Rotator News

Yesterday we had hoped to look at the final prototype for our motorcycle rotator. We have a few things left to weld, but the results are going to be great! We did complete final assembly of the motorized portion using a special electric motor with 230 lbs. of torque! This motor with transmission converts 5000 rpm down to only 4 with smooth rotation of any motorcycle. A speed control was added along with a footswitch for the photographer to control it. The innovation that was not quite complete was the division of the ramp to 3 pieces. This 9-foot long piece of steel weighs about 90 lbs. and was a bit unwieldy. The new sections will make it very easy to transport, even in a small SUV. The base is still somewhat large and heavy, but this is the source of stability. The 110 lb. "X" shaped foundation still fits in the back of a small SUV. The section has been cut and the connectors manufactured. Mike will be welding them into the ramp this week and final testing will take place. We are very excited by this new space and weight saving feature. The final decision to convert to aluminum for most parts was also made. This will reduce weight considerably both for transportation to shows and shipping to offices. The pitfall will be an increase in price as aluminum is selling quite high right now. The trade off is worth it. We are still evaluating the concept of powder-coating the primary structures. This will reduce paint touch-ups and scratches. It would add about $200 to the final cost, though. A short note on quality and price. While the final price of this unit is not yet determined, we are pretty sure it will be over $1,000... perhaps a lot over $1,000. All parts in this system are designed to last almost forever. We anticipate no part replacement for the life of the rotator. Both the welder-fabricator and the electrician have worked for Pratt-Witney on an array of projects ranging from jet engines to the space shuttle. While the initial investment in this device may seem high, the absence of wearable parts makes up for it. One of the goals was to create a device that is virtually maintenance free. This has been achieved. As the rotator stands now, the only item that would require maintenance would be the occasional paint touch-up.