Automatic gate with own hands

It is not an easy task to design automatic gates with your own hands, because it requires certain knowledge and skills. However, this does not mean that it is impossible to make them independently. In this article we will look at the types of automatic gates and the ways of their construction. There is no need to convince someone that automatic gates are a convenient and practical thing. For this reason, there are many offers on the market today, although the entire variety of models can be divided into: swinging, recoil and garage options. All of them differ in design features and installation method. Let's consider each variant in more detail.

Automatic swing gate

This type of gate is the most familiar and popular, due to the simplicity of the device and ease of use. The main thing is that there is enough space for the free opening of such gates. Their frame is made of a profile with high rigidity. Sheathing of this frame is made by metal or wooden panels. Look like forged lattices, but their cost is much higher.

Any swing gates consist of the following parts: fastening posts, set of hinges, gate wings, side and center stops, bolts, handles for the convenience of opening the door, electric drives and brackets for their fastening. Most often, a steel pipe with a diameter of more than 100 mm is used for poles. With a high mass of the gates themselves, it is better to connect the posts to each other in the upper part with a pipe, corner or channel. This will not allow the support to disperse or vice versa. Posts should be concreted, for example, using a glass-type foundation.

To ensure that the gate is very smooth and light, it is necessary to provide them with special hinges with bearings. They will need to buy 4 or 6 pieces. It depends on the weight of the gate leaves themselves. The loops can be polymer or metal.

The gate leaves consist of a frame and a filling, which can be sparse, solid and combined. The door frame can be made from a metal profile. Its cross-section depends on the filling material, which is most often represented by a metal fence, a sandwich panel, an aluminum or steel profile. All metal parts should be primed and painted.

Mandatory structural elements are lateral and central stops, which are necessary to limit the excessive opening of the gate. They can be removable and stationary. Although the gates in question are automatic, the provision of their bolt and handles is mandatory. After all, we should always be ready for interruptions with electric power.

The automatic swing gates are opened and closed traditionally: two doors swing open in different directions. Energy for the movement of the gate is transmitted through the levers from the electric drives, which are installed on both doors. These electric drives should be purchased complete with levers, as the design of different manufacturers is very different.

What are the electric drives

By the way of operation the automatic drives for swing gates are divided into:

• Linear or worm, whose operation is based on the reciprocating movements of the rod. It is driven by a worm gear that shortens or extends it. This type of drive is ideal for swing gates, it is easy to operate and not very much worth it.
• Lever drives simulate the mechanics of the movements of the human hand. The lever consists of two parts connected by a hinge. This allows you to open even gates that are suspended at a distance of up to half a meter from the post.

As for the automation manufacturers for swing gates, here the main thing is to focus on the brand's fame and the consistency of the "density" of your wallet.

Automatic gates with recoiling structure

Today this type of gate is the most popular, although their electric drive is more complicated. This complexity is not afraid of consumers, as you can buy anything today. One can list the most obvious advantages of a sliding gate to understand the reason for the consumers' preferences:

• absence of any guides, which allows you to enter any height in the transport.
• Precise operation of the automation completely eliminates the need to exit the machine to open the gate.
• Simplicity and unpretentiousness in service.

It is quite easy to construct a sliding gate independently for those who are good at handling a welding machine and a Bulgarian. You just need to know that with all the advantages of such a design has two drawbacks: the high cost of automation and the need for a large amount of free space for the rollback of the door. The rest is all good - the design of such gates is very reliable and can withstand up to 50,000 opening / closing cycles, which is enough for several decades.

The choice of material for sewing the door leaf entirely depends on your imagination. Here can be used: wood, forging, metal profiled sheet and even polycarbonate. By the nature of the design of the canvas, these gates can be divided into 2 different types: with a single leaf and with a built-in wicket.

The set of required fittings for automatic sliding gates consists of: roller carriages, upper supporting rollers, rolling rollers, 2 catchers - upper and lower, guide profile, rubber plugs. The price of this set strongly depends on the weight of the gate and the manufacturer. Fittings of domestic production for gates up to 400 kg cost about $ 100.For a set, up to 800 kg - 150 USD.Foreign samples can cost more than $ 300.

Step-by-step installation instructions for sliding gates with automatic self-control

Let's consider step-by-step the entire process of manufacturing sliding automatic gates:

Stage 1. Determine the linear dimensions of the gate. After all, the length, width and height of the moving leaf affects the weight of the gate, and, consequently, the choice of fittings. This also determines the distance that is necessary to move the movable leaf. It is good, if it will be one and a half times more than the working opening of the gate.

