Bi-fold gate build.

[AndySV1K]

Absolutely lovely gate build there, really nice engineering and it works beautifully.

Only just spotted this thread so haven't followed the build, Just wondering if you have any safety devices on it?

I've been involved with building and maintaining gates in the past and the safety regulations for them is crazy. Worked on one in London that ended up needing 6 safety edge strips, expanding hinge covers on every hinge joint, 4 sets of beams as well as the encoder motors with force sensing built in. All done for the right reasons of course as people have been killed by them, but it makes building and maintaining them such a pain.

 

[sako243]

Fairly sure that Kim's kit has photo cells with it to detect people inside it and prevent it. The PCB also has the fairly standard stall current detection malarky in it to detect extra loading.

 

[KimB]

Absolutely lovely gate build there, really nice engineering and it works beautifully.

Only just spotted this thread so haven't followed the build, Just wondering if you have any safety devices on it?

I've been involved with building and maintaining gates in the past and the safety regulations for them is crazy. Worked on one in London that ended up needing 6 safety edge strips, expanding hinge covers on every hinge joint, 4 sets of beams as well as the encoder motors with force sensing built in. All done for the right reasons of course as people have been killed by them, but it makes building and maintaining them such a pain.

I do have closing photo cells as Sako243 says. Also I have the motor power set low, it stalled itself on a drill I forgot was there yesterday. I’d rather be safe than sorry.

 

[AndySV1K]

I do have closing photo cells as Sako243 says. Also I have the motor power set low, it stalled itself on a drill I forgot was there yesterday. I’d rather be safe than sorry.

Absolutely, It wasn't a dig at the gate at all. I just know from experience what they can do when they go wrong. All the more important if you have any children or pets there as they can do silly unpredictable things, like putting fingers in hinge gaps, or running across the threshold to try and beat it (the last one has killed several children in the uk) :-(

Photo cells are ok but only provide protection across a thin line and are really considered to be operational devices more than safety devices. Excellent at triggering or stopping actions and also protecting a vehicle from being hit, but generally useless at protecting against any crushing. Motor encoders are great as they limit the forces but aren't fool proof and there have been deaths on gates with these too. Not trying to scare you or anything, it was more an offer of help if you ever need it in terms of risk assessing it or improving safety features.

Still a brilliant build though, looks lovely!

 

[KimB]

Absolutely, It wasn't a dig at the gate at all. I just know from experience what they can do when they go wrong. All the more important if you have any children or pets there as they can do silly unpredictable things, like putting fingers in hinge gaps, or running across the threshold to try and beat it (the last one has killed several children in the uk) :-(

Photo cells are ok but only provide protection across a thin line and are really considered to be operational devices more than safety devices. Excellent at triggering or stopping actions and also protecting a vehicle from being hit, but generally useless at protecting against any crushing. Motor encoders are great as they limit the forces but aren't fool proof and there have been deaths on gates with these too. Not trying to scare you or anything, it was more an offer of help if you ever need it in terms of risk assessing it or improving safety features.

Still a brilliant build though, looks lovely!

Yeah I know what you’re saying, I don’t have kids thankfully and don’t want any either I also don’t have any pets.
If I ever think there’s any issue or safety concern (because of a pet or something) I’ll fit a bump strip but I don’t see the need currently. My family home had electric gates for as long as I can remember, open multiple times a day and we haven’t had any issues, now I know that isn’t to say something couldn’t happen but unless it’s myself I can’t see anything else happening.

 

[atomant48]

We’ve got 2 sets of aluminium bifold doors and those things could take an arm off. The kids are not allowed to close them unsupervised. Kim’s gate looks pretty innocuous in comparison !

 

[Brad93]

How far do you go. Do you start fitting soft close doors in your home because of kids fingers. too much nannying kids these days they’ll Have to learn someday

 

[nitram]

Nice work well done.

 

[doubleboost]

Just spent a bit time reading this thread
Very tidy work

 

[KimB]

Just spent a bit time reading this thread
Very tidy work

Bored? haha. Me too

 

[addjunkie]

Bored? haha. Me too

Well plan your next project then!

 

[KimB]

Well plan your next project then!

I have two other big project on the go, one is nearly finished. I hurt my back last week and I'm still struggling so I have had to have a down day today, unfortunately.

 

[mtt.tr]

How far do you go. Do you start fitting soft close doors in your home because of kids fingers. too much nannying kids these days they’ll Have to learn someday

I was on a job some mong/chancer had installed the ram i couldn't get out of the drive so had to wait, gate closed on my van and did not stall at all i got out of my van and the motor was still running until the code was put in.

If that had been a person very likely to have crushed them to death going by the dent my van gained

 

[KimB]

I was on a job some mong/chancer had installed the ram i couldn't get out of the drive so had to wait, gate closed on my van and did not stall at all i got out of my van and the motor was still running until the code was put in.

If that had been a person very likely to have crushed them to death going by the dent my van gained

I'd like to think of myself more highly than a "mong", I don't suppose I will have any issues. I'm not insinuating you're calling me one by the way

 

[slim_boy_fat]

so I have had to have a down day today, unfortunately.

As you get older, you'll be grateful for days like this.

 

[mtt.tr]

I'd like to think of myself more highly than a "mong", I don't suppose I will have any issues. I'm not insinuating you're calling me one by the way

Ofcourse not, i wouldn't assume your bum is as hairy as this lot.

Should'a seen the outside lights

 

[KimB]

As you get older, you'll be grateful for days like this.

I doubt it. I hate being sat still.

Ofcourse not, i wouldn't assume your bum is as hairy as this lot.

Should'a seen the outside lights

Ooo, I just did some of those as well. Operated by a wirless controller via my phone

 

[Migmac]

The gates look great. You should be very very happy with what you have done

 

[Brad93]

I was on a job some mong/chancer had installed the ram i couldn't get out of the drive so had to wait, gate closed on my van and did not stall at all i got out of my van and the motor was still running until the code was put in.

If that had been a person very likely to have crushed them to death going by the dent my van gained

Our FAAC rams, if you hold the gate, the motor will still run, but it must have a clutch or something as it doesn’t have the power to crush anything

 

[addjunkie]

I have two other big project on the go, one is nearly finished. I hurt my back last week and I'm still struggling so I have had to have a down day today, unfortunately.

You need to let it mend properly, even if having a day off isnt your thing!