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Hello all. I am hoping to get a better understanding of the 997 or 996 turbo wing electric actuator solution. This post is only intended to learn more about the system and possibly just make one myself since other options are quite expensive and let's face it, the hydraulic systems are horrible.
I’ll start by saying that I noticed that the electric actuators themselves appear to be nothing more than simple 12V motors from companies like GoMotorWorld (gomotorworld.com) or Everest
I noticed that Ferrari and Audi are using GoMotorWorld actuators (click link and scroll to bottom of page) An example actuator would be have similar specs to the following:
Load:200N, Speed 15mm/s, Stroke: 75mm or 3”, Duty Cycle: Maz 25%
They are relatively cheap and appear run about $35-$45 each.
The parts that would seem to require making would be the mounting bracket (actuator to deck lid), mounting connector caps (actuator piston to wing), and wiring/connectors. I've seen some with the bottom lug ground off and early versions with the bottom lug left on.
I can’t imagine that it would be difficult to make the first two (mounting bracket and wing connector). I haven’t messed with the electronics yet, but I think this would be a pretty simple system. Obviously others (I won’t name names or companies here) have developed and tested such a system. It seems that such companies are simply using similar actuators and painting their logo on them.
It would seem to me that a lot of money could be saved here doing a DIY, given that the actuators are readily available for under $100 for a pair. I would think the brackets would be pretty easy to make (first 3D print, then CNC a set).
It looks like a certain company decided to go with a simple clamp on bracket, which clamps to the actuator. I think with a little work, this can be done for under $300 and possibly under $200 as a home DIY. I think there could be a market for someone to just sell the mounting brackets and wiring (really, who cares if there is a logo re-painted on the actuator!). Then go on ebay and buy the same actuators.
I am going to try a very simple system using the same readily available actuators. If anyone else has already done this, please post your experience. I’d like to know if you ran into any problems with lift timing or making the brackets. Who knows, I could be way off here, but in theory and on paper, this doesn’t look that complicated.
There's a guy who's made a business of making electric rams for 996/7 turbos. I seem to recall there's a bit of a trick with respect to the microswitch(es) which confirm wing position and keeping things error free. But I agree, the actuators themselves seem pretty affordable relative to the cost of a drop in system, factory hydraulic or otherwise.
Good luck on the project, and please do keep the thread updated if you go for it. The "other company" you reference posts here sometimes and might try to discourage you but having a DIY option for the industrious among us would be nice.
I am always amazed at how much gouging goes on to hold a wing up, or move it Even the guy who developed the (Put a bolt in to hold it up) wanting $150+
@original. While I have not needed an elec. actuator on my 997.1 TT, as the hydraulic unit works, I have used such an actuator on the engine lid of my Beck Speeder (3" full vertical stroke) and it works perfect. The key is figuring out the bracket and attachment point for the piston. With regard to the electrical, a simple two pole switch to reverse the DC current polarity does the trick to raise and lower the piston.
I am always amazed at how much gouging goes on to hold a wing up, or move it Even the guy who developed the (Put a bolt in to hold it up) wanting $150+
Best of luck to you.
DC
therock88: Agreed! That's why I decided to look into it. It's a few shop class brackets, some first year engineering student circuitry, and throw in a Chinese linear actuator. Even the "investment protectors" (rubber boots) are readily available for about $10-$15 online.
I will provide my best estimate on actual build cost later, but for now just picture Mark Cuban sitting in his leather Shark Tank chair saying "you can easily mark this up 10,000%."
Thanks Kevin! I Have plenty of pictures of the "clamps" or "brackets" and have a few ideas for my own design. Here is a good link to a video to how the actuators work internally. Note that the limit switches are internal, meaning that the unit shuts off when full stroke is reached (e.g., 75mm/3" or 100mm/4").
There are obviously different specification linear actuators out there. A 200N actuator is about 44lbs (100N would be only 22lbs). Speed ranges all over the place, but I think 30mm-50mm/s would be a good start. For example, 40mm/s would raise a 100mm in about 2.5/s. Anyway more to come....
Also, please let’s not post any current designs that are already on the Market. We’ve all seen what’s out there. This thread is intended to create a DIY at a fraction on the cost. Although publicly available, and certain companies love it when customers post pictures about “look what I just bought and installed”, let’s not post other company pictures, names, or designs here. Thanks!
02-24-2018, 07:57 PM
Electric Wing Actuators DIY? No more hydraulics!
Even the guy who developed the (Put a bolt in to hold it up) wanting $150+
