Power sliding window..again

Hey guys, it's been awhile since I've checked in on this, but did the power sliding rear window kit ever get sorted? I'm working on a 3d printed version for my 2013 DC but don't want to reinvent the wheel if it's been done and my google-fu just sucks.

 

I put one in the Tundra, works great, IM sure they have them for the Tacoma as well. The brand was called power slider if I remember correctly.

 

Subd

 

This would be great. Too much of a pain to manually open the rear window. I almost wish it was just a solid pane of glass if there is no auto option.

 

Found a member on here, that was selling one of BenWa's old kits that he was selling a long time ago. Was lucky to find and unopened uninstalled unit. Love being able to open and close my DC rear slider while driving.

 

Im actually doing some research to maybe get a kit going. Going tomorrow and trying to find a regulator and see if it will fit above the head liner. I know my 13 dc has a cubby with cutouts and all above it so maybe if i can find a setup that fits ill do a kit. Wanting the same option as alot on here want.

 

$800 is a bit much and while I love the regulator idea, I'm just going to keep hacking on this rack and pinion idea I have. So if anyone is interested, here is my github project where I'm putting all the 3d printer STL files and the arduino code. The idea is to create what essentially will work like a linear actuator but using a rack and pinion setup where the window becomes the rack. So far I have the ibeam style rack, a servo mounted pinion and by the end of the evening I should have the rest of the assembly to hold everything together. Next steps are mounting up micro switch endstops inside the rack guides, doing some really basic arduino work to accommodate the servo and finding some adhesive that will stick to nylon. This should require no (scratch that, change to little) modification or drilling into the truck as the whole assembly will be held in place by the cab trim and all of the torque is absorbed by the casing. It might work, might not. Either way everything is out there for anyone to contribute to, it's licensed under an MIT open source license. Here's hoping

 

post up some pics man i have no clue what to do with all that hahah

 

Sure, here is what I got done tonight. These are early pictures, but things are coming along nicely.
This is where the mechanism will sit. It's below the seat line so you can't see it when the rear seats are up.
This is a cut away print of what the drive mechanism does. It's just a standard 40x20 servo that has been modified for continuous rotation connected to a housing that doubles as a guide and captive for the ibeam style rack gear.
And this is my whiteboard tacoma, just showing you again where it sits and how it works.

My testing came out with a few interesting bits.
The hobby servos have plenty of torque to open the window

You have to disable the locking latch for this to work. While the rack and pinion do a good job of keeping the window closed, if someone wanted to force it they could just push until the gears skipped or the adhesive came off the glass.

I'm testing with PLA plastic because it's cheap, but the real deal will have to be in Nylon just due to the heat in your vehicle being high enough to melt PLA.

 

Nice design.

 

Subd

 

Subd

 

Seems to be a much more elegant and simple design than the others I've seen. Keep us posted! Subd

 

$29 E-Z Reacher Pick Up Tool - 32"

Here you go

Just have to get Mom's away from her.

 

Subd

 

Don't forget the access cab crowd. We can't reach from inside (in a seated position) either. But I don't thing there will be any 'hiding' for us. Which may or may not matter, just a reminder.

Sweet. Make sure it's easy disassembly to replace a failed motor, and you'll be a hero with the DIY repair crowd.

Lots of us secure the window by dropping something in the channel to keep it from sliding. Aluminum tube, dowel, etc. Maybe include something like that in your kit. Yes, the object would need to be removed for the unit to work, but when traveling that's a one time deal, and you can open/close adjust, and resecure if stopped somewhere for the evening that you feel the need.

Consider aluminum or other lightweight metal? Price goes up too much? Powder coated black would make it blend in visually better, both from outside and inside (for Access cabs again). Maybe black nylon? I'd have my tint guy hit the back glass with limo level stuff, and you'd never see it from outside.

Looking forward to your next steps!

 

Just to be transparent, my intent here is to make something that works for my 2013 DC, keep the whole thing open source and let anyone do whatever they want to with it. Hopefully improve on the design and then share those improvements out so we can all benefit . I'm not really interested in making kits or selling anything or supporting a bunch of different models, but I am building with easy modification in mind. I'm more than happy to make changes to the STL files though if someone finds out that it won't work in their truck and wants to send me measurements on how to make it work. To make your own, you're just going to need access to a 3d printer (shapeways.com will work), a continuous rotation servo (Amazon, $19) and an arduino ($9 just about anywhere). Hope that doesn't sound too stingy or selfish, I'm just scratching my own itch here and putting it out in the open so you guys can scratch too.

 

Very awesome! I'd definitely be interested in seeing what you come up with and I love the open source route.

I've got an idea about a locking mechanism I'm going to mock up. Just saw your Github link!

 

Sure do, I'm working out of github and everything is going up there. The project is just called TacomaWindow and all of the stl, scad and gcode files are there. Arduino code will be up once I get to that point.

 

The locking mech in the tacoma is junk. I broke into my truck in about two hits to the back glass while pushing, if that makes sense.

The style of the way your doing it scratch the small servo set up would free spin when no power is being sent to turn it. just a idea

I am going to get a regulator that i found on dormans website after a few hours of searching through so many regulators i think i found one.and would be pretty much hidden. I need to still figure out how im going to attach the cables to the glass but think i have found the way to do it. just have to do some more messing with it.

this regulator is out of a 08 f150 pictured below and the one im looking at is offset with both cables coming out of the same side so that i can mount the motor between the back panels.