Attached are photos of an electromagnetic linear actuator, taken from an old SyQuest EZ135 ejectable cartridge disk drive. The actuator gives the cartridge its final kick out of the housing when the eject command or eject button on the drive is used.
I have been unable to find anything on the web for this device (no power requirements or specifications on how to make it work). Is anybody familiar with this type of device? If so, how does one cause it to function?
I suspect it must be run like a stepper motor from a driver chip. Any other guesses?
Any feedback will be appreciated. I do have an L293D motor driver circuit that works for DC motors and stepper motors. With the right parameters and specifications for programming, it should do the job.
kashken:
Attached are photos of an electromagnetic linear actuator, taken from an old SyQuest EZ135 ejectable cartridge disk drive. The actuator gives the cartridge its final kick out of the housing when the eject command or eject button on the drive is used.
Looks like a solenoid to me.
Set your power supply to 1A limit, 3V, and try hooking it up. Start with black wire for negative/ground, and red for positive, if so marked, and if nothing happens, do the reverse. If that doesn't do anything, try 5V, 10V, 15V, 20V.
This may also be a latching solenoid. Current into it makes the plunger "stick" when pushed in. When current is released, the plunger is released, and the spring pushes out the cartridge. The testing method is similar as above, but you have to "check whether it does anything" slightly differently.