Can I control the speed of a linear solenoid acutator?

[IES]

We need to push some buttons in a special temperature chamber. We can not use pneumatic cilinders. So we though to use linear motor actuators, the problem is that they are very expensives.
So, if we use electrical solenoids can we control de speed of the solenoid when it came out of its housing case?

 

[GregLocock]

Yes, by using an LR circuit to control the acceleration of the solenoid.

Cheers

Greg Locock

 

[Phlytyr]

Hi,
If you are pushing control switches for test equipment, you may be able to wire the switches in parallel to a panel outside the chamber.
If you are pushing switches on a device under test, you will need to go with the acuator approach.
Good Luck,
Bruce Strachan

 

[willeng]

IES
Not sure if this will help or suit your application but it worked for us.
We have had reason in the past to find an inexpensive way to control the response speed of soledoids--(cheap)
Connect the solenoid to a small hydraulic chamber (damper)
& then to your button. These can be made quickly & out of just about any material to suit any speed requirements you may have or to suit any temp to a point i suppose.
If you have a look at how the slide (Piston) works in a Su carburetor you will see that it dampens the response one way & shuts off quickly the other or with little change you could dampen both ways if needed.
This style of dampening was usefull to us as the rate of dampening is easily controlled by different viscosity fluids & or piston sizes etc etc.

 

[Xtrema]

Why don't you use stepper motor linear actuators? These can be controlled to an 'infinitely' slow speed or a reasonable speed based on the step rate. Many sources for off-the-shelf actuators and controllers exist.