Motorization kit for sliding garage doors with RIB K500 motor for gates up to 500 kg and 300 cycles per day, which includes: S5060T control unit (integrated), 4m metal rack, 1 pair of photocells, 1 flashing light, and 3 PSD-36T remote controls. Included: mounting base and materials, limit switch brackets, release keys, and Greek installation instructions.

• For maximum gate leaf weight of 500kg
• Non-reversible, permanently lubricated mechanism
• Maximum number of consecutive cycles at 20°C: up to 25
• Up to 300 cycles per day.
• Single-phase motor (230 VAC)
• Mechanism dimensions: 274x245x267 mm (LxWxH)
• Gate leaf movement speed: 9.6 m/min
• Motor power consumption: 229 W
• Features a key for manual release
• Protection degree: IP54
• Gear type is Z12/module 4
• Metal rack module 4
• Country of origin: Italy

To order this product, please call us at 210.555.0632 or buy it online from our e-shop.

Contents of the RIB K500 (Kit-Complete S) set

RIB K500 Mechanism - Dimensions

Choosing a sliding garage door mechanism

• The weight of the sliding garage door. The RIB K500 mechanism is suitable for doors weighing up to 500kg.
• The frequency of door usage per day. The RIB K500 mechanism is suitable for up to 300 cycles per day.
• The frequency of door usage per hour. The RIB K500 mechanism is suitable for up to 25 cycles per hour.

The RIB K500 mechanism excels over the competition due to its ability to work intensively. Even large residential complexes during peak hours would hardly have more than 25 cycles per hour. (This corresponds to approximately one vehicle every two minutes). Also, 300 cycles per day are enough, so a sliding garage door would hardly exceed them.

Finally, the 500kg door capacity covers most door cases, as an average iron gate weighs 50-60 kg/m. The point that requires special attention is that the door should operate smoothly in manual mode. This means that we test the door's rolling without a mechanism or with the mechanism in manual operation. If the door does not operate smoothly, it must be repaired. Otherwise, it will cause problems to the mechanism and malfunctions will occur. 

Sliding Garage Door - Checks Before Mechanism Installation

The most basic check that must be done even before ordering the mechanism is to check if the door operates smoothly by hand. We open and close the door at a steady speed, approximately the same speed it would have with the mechanism. If at any point the movement shows difficulty, there is a jolt, etc., the door must be repaired before the mechanism is installed.

The checks that must be done in detail are:

• If the track is straight without bends, dents, or rust. It must also be properly secured to the ground.
• The door's wheels must be in good condition. They should not show signs of deformation or rust. Their rolling must be trouble-free.
• Just before the door's closed position, we check its oscillation. If it moves vigorously back and forth, we must intervene and repair the door. Possible repair points are the door's construction material (excessively flexible), the position where the rollers are placed (they have a large gap with the door), or the roller support point is quite flexible.
• The door must enter smoothly into the receptacle at the closed position. It must "lock" so that it is not easy to lift it with a crowbar.
• The open and closed positions of the door must be defined by mechanical stops. Under no circumstances should the gate leaf be free to pass the closed or open position.

Typical sliding garage door arrangement with mechanism

 In the sketch above, we observe a typical arrangement of a sliding garage door with a mechanism. Obviously, the main element of the construction is the door leaf, which can be made of aluminum, metal, or wood. A basic prerequisite is that it must be sturdy and rigid enough to be able to move, while only resting on the wheels and rollers, without oscillating excessively.

The door must have mechanical stops to define the closed and open positions. The mechanical stops define the door's travel. 

The rollers are placed at such a point that they are in contact with the door leaf throughout its entire travel (from the fully open to the fully closed position). Essentially, the rollers keep the door perpendicular to the ground. A basic prerequisite is that they do not hinder the door's movement.

The door rests on the wheels, which allow it to move. The movement takes place on the rail, which has a shape that allows it to work perfectly with the wheels. The wheels must be in good condition without signs of deformation or rust. The rail must be properly secured to the ground, be straight, and not show bumps or deformations.

The motor is also placed in a position so that it is always in contact with the door. The movement is transmitted to the door by the motor's gear. The rack, which is a toothed bar, is placed on the door. The rack is the point of contact between the door and the motor, through which the movement is transmitted. 

