Automatic gates: the pros and cons of automated systems

Automatic gates are gradually replacing conventional designs from leading positions. Every year the number of people who want to become owners of automatic gates on their sites increases. If you are also among those who wish, it will not be superfluous to get acquainted in advance not only with the features of the automatic gates, but also with their pros and cons.

Like any other gate, these automated systems have their own characteristics, the most important of which is the way they are opened and closed. As is already clear from the very term “automatic gate”, such systems are opened remotely, without any physical effort from the person.The second feature lies in the unique and reliable electric drive, thanks to which the automatic opening and closing of the door leaf occurs. Its unique design provides the owner of such a gate with safe and long-term use.

Many experts also consider a wide range of models and types of automatic gates as one of the main advantages. Today, sliding, garage, technical and fire automatic gates are on sale. This range allows each customer to choose the perfect automatic gate for any occasion. The automatic or drive for work is established either by the manufacturer independently, or after direct communication with the customer. No less important feature and one of the main advantages over conventional opening and closing systems is a presentable, unique appearance. The design of automatic door panels is so unique that it can not spoil any landscape design. On the contrary, he can only emphasize his sophistication and refined style.

Automatic gates are usually steel.It is this material of their manufacture that allows them to provide both a presentable appearance and a long service life. Another feature lies in the fact that such gates can be opened or closed in several ways. There are universal models for which the setting of two or more ways is available, and there are standard models of automatic gates that can be opened or closed only in one way. In addition to these important features, automatic gates have their pros and cons.

The main advantages of various types of automatic gates are:

• relatively low price. Due to the fact that products are now produced by manufacturers from different countries, their range of prices is quite extensive, which allows almost every person to acquire the necessary automation for themselves.
• The control of such automation is simple and does not require any special skills and knowledge.
• The opening of the gate, as well as its closing, is carried out without the use of physical force of a person.
• The heat conductivity of these canvases is extremely low.

• Automatic gates are considered the most protected from hacking.
• Virtually every canvas allows you to embed a gate with locks.
• A wide range of models.
• The possibility of choosing a system of opening and closing the gate.
• During operation, such systems do not take up extra space and do not clutter up the space around them, which is especially important for small areas and premises.

Among the disadvantages are the following features:

• if such a fence was made of aluminum, then with strong wind it can bend.
• In the presence of a small free space in front and behind the gate or in its absence, it is not always possible to establish a specific type of automatic gate.
• Since the electric drive is installed on such fences, it will be impossible to open them automatically if there is no electricity. Therefore, you need to worry in advance about the function of manually opening such gates.

There are a lot of varieties of such design, all of them can be of two types: with a wicket, built into the door leaf itself, or without it.

Today, experts identify the following types of automatic gates:

• Swing. This is the most famous and popular form of such fencing. It works on the same principle as a regular gate, that is, the door leaves open outwards. The disadvantage is the need to free up a large space for the operation of such a product. Such a fence refers to the type of cold, while the automatic swing fence is considered one of the easiest to install, the least expensive.

• Tilt and Turn Gate slightly more difficult to install, but also fall into the category of low-cost structures. With proper installation and choice of canvas such a design is the most warm and comfortable. In the unfolded form, the direct canvas simply rises to the ceiling with a special mechanism and is fixed in its upper part.

There are five options for lifting:

• high suitable for weights weighing up to 890 kg;
• low pprednaznachen for paintings weighing up to 800 kg;
• standard - for paintings having a weight of up to 870 kg;
• vertical lift is suitable for cover plates of more than half a meter;
• inclined lift is designed for a lintel with a height from 350 mm to 500 mm.

• Sectional designs are a kind of lifting and turning products. They consist of separate sections that are interconnected. When lifting such gates, the sections are pressed against each other and are folded with an accordion, which is placed by a lifting mechanism in a special box. Available on the market in two versions: warm and cold. Have an aesthetic appearance, do not occupy too much space. The only disadvantage that such folding models have is in the low degree of protection against unauthorized entry.

• Rolled automatic opening barriers are wound with a drive on a special drum located at the top of the stitching. The pros and cons are the same as the sectional models. Such designs are convenient and durable to use, of high quality, but they are often cheaper than overhead and sectional doors.

• Sliding or sliding automatic designs open, moving to the side. They do not take up much space, you can build a gate in them, they are distinguished by reliable protection against burglary, they are classified as warm.Such fences are classified as cold, they are easiest to make with your own hands, they serve without problems for a very long time.

