Looking for software/hardware package to control Solenoids/Actuators
Looking for software/hardware package to control Solenoids/Actuators
(OP)
All,
I am looking for a commercial off the shelf package for controlling solenoids that are hooked to pneumatic cylinders for doing actuation cycles. Are there any off the shelf packages out there? I have looked, but not had much luck.
I am trying to set up a life cycle test of opening and closing a latch. I will be using a Parker linear actuator cylinder with pneumatic valves that are actuated via solenoids. I need the PC to send a signal to the solenoid at the correct rate and cycle up to 8 channels. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Justin
I am looking for a commercial off the shelf package for controlling solenoids that are hooked to pneumatic cylinders for doing actuation cycles. Are there any off the shelf packages out there? I have looked, but not had much luck.
I am trying to set up a life cycle test of opening and closing a latch. I will be using a Parker linear actuator cylinder with pneumatic valves that are actuated via solenoids. I need the PC to send a signal to the solenoid at the correct rate and cycle up to 8 channels. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Justin





RE: Looking for software/hardware package to control Solenoids/Actuators
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RE: Looking for software/hardware package to control Solenoids/Actuators
Keith Cress
kcress - http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: Looking for software/hardware package to control Solenoids/Actuators
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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!
RE: Looking for software/hardware package to control Solenoids/Actuators
I had a friend who designed and produced the software and hardware for your application.
The software looked sort of like a spreadsheet, with time intervals in rows, and solenoids or motors or whatever in columns. So basically you decided on a time interval, and put an X wherever you wanted an output bit 'on', and the software stepped down rows at the rate you wanted and did what you told it to. It could loop on condition and do some other logical gymnastics, too.
The software talked over a single serial port to a bunch of modular controllers, for stepper motors, arrays of solenoids, etc., using multidrop RS-232. (Yes, I know you can't do that. He didn't know it was impossible, so he did it. Up to 32 addresses.)
Then he died.
</shaggy dog story>
Look at this page:
http://www.empi-fl.com/products_projects.html
See the entry for the former Computer Control Corporation, which produced the modules.
Maybe they've got enough stuff lying around to piece together a small system.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Looking for software/hardware package to control Solenoids/Actuators
TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Virtuoso Robotics Engineering
www.bluetechnik.com
RE: Looking for software/hardware package to control Solenoids/Actuators
RE: Looking for software/hardware package to control Solenoids/Actuators
RE: Looking for software/hardware package to control Solenoids/Actuators
htt
The consensus here is that I don't need a PC to do the job, however it will be complicated getting 4 relays to fire at the right time. I am looking into PLC's as well.
Thanks for all your help...
Justin
RE: Looking for software/hardware package to control Solenoids/Actuators
For counting you could use an internal non-volatile register if the Zelio has it. Or use an external electromechanical counter. You don't want a power failure to cause a loss of the count of test cycles that have passed.
Keith Cress
kcress - http://www.flaminsystems.com