Uses for an old solenoid

[Gun Freak]

I have an old solenoid from an Orbit sprinkler valve, I was wondering if anybody ever put one to any good uses? I was thinking to make it push the button of my homemade DCV but then realized that it is too weak and the little bar thingy doesn't move far enough. Then came the idea to use one on a semi-auto in place of the air cylinder, but then again, the stroke is too short. Ideas?

[irisher]

I used one of my old ones as the trigger to a catapult.

[Gun Freak]

Haha cool. See I'm the one to never throw things out and eventually use them for something in which they work perfectly

[kydavies]

ya i used my old solinoid to for a magnetic pick up attachment for my little brothers crane

[Technician1002]

With a magnet on it they work as a target contact microphone for magnetic (soundcard) chronographs.

[covey12]

i shot it out of my 1in. cannon and it was brutal ammo

[Gun Freak]

Haha cool, maybe I'll chuck a 1" barrel onto my 2" piston valve and see the damage

[spikerbond]

i have been thinking about using one in a mini coaxial as the piston that seals the barrel, that way you dont lose any air to a pilot chamber

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

i have been thinking about using one in a mini coaxial as the piston that seals the barrel, that way you dont lose any air to a pilot chamber

Something like this? It would work, the solenoid needs to be strong enough to pull away from the breech though. Once it does however, no more differential pressure keeping it shut so opening time should be excellent.

For a 6mm barrel at say 150 psi, the solenoid would need to pull around 6.5 lbs.

Hmm, for a 1mm barrel at 800 psi the force is less than 1 lb...

[Gun Freak]

Alright Jack, you normally build everything first so why stop here
Also, you think there is a way to balance it so it doesn't have to be as strong?

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

you think there is a way to balance it so it doesn't have to be as strong?

Then you'd basically have Tech's tried-and-tested QDV design, but with electric actuation instead of manual. All you'd need is enough force to overcome friction.

[Gun Freak]

Not really, I mean keep the standard co-axial barrel sealing design but find a way to ballance the force so the barrel can come unsealed easier.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

This is what I meant:

[Gun Freak]

Oh ok, that would work too. You gonna try something like it? Itll probably need a bumper too.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Not directly, but what I've put forward here is along the same lines, only using a servo instead of a solenoid.