What is this thing?

[Ststephen7]

Hey guys,

I've been helping an older guy get rid of some of the **** he has accumulated over the years, as he is losing some of his storage space. Most of it is stuff I'm selling locally, all well used stuff like wrenches, air tools, motors... I do have a Greenerd No 2 press for anyone local. Anyway...

I don't know that this question belongs in this section, and it seems like as good a place as any to start...

In one of the boxes I found this... And I have no idea what it is. Any thoughts?

Thank you in advance!
Steve

 

[HOTFR8]

Did you try Google Airpax Chesire Connecticut? Looks like some sort of step motor.

 

[Ststephen7]

Ha! I'm such a ***** sometimes. I assumed that whoever made it used Airpax motors, rather than thinking perhaps airpax made the thing.

I also just added a couple more pictures after looking at it again. One part rotates and has mirrors in it... Laser related? "airpax laser" search gave me nothing...

the other picture shows air inlet or outlet

 

[Super Mech]

If it has mirrors on it it may be some sort of camera/projector part.

 

[Super Mech]

Possibly something to do with the aviation industry also. What did the guy do for a living?

 

[Ststephen7]

My guy was a Farrier, and a collector of things... he collected things from other guys/auctions.

How might the air inlets/outlets/whatevertheyare play into it do you think?

 

[Platonic Solid]

Company, which is/was in my back yard, appears to be defunct - http://airpax.sensata.com/divested.html

 

[Norcal]

Company, which is/was in my back yard, appears to be defunct - http://airpax.sensata.com/divested.html

Seems to me that they divested and discontinued some products.

 

[Jinks]

Look here: www.parts-express.com/airpax-la82844-h-37v-stepper-motor-75-degree-step-325-ohms-coil--259-217

 

[Doc995]

Price scanner laser part?

 

[bluecomputer]

Some type of laser system component maybe. Could be for any number of laser applications.

 

[dogdog]

I don't think you guys should get too hung up on this airpax and pulse motor, it's just a component on that thing to make it run for what ever purpose...... not exactly what that thing is for....

maybe try look for some sort of part number in that thing ?

 

[JRC3]

Price scanner laser part?

That's a good guess.

 

[Lassen Forge]

I was thinking some sort of climate control plenum, using the stepper to control the valving inside, but that doesn't explain the mirrors or the small air lines... maybe an inspection station for some kind of assembly line that requires some kind of cooling to keep everything within micron-tolerances, and you need the other half as the detector to pick up the beam to find the flaws... and the computer system to tell you what it all means?

 

[fartymarty]

I thought maybe....

.....

......but no, not even close.

Perhaps an internal component from one of these?: http://www.stagelasers.com/product-category/rgb-laser-show-equipment

 

[930dreamer]

Part of a disco ball?

 

[walta]

My guess is it was a device for aiming a laser beam.
The motors move mirrors and the beam about 15° in any direction.

Walta

 

[slimpickins]

My guess is that it looks like it might be a high speed camera tracking device....
Doesn't explain the air inlets though.

https://www.theverge.com/2012/7/16/3161893/millisecond-motion-tracking-camera-ping-pong

 

[bdbecker]

...Doesn't explain the air inlets though.

Maybe the air inlets are for cleaning dust off the lenses/mirrors and not a part of the actual function of the unit?

 

[teamextreme]

Whatever it is, it probably cost a fortune to buy new.
I also thought it might be some type of automotive HVAC plenum control valve, but don't think they would have air line connections. I liked Doc's price scanner idea, but then realized they would use constantly spinning motors, not stepper motors. It probably goes on the space shuttle.