Solenoid Valves, a Joystick, and an Arduino

Other Hardware Motors, Mechanics, Power and CNC
1

Hi Everyone,
So I am building an animatronic Gryphon. It's entirely pneumatic with the exception of 2 HiTech servos for the eyes and mouth.

To drive the cylinders, I'm using 3 way 2 pos double solenoids valves.
My intention is to drive them with a joystick, such that as the joystick moves in the y direction, a cylinder moves forward at a constant rate.

This whole system is driven by an Arduino Mega, and I'm using a 12v battery, and a few terminal blocks to distribute the power. How might I go about controlling the solenoids? I've considered simple relays, but I don't know if that will give me this method of control.

Basically, I need to come up with some kind of an easily mounted and wired circuit to allow the Arduino to send 24v to the Solenoid Valves, which will allow for joystick control.

Thanks in Advance!

2

Do you have specs for the valves? You mention 12V battery but 24V valves?

3

The arduino should be able to operate a logic level MOSFETwhich controls power to the solenoid.

4

Yea.
They're SMC #US2372 Valves.
With regards to the battery, I'm going to use a 12v to 24v converter I found online.
12v batteries seem easier and cheaper to find, plus my air compressor runs on 12v.

5

With regards to the battery, I'm going to use a 12v to 24v converter I found online.

Kind of like putting two 12v batterys in series.

6

I hope you're aware that a 2 position valve stays in one of the two positions ?

So you can't stop it in between, you'd need a 3 position valve to do that