Les Engineer
Member
Hello everyone. I've decided to build a revolve that will be lightweight, easy (ish) to assemble, disassemble, and store, and that will allow for casters to be either floor or revolve-mounted, and that can powered by an electric motor, if one wishes (leaving room for chain or cable.) But for my first use I'm hoping to abandon the motor and use human power to turn it: specifically, the actors, of which there are three. No set, just the actors, three small chairs and a small table. Here's the question (please be kind) - for those of you who have built your own revolves and have real-life experience: if the actors get it going at a reasonable clip (average playground merry-go round clip, fast, but not dangerously so), and if I lubricate the stuffing out of it, and keep if exceedingly plumb and level, etc. etc., as a practical matter how long might I get it to spin once it reaches the desired acceleration? The actors will hop on once it gets spinning. Diameter 18 feet, total weight, with actors, what? - 800 to 1200 lbs, I would guess. How much friction will the casters create? Should I use a central bearing? Have I really thought this through? Of course not! Why would I mess this up with clear and rational thinking?