Automated Sliding Compartment Door

Looking for an electromechanical sliding door with general specs:

* Good for outdoor use
* About 10 x 10 cm
* Slides in a track up and down automatically when triggered via I/O
* Locked into place in the down (closed) position

If you can point me in the right direction, that would be awesome

Cheers,
Mike

That size is a bit large for a simple RC servo or solenoid to move. And you want it locked. I would suggest a small gearmotor with pinion gear on the output, engaging a rack on one edge of the door. Limit switches to indicate full open and closed, and an H-bridge to drive the motor both ways. You'd probably want a simple microcontroller to do the driving and monitor the switches.

Gearmotors can usually be found surplus at MPJA.com and H-bridge drivers at sparkfun.com

Or wow, maybe a gearmotor with leadscrew - this might fit what you need exactly: http://www.mpja.com/Leadscrew-Motor-Assembly/productinfo/17265 MD/

That item has a photo tach included that could be used to count the revs to determine position, and eliminate the need for limit switches.

Gary