Linear Actuator remote location

[tenghensen]

Hey all, I am trying to build a scotch yoke system with multiple sliders positioned along a single rocker arm. The issue that I am running into is finding a good way to elongate my electric solenoid shaft.

I can get a solenoid that will give me more than enough stroke length to rotate the cranks where I need them, but I would like to hook up multiple cranks to this system and have it span about a 1.5 foot length. Any suggestions on a reliable way to attach a longer shaft to the end of a linear solenoid would be greatly appreciated.

I have thought about adhesives, threading both components, and clamping the longer rod on, but I have no idea which will hold up to loads the best and take the least amount of effort.

Thanks

 

[BrianE22]

Replace the existing shaft with a new, longer shaft?

 

[MikeHalloran]

Be aware that substantially increasing the solenoid plunger's mass will affect the solenoid's performance.

For a simple tubular solenoid, you don't need anything real fancy; low alloy steel, shaped like the OEM solenoid plunger, annealed and nickel plated, should be sufficient.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[itsmoked]

I hope this isn't an AC solenoid your using. If it is, make sure you realize it has a duty cycle. None will take continuous cycling.

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[MikeHalloran]

I should mention that solenoids don't normally do well, actuating multiple anythings, or holding against a load.
You haven't given enough detail to assess whether a solenoid actually is a good choice.
At some levels of mass, a number so far not in evidence, other alternatives exist, e.g. door lock motors.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[tenghensen]

I didn't know how complicated it would be to install a new shaft in the solenoid, so if it doesn't require much more than basic tools, that is a definite possibility.

@ itsmoked: I will be using an AC solenoid, but the duty cycle shouldn't be an issue. Thanks for the heads up on that though.

I also just looked into the car door lock actuators, and those seem like a pretty decent alternative. Any idea what sort of stroke length I can get out of a standard one? Also how well would they hold up to the load of an elongated shaft?

 

[itsmoked]

Don't make the solenoid body hold up the load. Fahgettabloutit. Support the shaft with an external bushing held in some sort of pillow block.

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[MikeHalloran]

The car door lock actuators are probably not going to like moving some big shaft with a bunch of selector forks. ... nor will any other kind of solenoid.

The door lock actuators are well adapted to running exactly one thing.
So use a bunch of them and forget the mechanical selector mechanism.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA