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paulmarchant t1_isycu8e wrote

It's a case of re-purposing a cheap readily available item.

If you got hold of an old desktop fan (with the oscillation function), removed the blades and MacGuyvered the fan to the floor and the chair, would that work?

It'd give a spookily slow rock, which might be good, might be bad...

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shoziku t1_isynpb2 wrote

Or just put the fan further away from it with kite string connected to the housing so it pulls back the chair when it turns.

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iridebikes2 OP t1_isyd1oe wrote

I’m definitely going for the spookily slow rock, so that’s a solid idea!

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IronSlanginRed t1_iszvzvj wrote

Just attach the oscillating fan with fishing line. Then you don't have to take apart a perfectly good fan.

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CathodeRayNoob t1_isydd7z wrote

I like the oscillating fan idea.

Another simple solution would be a little servo just pushing a rod into the ground. You could choose the speed that way using an arduino.

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romanticmasturbator t1_isyz7yh wrote

Maybe try a windshield wiper motor.

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iridebikes2 OP t1_isz4zrk wrote

That’s definitely the effect I am going for, but I’m not terribly electrically savvy so getting car accessories to work on a 110v wall outlet might be outside my wheelhouse.

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Gfercaks33 t1_iszudkw wrote

Not as hard as you think, cars use 12vdc everything so all you need it to step down from 110ac, aka a wall wart or power supply found on say a router. Cut the barrel connector off find the positive and negative with a multimeter and put the positive and negative to the wiper motor

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PercMaint t1_isyr300 wrote

Also for added oddity, if you can find a way to use a motion sensor in reverse. The chair rocks until they start to walk towards it and then starts when they walk away. Might create the feeling of "I thought it was rocking..."

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iridebikes2 OP t1_isysrhg wrote

I was thinking of doing the exact opposite, but I think your idea of having it stop when they approach is creepier.

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ShelfordPrefect t1_iszecgb wrote

If you have a suitable low voltage power supply, the best price/performance ratio might come from a cheap cordless drill. I saw an instructable years ago where someone was using a drill turning a roller rubbing on a bike wheel for a slow reciprocating effect.

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spider-bro t1_isycoee wrote

The bumper mechanism from a pinball machine could do it (with the bell removed).

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tragic-majyk t1_isycsv9 wrote

Treadmill motors are widely available and have the necessary torque you're going to have to Fab up a oblique cam for it though

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Rhebala t1_iszlezr wrote

There was a cradle called the rock and play (it’s been recalled) that had a tiny motor that rocked it. It just pushed a little arm on the ground to rock the device. Ask your friends who had babies before the recall (2019, I think) if they still have this in their attic somewhere.

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Bogmanbob t1_iszqj74 wrote

Be careful though. What you are making is what we call a crush hazy in industry and little kids like to explore.

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iridebikes2 OP t1_iszqqnz wrote

What is that?

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Bogmanbob t1_iszy4ih wrote

I meant crush hazard (typo) if it’s not a weak motor that will easily stall under force or has a bunch of fancy expensive safety sensors. My worry is any motor drive strong enough to rock a chair may also be strong enough to do some harm.

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secretagent420 t1_iszsvwd wrote

You may also be able to use a weighted rotating motor, like this old wacky weasel toys.
Strap it to the chair and the momentum of the moving weight should create an odd rocking effect

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