Rotary Drive Module for Fountain Ornament - 21/10/2025 19:23 EDT
Budget: $250 – $750 AUD
1. Project Overview
This module provides a sealed, maintenance-free rotary drive and fluid passthrough for a 200 mm (dia) water-fountain ornament.
The contractor is to design a compact, injection-moulded rotary drive module to rotate an outdoor ornamental fountain section.
The assembly must house a motor and gearbox, integrate a fully sealed turntable bearing, support bidirectional rotation of a central passthrough tube, and use food-safe materials compatible with neutral-pH water. The design must be robust, modular, and maintenance-free for 3–5 years of continuous outdoor operation.
(Reference components; NEMA 17 stepper motor with a 50:1 planetary gearbox, a 200 mm Lazy Susan bearing, and a 22–25 mm rotating PVC tube)
The unit sits atop a connected water tank and circulates up to 1500 L/h of neutral-pH water.
Please see appendix A for current prototype design and notes to assist with the below.
2. Objectives
• Deliver a robust, sealed housing that encloses motor, gearbox, coupler, and bearing
• Enable bidirectional rotation of the ornament and central tube
• Facilitate continuous water circulation without external tubing
• Provide a sealed, serviceable electronics compartment (minimum 60 × 60 × 80 mm)
• Interface directly with a 30 L water tank beneath, preventing leaks
• Provide CAD files suitable for prototyping and injection-mould tooling
• Allow for three (3) rounds of critical review and revisions before final acceptance.
3. Functional Requirements
• Fully enclose motor, planetary gearbox, shaft coupler, and bearing assembly in a sealed housing
• Support bidirectional rotation of the upper ornament and central 25 mm-OD passthrough tube
• Provide unobstructed, sealed cable entries for power and encoder feedback
• Include a sealed electronics compartment sized 60 × 60 × 80 mm, with removable cover and cable glands
• Accommodate a static vertical load ≥ 20 kg with a safety factor ≥ 1.5
• Deliver output-shaft torque of 3.5–4.0 N·m under full-load conditions
• Isolate vibration from motor, flow, and electronics to minimize noise and wear
4. Hydraulic Throughput Requirements
• Expected flow rate through the rotating 22–25 mm passthrough tube: ≈ 1500 L/h
• Internal bore and fittings sized to achieve this flow with minimal pressure drop
• Tube concentricity maintained under flow-induced vibration
• Gravity-fed, self-draining return path with no stagnant zones
• Prevent overflow, splashing, or siphoning during operation or shutdown
5. Water-Tank Interface
• A 30 L water tank connects directly beneath the rotary module
• Module flange or collar mates to the tank lid or top surface via a gasketed seal
• Rotating PVC passthrough tube extends into the tank without obstructing inflow or causing splash-back
• Structural design accounts for combined weight of module, ornament, and full 30 L water load (~ 50 kg)
• Vibration isolation between module and tank chassis
6. Mechanical & Structural Requirements
• Lazy Susan bearing (Ø 200 mm) must be fully sealed against water ingress
• 25 mm-OD shaft passage concentric to ± 0.1 mm to avoid binding
• Housing material compatible with injection moulding (e.g., glass-filled nylon)
• Sealed electronics compartment:
• Internal free volume of ≥ 60 × 60 × 80 mm
• IP67-rated removable cover with flat gasket seal
• Four cable glands positioned on sidewall, compatible with 4–6 mm cables
• Mounting bosses and standoffs inside for PCB attachment
• Fasteners and shaft coupler designed for tool-free assembly/disassembly
• All wetted metal parts stainless steel (316L) or equivalent
7. Sealing & Materials
• All seals rated for continuous water immersion (IP68 or better)
• Electronics compartment seal rated IP67
• Food-grade elastomer gaskets resistant to pH 6–8 water
• Housing wall thickness ≥ 3 mm for rigidity and moulding consistency
• O-ring grooves per AS568A standard dimensions
• Internal surfaces polished or coated to minimize biofilm adhesion
8. Deliverables
1. Fully annotated SolidWorks 2023 assembly and part files, including electronics enclosure
2. 2D drawings with GD&T callouts, injection-moulding notes, and material specs
3. Bill of materials with exact vendor part numbers (bearings, stepper, seals, cable glands)
4. Interface sketch for 30 L tank-lid integration (flange, gasket, screw pattern)
5. A brief validation report on hydraulic pressure drop at 1500 L/h
9. Next Steps (OUT OF SCOPE)
• Confirm pump head and operating pressure range
• Finalize tank-lid flange dimensions or mounting pattern for 30 L tank
• Select specific seal and cable-gland vendors and verify gland dimensions
• Review draft CAD and drawings for supplier feedback
This module provides a sealed, maintenance-free rotary drive and fluid passthrough for a 200 mm (dia) water-fountain ornament.