Photocells are the most important accessory of a sliding garage door with a mechanism. They prevent accidents and protect both users and their vehicles. They are placed in the door opening and prevent the sliding door from closing when there is an obstacle in its path. 

Another accessory for a sliding garage door (not shown in the sketch) is the warning light. It is placed in a prominent position to warn passing vehicles and pedestrians that the garage door is in operation. It is a particularly useful device when the garage door is adjacent to a busy road or when visibility is not optimal. 

Installation of RIB K500 sliding mechanism

 The RIB K500 sliding garage door mechanism must be installed according to the heights and distance from the door defined in the figure below.

The rack spacers usually allow fine adjustments of about 0.5cm. In case the door is empty without any support point at the height where the rack needs to be installed, we have two options. Either reinforce the door at that point or change the installation height of the mechanism (with a base) to reach the point where the rack can be installed.

In addition to the above limits for the installation of the mechanism, we must take into account that:

• it should not be placed in an area where water accumulates. If there is such a suspicion, a base should be created so that the motor is higher.
• the door leaf should be about 40cm longer than the opening to allow the motor to be placed outside the opening. Otherwise, there is a risk of the motor being hit by a passing vehicle.
• the base must be placed on a stable surface. If there is no such surface (e.g., a reinforced concrete slab), a concrete base should be created.

Next, we define the position of the accessories. If there are photocells, a flashing light, etc., we define their position and then proceed with the wiring. There will be a detailed chapter below on wiring. We simply mention that it should be done by a professional electrician and with adherence to all safety rules.

When installing the base, we check that it is perfectly parallel to the door. We also check with a spirit level that it is perfectly horizontal. The large hole in the base is for the passage of cables. The base is installed with plugs (metal anchors) in the reinforced concrete.

Next, we remove the mechanism cover. To remove it, unscrew the corresponding screws. We secure the mechanism to the two screws protruding from the base. We place it on the base and tighten the screws.

To operate the mechanism manually, lift the flap, insert the key into the lock, and turn it counter-clockwise as many turns as needed until the key stops. In this position, the motor has been disengaged, and we leave it in this state until the rack installation is complete.

Point of caution: Before welding, disconnect the terminals from the control panel.

The metal rack consists of one-meter pieces. Each piece has three holes (oval shaped) into which the spacers are placed. 

It is advisable to screw the spacers in the middle of the holes so that micro-adjustments can be made later if needed. As can be seen in the figure above, there is the wide side of the spacer (flange) which is welded onto the door. The main point of attention during the installation of the rack is the small gap that must exist between the gear and the rack. 

 This gap helps the door operate correctly. If it doesn't exist, the motor is forced to carry the door, and at some point, it will inevitably tire out and break down. If the gap is too large, the gear might "kick" and the door's movement might not be smooth. In both cases, there's a possibility of a problem occurring with either the door or the motor. 

 The correct gap is approximately 1.5 mm. To achieve this, we can place the mechanism on a surface of this thickness and proceed with the installation of the rack in contact with the gear. Then, after removing this surface, the motor will descend by 1.5mm, thus providing the necessary gap.

 During the installation of the rack, we must not weld the pieces of the rack together and we must maintain its pitch. Also, the rack must not be welded to the spacers. The following figure shows exactly the procedure that must be followed.

We also need to ensure that the gear engages with the rack throughout its entire travel. If necessary, we can loosen the mechanism's mounting and move it perpendicular to the door leaf to achieve the correct position. 

The necessary check for the correct installation of the rack is performed by opening and closing the door at a steady speed. If the door moves smoothly without jerks, noises, etc., then the rack installation is correct. Then we can tighten the screws of the spacers as well as the mounting screws of the motor.

Point of attention: Before operating the mechanism electrically, we must first confirm the opening direction (it must be correct) and install the limit switches.

Next, the limit switches included in the mechanism kit are installed. Under no circumstances should makeshift limit switches be used or their shape modified, as this will cause the mechanism to malfunction. The limit switches are positioned so as to activate the mechanism's limit switches. This is done by pushing the spring-loaded plunger of the mechanism in one direction or the other. Special care is required so that the door stops 2cm before the final position, both in the open and closed positions. This way, the door will not hit any of the fixed points at the end of its travel.