Powering a Rotary Solenoid

Using Arduino Project Guidance
1

I'm looking to power a rotary solenoid and I'm learning very quickly that it works very differently then a regular solenoid does in that it actuates by flipping polarity vs sending power on/off like an ordinary solenoid does.

Does anyone have an idea how I can code something with Arduino to make it work properly and what (if any) additional circuit I would need to create? (I think I just need to be able to run continuous power and flip polarity in the sub-seconds to get it to actuate at the speed I need) I've been reading a bit on op amp oscillator and it sounds like that could do the trick although I was hoping that I could just use the arduino. Please let me know if anyone has suggestions! Thank you!

2

Sounds like a job for an H bridge, driven by a couple of digital output ports.

What voltage and current does the "rotary solenoid" require?

What will this be for? A clock display, or similar?

3

There are other rotary solenoid designs that do not require change of polarity, and some that run on AC.

4

OK, this is the problem.

Whatever "rotary solenoid" you happen to have, we have no idea what it is.

If you want any assistance, you must specify with a web link, what it is exactly that you have in front of you.

5

Rotary or linear solenoids often use a spring for the return action… others are bi-stable - requiring a reverse polarity to reverse the action.

Much like any electromagnetic actuator.

6

rated for 6-24v.

Link to the solenoid is here: Bistable Rotary Solenoid RSR20/10-CAB0 | Takano Co.,Ltd.

7

Sorry about that, heres the data sheet:

[Bistable Rotary Solenoid RSR20/10-CAB0 | Takano Co.,Ltd. (takano-sanki21.com)]

8

In short, I'm trying to hack together a real Arcade light gun with recoil (the rotary solenoid) with components that work with a normal PC. I'm done this before with regular solenoids but wanted to make something with an automatic recoil vs the single shot guns I've made before.

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In short, I'm trying to hack together a real Arcade light gun with recoil (the rotary solenoid) with components that work with a normal PC. I've done this before with regular solenoids (in single shot games/gun) but wanted to make something with an automatic recoil vs the single shot guns I've made before. Specifically I purchased a Time Crisis Razing Storm recoil gun and I'm fitting it with components from an Ultimarc AimTrak PC lightgun. I intend on adding a 2nd switch to control the rotary solenoid.

10

Choose a brushed D.C. motor driver that can handle the required current = (solenoid power supply voltage)/(15 Ohms).

Pololu has the best selection.

11

Thanks for the input! I know nothing about motor drivers such as these. Do I need one that works with Arduino (to be able to program it to flip between forward & reverse ) such as this one https://www.pololu.com/product/2519 or can I just use it solo with no arduino with this one: https://www.pololu.com/product/2961

I'm not sure I understand how it works out of the box and if it can reverse polarity on its own at a rapid pace to drive the rotary solenoid or not.

12

The MAX14870 is ideal for the solenoid. It is trivial to reverse the polarity of the current flow (study the Pololu product page for the details), but the solenoid can't respond any faster than the solenoid product page indicates, and will be slower if loaded.

Capture

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