Stage 2. We install strong and reliable support poles. They can be made from a profile pipe, an oak beam, a channel, concrete or brick. The main requirement for installation - the supports should be buried 1 meter into the ground. Otherwise, in the first winter the pillar will shift and warp the whole structure.

For proper installation of the pole it is necessary to excavate a pit about 130 cm deep. On its bottom it is necessary to lay a "pillow" of sand and crushed stone with a capacity of 15 cm and it is well tamped. Only after this it is possible to install a pillar and pour it with concrete from cement of mark not less than M-300.

Stage 3. We make the foundation for the gate itself, which is able to withstand their considerable weight. In it, a "banquet" is laid, that is, a special channel, along which the movable leaf of the gate will roll on rollers. To properly lay the foundation, you need to excavate and strengthen the pit with the following parameters: the length is half the length of the door opening, the width is 0.4-0.5 m, and the depth is 1.0 -1.2 m. In form this pit should resemble the letterP, which is clearly seen in the figure. After completion of excavation, it also needs to be poured, as in the case with the bollards.

To make a "banquet", you need 20 centimeter channel and 12 millimeter reinforcement. It must be cut into meter "swords" and carefully welded to the shelves of the channel. After that, the "banquet" is replaced and poured with concrete flush with the road. Further work can be done only after the concrete has completely hardened, and this is not less than a week. During this time, the concrete is periodically poured with water so that it does not crack.

Stage 4. The production of the supporting frame is conveniently carried out from a profile pipe made of steel. To do this, it is cut out with the Bulgarian for the necessary components, remove rust from them, degrease with solvent or concrete and apply anticorrosive primer. Then weld the frame to the drawing with a welding machine, clean and process the seams, and then once again ground. As a useful advice, you can suggest choosing a profiled pipe with a cross-section of 60x40 mm or 50x50 mm. For the organization of the ribs of rigidity, the tube 20x30 mm or 30x40 mm is quite suitable. The elements of the carcass and the guide must be assembled in staggered order. After all, any door leaf will lead from heating.

Stage 5. Painting the frame is carried out immediately after the complete drying of the soil. An inexpensive and quite practical option is an ordinary alkyd enamel. To make the gate look richer, you need to apply at least 2 layers of paint. In this case, it is mandatory for each layer to dry completely at first. The choice of finishing material - the case is absolutely individual, you can use anything. Fasten the finishing material to the inner tubes, which are the ribs of the rigidity for the frame. You can use self-tapping screws or rivets for assembly.

Stage 6. Installation of sliding gates begins with installation on the "banquet" of rollers and filling them in the guide on the door leaf. After this, the gate is set strictly according to the level using a conventional bubble or laser device. Welding works begin with a tie to the channel of the lower roller trolleys. Then, the upper support and end rollers are welded, the lower and upper catchers to the support posts. In the end, they install all the automation and test the gate. If everything works properly, you can brag to your neighbors and start to be proud of yourself! The self-made gates will cost at least one and a half to two times cheaper than the "store" ones.

Automatic garage doors - basic information

As a rule, four types of gates are used for installation in garages: classic hinged, sectional folding, which can be lifted up using spring and guide systems, lifting and turning and roller shutters. You can independently manufacture the first three types of gates. The latter can not be made by an artisanal method, since they are made of a large number of lamellas, to produce and bond which are possible only on specialized industrial equipment.

Swing garage doors are constructed in the same way as external ones, only here there is no need to install additional supports, since the garage piers will perfectly cope with this role. For the manufacture of foldable sectional doors, you will need to purchase a large number of parts in the store that you can not manufacture yourself: guides, linens, loops, shafts, suspension springs, and much more. Therefore, such a gate is more advantageous to order in the finished version. This is not only more reliable, but also more economical.

The garage swing and swing gates consist of an external metal frame, one-piece door leaf and automation, which is designed to lift the fabric upwards, under the "ceiling".This is a fairly simple and very impressive gate. Unfortunately, their main disadvantage is too expensive automatics.

The independent manufacture of any type of gate requires a certain accuracy and ability to handle the tool. Do the automatic and electric drive to an ordinary person is beyond his power. Masters, who understand in electrical engineering and who are knowledgeable in mechanics, can try themselves to make drives and even automatic devices. To do this, they need detailed circuits of electromechanical structures.