this post was submitted on 10 Sep 2024
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I couldn't find anywhere that would tell me what kind of motor is usually used there. And I don't know enough about motors to be like... well of course it's this kind... But once I know what it is... how does it work? Like different adjustable bases move different intervals for a single push of the remote button (at least according to my wife). So that got me thinking, what controls the minimum interval of difference between two positions the motor will support? I don't hear clicks, so I don't think it is a ratchet type thing which would have a clear min interval. Yet, if you unplug it, it doesn't just go flat. So there must be some sort of passive hold mechanism of some type...

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

What kind of adjustable mattress?

My guess would be a 120v electric motor using a screw gearing.

Screw gearing can transfer torque very well in one direction, and you can use very small motors because they're usually a very high gear ratio (so they don't move quickly).

The uni-directional torque transfer is why screw gearing keeps the bed from collapsing, and why screw gear is extensively used in steering systems (especially for heavier vehicles, like trucks).

[–] Modern_medicine_isnt 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

screw motor. Thanks. I googled an image of that and it all made sense. Pretty sweet. And based on that, the motor doesn't seem like it would have any impact on the minimum difference between height settings. It would just a question of some kind of control that converts the remote signal into a burst of on or off for the motor. So likely there are an infinite number of positions the bed could achieve because holding the the button would be nondeterministic as to how far it would move. Thanks.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

Yep.

Don't even need a stepper or servo motor. Any old motor will do.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

https://www.google.com/search?q=bed+lift+motor

You couldn't find info anywhere? I found a bunch of starting points with that one search...

[–] Modern_medicine_isnt 4 points 2 months ago

ah see. you knew the magic word was lift. I was using things like "what kind of motor is used in mattress adjustable bases" And I was getting no where. The word lift didn't even occur to me. Thanks.

[–] lemming741 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Looks like they're similar to linear actuators

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

I think so.

Don't linear actuators usually use a stepper or servo motor?

[–] lemming741 1 points 2 months ago

Yeah, but the gear box and ball screw are the same layout

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

lol. Before reading replies I thought you meant the thing that adjusts a sleep number bed.