electricpete - Thanks for the explanation, I'm somewhat disappointed at my idea not being possible, but hey - I'll find another way... Again, would an energized coil within/upon the core aid in providing enough force to meet my goal or is this also overambitious?
Compositepro - No, I understand...
electricpete - Thanks for all of the info/wisdom... No, an MOV type device would not work for my particular application, though I am quite familiar with these. Overall, what I am understanding here is that what I have proposed is essentially an impossibility. That is fine, as this is why I'm...
electricpete - I follow you on this, however the formula given does not take inot account the permeability of the core material, air gap etc... Is this a commonly used approximation? I have run across this equation before, but found it of little use as I do not know how to calculate the flux...
Well from what I understand (I think...) the force exerted on the plunger is highest just before it is fully inserted/bottomed out in the solenoid. I don't think I need to iterate too many times to decipher the maximum force felt by the plunger given the particular materials, current, geometry...
desertfox - Thanks for the info, though I think that the first two links are in regards to a solenoid-type electromagnet (solenoid with a permanent core, used as a magnet to enact a force on external things). The first gives a force calc, but that is also for a permanent core solenoid...
Ok, new to the forum here - long time browser, first time poster... Anyhow - I'm an ME, so I'm not too familiar with magnetics, but I've been working on developing something and have hit a wall. All I'm trying to figure out is; just how 'powerful' can a solenoid realistically be made? By this I...