Servo Elevator

The elevator hangs from a pulley, with a spinning wheel on the other end that tightens and loosens the string. A button press brings the elevator to the respective floor and a light goes on.

• Arduino RP2040
• servo motor
• 6 individual LEDs
• 6 buttons
• wood
• fishing line

Since the servo motor only rotates 180°, the distance the elevator travels must equal half the circumference of the wheel. Calculate the area of the wheel to allow for six floors that are about two inches high. Laser cut the wheel and sandwich it between two slightly larger circles to create rims for the spool of string. Hollow out the circles to reduce the weight. Use wood glue to assemble the wheel and hot glue it to a servo arm. Then screw it into the servo to secure it.

Laser cut the structure to house the elevator shaft and servo wheel. Engrave numbers to denote each floor. Screw two screw eyes into the top of the box to create the pulley system. String fishing line through the hooks and wind one end around the wheel, with the elevator hanging from the other end.

Cut a divider between the elevator shaft and the wheel. Cut a hole into the top of the divider for the fishing line to pass through. Cut a hole on each floor and insert a LED. Attach a ground and signal wire to the prongs of each LED. Use zip ties and tape to secure the LED wires so they do not tangle with the fishing line.

Secure the breadboard and servo to the box. Plug in servo and LED wires. Plug in six buttons and glue them to the front panel.

Create 3 lists for the buttons, lights and servo angles. Code for the press of a button to light the respective LED and turn the servo to the appropriate angle. Save the code on the CPB and replace computer cord with portable battery.