IKEA Fridans Motorisation

This is my own take on an IKEA Fridans Motorisation. I'd like to think it's the best one on here as it's invisible, it will happily turn the two metre long blind model from fully extended, and it runs off a peak power draw of 1.2 watts (which is when the motor is prevented from turning, it is much less when unobstructed). This low power requirement lets you run the blind entirely using an Olimex ESP32-PoE board using only PoE power, as peak total board power consumption is only 2.1 watts, well within the ESP32-PoE's supply limit.

This is a remix of https://github.com/AndBu/YAIFM which I forked into https://github.com/ned14/YAIFM. I took a subset of the original work by AndBu and extended that subset. AndBu's original STL files are prefixed with "YAIFM_*", those I modified or made new do not have the same prefix. Everything is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution, including AndBu's original work.

This motorisation works by 3D printing a replacement for the extending handle part in the original IKEA Fridans blind. The new insert for the blind tube lets you insert a metal cog cheaply available from Aliexpress. A GA12-N20 miniature geared DC motor with integrated rotary encoder gains a new 3D printed housing, and its end inserts into the metal cog. Finally, a new 3D printed compatible holding clip attaches the DC motor housing to the existing IKEA Fridans blind. As you can see from the photos, absolutely nothing changes from the outside - there are no new boxes, new attachments, switches on arms, or anything else apart from the wires connecting the DC motor. The only visible new thing is that the bottom of the blind gains extensions (as shown), these ensure that when the blind is fully opened they stop the motor turning. The extensions also double at preventing the weighted insert by IKEA at the bottom of the blind sliding out, which it tends to do over time.

To drive the motor wires, you will need to attach a DRV8833 motor controller between your ESP32 and the motor, and then run suitable software on the ESP32. I have an ESPHome software driver which can open and close the blind to an exact location. It can also determine what is fully open by slowly opening the blind until it stops turning, it does this after power loss to determine the base fully open position.

You can find a complete BOM at https://github.com/ned14/YAIFM. I reckon totalall in cost is between €30 and €40 inc VAT delivered per blind, including the blind and MCU, excluding only the 5v power supply.

You can find more detailed instructions at https://www.nedprod.com/Niall_stuff/vdiary/archives/1734888387.html if you need them.

Print Settings

Printer Brand:

Anycubic

Printer:

Yes

Supports:

0.2

Infill:

ABS

Filament Color:

Notes:

I used ABS bright white here to match the IKEA blind components. You could use PETG too, but it'll look too shiny compared to the IKEA white plastic. I would NOT recommend PLA for this, the hub and motor housing experience repeated torsion because we rely on the motor jamming to determine blind fully open. You will need a plastic suitable for repeated stress.