Free Heliostat Plans

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Free Heliostat Plans: Part 5

Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: Parts List
Part 3: Building the Heliostat Frame
Part 4: Making and Attaching the Nut for the Threaded Rod
Part 5: Coupling the Threaded rod to the Stepper Motors
Part 6: Making and Attaching the Stepper Motor Mounts
Part 7: Mounting the Mirror / You're Done!

Coupling the Threaded Rod to the Stepper Motors

You will now need to couple the 5/16-18 3' long threaded rods to the stepper motors.

There are many ways to attach threaded rods to stepper motors, but this is how I did it.

I first took an inch long 5/16" coupler nut and drilled a small hole through it about 1/4" from the end. When drilling this hole, make sure not to apply much pressure at all. If you do, the drill bit will probably break on the threads on the inside of the coupler. So, once again, apply very little pressure, and just be patient as the bit makes its way through.

Note: The end of my stepper motor shaft already had a hole in the end of it when I bought the stepper motor. If yours doesn't, you will need to drill one if you want to attach the threaded rod to the stepper motor like I did.

Next, the coupler nut was placed on the end of the stepper motor shaft so that the holes in both the coupler nut and the motor shaft lined up. A stiff piece of wire was then pushed through them and bent around the coupler nut to keep it from coming back out.

Finally, the threaded rod was screwed into the end of the coupler nut and a regular nut was tightened against the coupler nut to keep the threaded rod from unscrewing.

Note: Make sure that the coupler nut is situated like it is in the picture below with the end of the coupler with the hole facing away from the stepper motor. And sorry about the glare from the soda bottle in the picture.

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