout the swing, during automatic operation and 
>>> manual
>>> operation per ANSI/BHMA A156.19 for low-energy-operated doors, ICC 
>>> A117.1,
>>> ADA and whatever may be found in CBC?
>>> 
>>> - req'd UPS / backup battery power for opener, for *N* many 
>>> operations
>>> (need to look it up)
>>> 
>>> - compliant location of upper and lower door actuators (buttons), 
>>> assume
>>> this will be no issue
>>> 
>>> If it's helpful, here is a decent article I found that glosses the 
>>> subject
>>> of codes for low-energy openers:
>>> http://www.constructionspecifier.com/understanding-new-accessibility-requirements-for-doors/
>>> <http://www.constructionspecifier.com/understanding-new-accessibility-requirements-for-doors/>
>>> 
>>> Given the above, and I realize I only now just brought this up to 
>>> you, but
>>> I guess my only concern about any DIY implementation is, if you / 
>>> access
>>> group has the time to implement it relatively soon..? E.g., do you 
>>> think it
>>> might be possible to complete in the next 2-3 weeks or so..?
>>> 
>>> I realize perhaps that is an unfair question to ask before you've 
>>> really
>>> started hacking on it, but I'm also trying to be realistic and 
>>> pragmatic
>>> wrt to how busy everyone is and the understandably extended timelines 
>>> of
>>> volunteer labor in general that comprises the bulk of omni efforts --
>>> 
>>> If after reviewing the door req's, you think a DIY system is doable 
>>> in the
>>> next 2-3 wks, let me know how / when I can help hack on this and I 
>>> will
>>> follow up with you and access control group directly -- and perhaps 
>>> we can
>>> set a date to meet up about it?
>>> 
>>> Best,
>>> David
>>> 
>>> On Mon, Jan 16, 2017 at 12:20 AM, Maureen Muldavin 
>>> <muldavin.m at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> If you are working on RFID cards any possibility that the entrance 
>>>> to
>>>> sudo/ccl could get a card reader? Been wanting access control for
>>>> awhile.
>>>> 
>>>> On Sun, Jan 15, 2017 at 11:46 PM, Jake <jake at spaz.org> wrote:
>>>>> i brought in a wheelchair motor a while ago that I think could be 
>>>>> made
>>>> into
>>>>> a
>>>>> power door-opener pretty well.
>>>>> 
>>>>> I can work on a proof-of-concept for that and then be able to show 
>>>>> you
>>>> what
>>>>> I
>>>>> mean, and then we can see if it will be good enough for our needs 
>>>>> as
>>>> opposed
>>>>> to
>>>>> spending $2800 on a "proper" door opener.
>>>>> 
>>>>> as for the RFID cards, Alex and I have been working on implementing 
>>>>> the
>>>> card
>>>>> reader thing for a little while and I think I can add it to the 
>>>>> front
>>>> door
>>>>> pretty relatively easily.., and I guess i'll do that first, rather 
>>>>> than
>>>>> trying
>>>>> to do a storage closet first?
>>>>> 
>>>>> as always, if anyone wants to participate in this process they 
>>>>> should
>>>>> definitely jump in, otherwise it's subject to my chaotic schedule.
>>>>> 
>>>>> technical questions about making this happen should be sent to the 
>>>>> access
>>>>> list
>>>>> and possibly the sudoroom list, but probably not the building list 
>>>>> as it
>>>>> will
>>>>> be a major distraction if we get into the weeds of microcontroller 
>>>>> boards
>>>>> and
>>>>> door server code...
>>>>> 
>>>>> also, yes I do have the box of RFID stuff you ordered and i've been
>>>> working
>>>>> on
>>>>> it~
>>>>> 
>>>>> -jake
>>>>> 
>>>>> On Sun, 15 Jan 2017, David Keenan wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>>> Hi Jake / access control folks -
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> So now that our front door is publicly labelled as accessible, we 
>>>>>> need
>>>> to
>>>>>> install an automatic door opener & remote button (kickplate &
>>>> hand-height
>>>>>> or a long bar) to make it legal.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Reason I bring this up to you guys is, the opener system will need 
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> integrate into our existing/future access control somehow. The 
>>>>>> quote I
>>>> got
>>>>>> is $2800 (50% parts, 50% labor) for a package including the Open 
>>>>>> Sesame
>>>>>> Model 233 (brochure
>>>>>> <http://www.opensesamedoor.com/index_htm_files/open_sesame_brochure.pdf
>>>>> ,
>>>>>> spec
>>>>>> sheet 
>>>>>> <http://www.opensesamedoor.com/index_htm_files/specs_model233.pdf
>>>>> ),
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> made in San Leandro.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Also, some of us met last week re: sketching out Omni's 
>>>>>> accessibility
>>>>>> plan,
>>>>>> and Yar suggested this might be a good time to also implement RFID
>>>> system
>>>>>> for the front door, if that was possible? In part because, 
>>>>>> proximity to
>>>> an
>>>>>> RFID fob is more accessible than a card swipe which (after 
>>>>>> thinking
>>>> about
>>>>>> it) I realized requires a pincing motion that is likely not ADA...
>>>> because
>>>>>> of the excessive door opening pressure and iffy slope on the front
>>>>>> landing,
>>>>>> we need an RFID & auto-opener.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> So -- I'm not sure if any more work has been done on the RFID 
>>>>>> systems I
>>>>>> put
>>>>>> in sudo a little while ago (stashed in under-stair storage area), 
>>>>>> might
>>>> it
>>>>>> be possible to integrate these into the door opener? I note in the
>>>>>> brochure
>>>>>> they offer a keypad access option - perhaps an opportunity for 
>>>>>> 2-factor
>>>>>> authentication like Marc had talked about? Anyhow what do you guys
>>>> think?
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> I apologize for not helping y'all more with a better access 
>>>>>> control
>>>> system
>>>>>> (helping spaces post-ghostship consumed my bandwidth), but as 
>>>>>> there is
>>>> now
>>>>>> renewed pressure I want to help as I can. Would installing a trial
>>>>>> RFID/throw on the Omni Office for example still be helpful towards
>>>> getting
>>>>>> this nailed down? Lmk
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Fwiw - I see the opener as pressing at this point not just 'cause 
>>>>>> its
>>>> long
>>>>>> overdue, but because every day our front door is labelled as 
>>>>>> accessible
>>>>>> when it's technically not, is actually a not-insignificant 
>>>>>> liability
>>>> issue
>>>>>> (accessibility lawsuit). Plus of course, we are still under 
>>>>>> scrutiny by
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> city, nimby neighbors trying to call us out for bogus reasons, etc 
>>>>>> etc.
>>>>>> And
>>>>>> per building code the front door must be made fully accessible 
>>>>>> before
>>>> any
>>>>>> other accessibility work starts on the rest of the building - at 
>>>>>> some
>>>>>> point
>>>>>> an inspector's gonna notice since they all go through that 
>>>>>> door..anyhow.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Let me know how myself & those of us working on accessibility 
>>>>>> might be
>>>>>> able
>>>>>> to help -
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Best,
>>>>>> David
>>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>> 
>>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> access mailing list
>> access at lists.sudoroom.org
>> https://sudoroom.org/lists/listinfo/access
>> 
> _______________________________________________
> sudo-discuss mailing list
> sudo-discuss at lists.sudoroom.org
> https://sudoroom.org/lists/listinfo/sudo-discuss