They can be of three types:

• Cantilever, that is, transmitting the main load bearing beam. Depending on the manufacturer, it may be located at the top, bottom or in the middle of the structure. It is inside of it that the balls are installed, along which the canvas slides and smoothly shifts to the side;
• Suspended structures have a carrier beam with rollers in the upper part. Such gates are suspended on it, move during work exactly along the guide beam;
• Roll back on rails. In this case, special rails are installed in the upper and lower beams, and the portal leaf is shifted along them on special rollers built into the lower part of the canvas.

All types of automatic fencing are not only equipped with electric drive, but must also have a special function that allows you to open them manually. Most models are equipped with this feature even at the factory. If not, then experts can add it.

At the very beginning of the article it was said that the automatic gates open and close without physical effort.Now it's time to consider this process in more detail.

Such doors can open and close in three ways, depending on the installed drive:

• Linear automatic drive is considered the most reliable and most popular. This type of control can be installed on the gate of any kind, ideal for the garden, office, warehouse and private house.

• Lever-type control is characterized by less resistance to negative factors, suitable only for private use.
• An underground control system also exists, but it is considered unprofitable and inconvenient. This is due to the difficult opening and closing of the gate in winter, with costly maintenance and installation.

The most profitable, reasonable and beneficial to choose a linear type of control.

With his choice of manipulation with automatic fencing, can be performed using:

• Remote control by pressing the corresponding button.
• Magnetic card. The card must be attached or inserted into a special terminal.
• Electronic key that must be attached to a special sensor.
• Special code that must be typed on the code panel.
• The lock switch, which in fact is the usual lock, opening or closing which, you can bring the whole mechanism into action.

There is one more modern way of management: through a special mobile application. Choosing this method, you should carefully monitor that the gadget was always charged. Such a large variety of types of automatic gates and types of their control allows everyone to choose for themselves the ideal option of fencing and the type of its control.

Each type of automatic gate has its own unique scheme of work, which depends on the type and method of control, but all models have a general principle of operation. The operation of the entire mechanism begins after the system has received a signal to open or close the door: either the signal was received stationary via a code, magnetic card or remote control to the central control unit, or the remote control transmitted the necessary information. In extreme cases, you can use the built-in intercom, which is equipped with earlier designs.

After that, the main motor automatically turns on and drives the drive. Due to this, the gates, depending on their type, begin to open independently. And at this moment it is very important to remember the rules for the operation of such fences. If the gate is swinging, you need to remember to leave enough space for their disclosure. Special closers will adjust the speed and intensity of the opening of the gate, so do not hurry and call in too quickly. In many models, simultaneously with the opening of the door leaf, the special illumination of the gate itself and the garage room is turned on, which is convenient for the car owner.

Automatic gates, with all their advantages and amenities, have one rather significant disadvantage, namely, high cost, and the more famous the brand that produces such a fence, the more expensive its product will be. You can make such a gate and do it yourself for personal needs. Deciding to make an automatic gate with his own hand, it is worthwhile to give preference to the simplest, but at the same time reliable construction.That is why the step-by-step creation of the fence of the simplest type, namely the recoil model, will be described here.

First of all, it is connected with the convenience of further exploitation of such gates. Also, if necessary, doors can be installed in them, if necessary. It is the best of all to establish such self-made gate to itself to the yard, to the private house or on the dacha.

Before proceeding to the direct manufacture of automatic gates, it is necessary to purchase a special set of fittings, which will consist of:

• rubber plugs;
• upper support rollers;
• rolling rollers;
• guide profile;
• roller carriages;
• two traps.

The subsequent stages of work will look like this:

• It is necessary to determine the size of the gate. It is worth remembering that this parameter will be the key when buying accessories.
• Installation of support pillars with their deepening not less than 100 cm in the ground. It is best to choose steel pipe, concrete or brick pillars as a support. Under the bottom of the support is necessary to put a special pillow made of rubble. The pillar itself must be filled with concrete.

• Now you need to lay the foundation of the whole structure. This stage requires a particularly careful approach, because there will be laid a channel for the roller of the gate, and that the foundation will be the support of the whole structure.

Creating a foundation involves several steps:

• Digging and arrangement of the pit. The ratio of width and depth - 100x45 cm. The length of the pit should be equal to half the length of the door leaf.
• Of the channel width of 20 cm and fittings with a cross section of 12 is made of the bench in the shape of the letter "P". To this end, the reinforcement is cut into pieces with a length of 1 m, welded to the channel bar.
• Now the bench is installed and poured with concrete.

