Recommendations needed for inexpensive linear motion 2

[NDVermin]

Hi Folks,

I'm pretty rusty when it comes to engineering and design having not worked directly in the area for awhile. I'm hoping someone may have some good suggestions for me. I'm trying to design a 20 x 20 matrix of columns which can be individually raised and lowered (only about 5" max) in any pattern desired. I'm at a loss to come up with an economical way to build something that allows individual movements of 400 columns. I've certainly considered linear actuators, but they are very expensive (especially x400). Would anyone have any suggestions? Thanks so much!

Scott

 

[sreid]

Just some thoughts.

An X-Y array of "Solinoid Coils. All Rows connected to a"Sinking" transistor and all Columns connected to "Sourcing Transistors." One column and one row "On" addresses one coil. The rows and columns can be "Raster Scanned."

 

[itsmoked]

Solenoid guys.. He needs intermediate positions! Solenoids are OUT!

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[MacGyverS2000]

Meh... I could see a spring-loaded linear actuator working with a solenoid-like mechanism. PWM control of the solenoid pulls against the spring to set the position. No idea what level of positioning control one could get out of such a setup, at least on the cheap... but if no feedback is used (i.e., you get whatever position you get), I bet it could be pretty cheap. You could also use some form of locking mechanism to keep each plunger in the same position when not being actively driven.

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[itsmoked]

I wonder would it would sound like?

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[gruntguru]

I would love to see what this contraption looks like with moving "images" playing on it.

je suis charlie

 

[sreid]

I was being very general when I said "Solenoid." Assume the solenoid core was on a spring. and that its speed of motion depended on air leakage around the core. And you controlled the drive voltage with a duty cycle.

 

[3DDave]

There are already devices that act like this does.

https://www.fastcodesign.com/302152...fting-display-you-can-reach-through-and-touch

They just aren't compact or inexpensive.