The contractor is to design a compact, injection-moulded rotary drive module to rotate an outdoor ornamental fountain section.
The assembly must house a motor and gearbox, integrate a fully sealed turntable bearing, support bidirectional rotation of a central passthrough tube, and use food-safe materials compatible with neutral-pH water. The design must be robust, modular, and maintenance-free for 3–5 years of continuous outdoor operation.
(Reference components; NEMA 17 stepper motor with a 50:1 planetary gearbox, a 200 mm Lazy Susan bearing, and a 22–25 mm rotating PVC tube)
The unit sits atop a connected water tank and circulates up to 1500 L/h of neutral-pH water.
Please see appendix A for current prototype design and notes to assist with the below.
2. Objectives
• Deliver a robust, sealed housing that encloses motor, gearbox, coupler, and bearing
• Enable bidirectional rotation of the ornament and central tube
• Facilitate continuous water circulation without external tubing
• Provide a sealed, serviceable electronics compartment (minimum 60 × 60 × 80 mm)
• Interface directly with a 30 L water tank beneath, preventing leaks
• Provide CAD files suitable for prototyping and injection-mould tooling
• Allow for three (3) rounds of critical review and revisions before final acceptance.
3. Functional Requirements
• Fully enclose motor, planetary gearbox, shaft coupler, and bearing assembly in a sealed housing
• Support bidirectional rotation of the upper ornament and central 25 mm-OD passthrough tube
• Provide unobstructed, sealed cable entries for power and encoder feedback
• Include a sealed electronics compartment sized 60 × 60 × 80 mm, with removable cover and cable glands
• Accommodate a static vertical load ≥ 20 kg with a safety factor ≥ 1.5
• Deliver output-shaft torque of 3.5–4.0 N·m under full-load conditions
• Isolate vibration from motor, flow, and electronics to minimize noise and wear
4. Hydraulic Throughput Requirements
• Expected flow rate through the rotating 22–25 mm passthrough tube: ≈ 1500 L/h
• Internal bore and fittings sized to achieve this flow with minimal pressure drop
• Tube concentricity maintained under flow-induced vibration
• Gravity-fed, self-draining return path with no stagnant zones
• Prevent overflow, splashing, or siphoning during operation or shutdown
5. Water-Tank Interface
• A 30 L water tank connects directly beneath the rotary module
• Module flange or collar mates to the tank lid or top surface via a gasketed seal
• Rotating PVC passthrough tube extends into the tank without obstructing inflow or causing splash-back
• Structural design accounts for combined weight of module, ornament, and full 30 L water load (~ 50 kg)
• Vibration isolation between module and tank chassis
6. Mechanical & Structural Requirements
• Lazy Susan bearing (Ø 200 mm) must be fully sealed against water ingress
• 25 mm-OD shaft passage concentric to ± 0.1 mm to avoid binding
• Housing material compatible with injection moulding (e.g., glass-filled nylon)
• Sealed electronics compartment:
• Internal free volume of ≥ 60 × 60 × 80 mm
• IP67-rated removable cover with flat gasket seal
• Four cable glands positioned on sidewall, compatible with 4–6 mm cables
• Mounting bosses and standoffs inside for PCB attachment
• Fasteners and shaft coupler designed for tool-free assembly/disassembly
• All wetted metal parts stainless steel (316L) or equivalent
7. Sealing & Materials
• All seals rated for continuous water immersion (IP68 or better)
• Electronics compartment seal rated IP67
• Food-grade elastomer gaskets resistant to pH 6–8 water
• Housing wall thickness ≥ 3 mm for rigidity and moulding consistency
• O-ring grooves per AS568A standard dimensions
• Internal surfaces polished or coated to minimize biofilm adhesion
8. Deliverables
1. Fully annotated SolidWorks 2023 assembly and part files, including electronics enclosure
2. 2D drawings with GD&T callouts, injection-moulding notes, and material specs
3. Bill of materials with exact vendor part numbers (bearings, stepper, seals, cable glands)
4. Interface sketch for 30 L tank-lid integration (flange, gasket, screw pattern)
5. A brief validation report on hydraulic pressure drop at 1500 L/h
9. Next Steps (OUT OF SCOPE)
• Confirm pump head and operating pressure range
• Finalize tank-lid flange dimensions or mounting pattern for 30 L tank
• Select specific seal and cable-gland vendors and verify gland dimensions
• Review draft CAD and drawings for supplier feedback