These are the main stages of preparation. After pouring concrete into the bench, the whole structure must be allowed to completely harden for at least 3 days. Only after this time, you can proceed to the further manufacture of the structure.

You can make the street gate directly:

• Making a support frame from a steel pipe. It is necessary to cut the lengths of the length of the pipe, clean them of grease and rust, then join them together by welding. After that, clean the seams, prime and paint the entire structure.

• Now it is necessary to sew the canvases into the frame. You can take those that were implemented in the kit, and you can cut them yourself from the most suitable material. It is better to give preference to steel sheets or aluminum profiles with steel reinforcement.
• Painting and primer gate. First, you need to carefully prime the entire structure, let it dry thoroughly, and then apply paint on top. It is better to use alkyd solutions that are applied in at least two layers.
• It is best of all to make fastening of cloths to a frame with special rivets or self-tapping screws.

The final stage of installation of automatic gates consists of several actions:

• The rollers are installed in the bench and refuel in the carrier beam.
• Gate leaf is set perfectly evenly in level.
• By means of welding roller carts fasten to a channel.
• Catchers are welded to support posts.
• Now you need to install automation. It is purchased in advance in the same place as the fittings for the gate. It is better to immediately worry about acquiring a quality engine and drive, because then it will be difficult to reprogram the entire system.Sometimes automation is already complete with fittings.

The final stage will be testing. If all stages of the work were carried out correctly and without haste, then self-made automatic gates should work without complaints.

Buy high-quality accessories for self-manufacturing of automatic gates or the ready-made gates themselves today can be from many manufacturers.

To purchase a quality product, first of all, it is better to pay attention to the products of the following manufacturers:

• Nice - is a brand that is widely popular not only in Russia, but also in other countries of the world. The range includes both automatic fences of all kinds, as well as sets of accessories for their own creation, automation of various types and other related products. The products of this company are valued for the highest quality and reasonable prices.

• Alutech - this is a combined brand that includes manufacturers from more than 5 countries. The creators of the company themselves position themselves as German manufacturers. The production is constantly introducing the most innovative technologies, which allows us to manufacture automatic gates of the new generation.All products are certified, have a unique design and excellent technical parameters.

• Came - This is an Italian brand. Just like other manufacturers, its range includes all types of automatic gates, as well as accessories of various types. In addition, it is the automation of the gate of this manufacturer that, if necessary, can be connected with the automation of other items at home, creating a “smart garage” on its own.
• Hörmann - Another manufacturer that deserves the attention of buyers to their products. In addition to the sets of accessories and finished automatic fences, the range includes drives and motors, control systems of various types. All products are safe and high quality.

If you want to be sure of the high quality of automatic fences purchased or manufactured independently, then the range of products of these brands should be studied first.

In the course of operation, sooner or later, you may encounter some problems, and recommendations of specialists will help to avoid them or quickly resolve them yourself. Should always rememberthat the automation of such structures should be carried out in strict accordance with the instructions. If you doubt your abilities, it is better to entrust its implementation to professionals. Otherwise, in case of detection of faults in warranty repair or replacement will be refused.

The fence on which such gates will be installed, and which will be their continuation, must also be made of durable materials. Part of the load of the gate structure will be transferred to him, so it must be durable and stable. Grease should be used regularly.

Blind on the gate from the inside of the garage will protect them from pollution, increase their thermal conductivity. You should choose curtains from dense materials, preferably the same production as the design itself. In order for the automation not to jam, you regularly need to monitor the health of the remote control parts, and install a separate transformer on the automation itself.It will allow the system to work properly even with strong power outages and voltage drops.

Be sure to install a system of manual opening of the gate on each, even a very expensive object. You can make this opportunity hidden, but it must be. As experts say, having this feature can save you one day from being called by a late night master. For the most part, with proper installation and compliance with the rules of operation, there should be no faults and shortcomings in the operation of such automated systems. If they still arose, it is better to seek the help of qualified professionals.

The fact that automatic gates are really comfortable, aesthetic and popular are also confirmed by the reviews of their owners. According to most of them, such constructions not only make life much easier, but also allow to reliably protect the territory and premises from illegal entry, help save space and may even become the main decoration of the territory. The owners of such fences are particularly positive about their functionality,serviceable and durable work, especially in cases when it comes to manufacturers' products from the above list. Based on this information, we can safely say that in the coming decades, automatic gates can completely push their predecessors out of the market.

For information on how to remake a simple gate into automatic do-it-yourself, see the next video.