# Whack a mole with solenoids **URL:** \ **Category:** General Guidance\ **Created:** [October 10, 2016, 9:29am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/whack-a-mole-with-solenoids/412234 "2016-10-10T09:29:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![glub0x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6a8cbe/32.png) [@glub0x](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/glub0x)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 9:29am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/whack-a-mole-with-solenoids/412234/1 "2016-10-10T09:29:02Z")
Hello, So i'm thinking of building a wack a mole. Most of the diy project i find are made with pushbutton and light, however i'd like to build a more traditional one. I think the original one is made with pneumatic. I belive there is no easy and cheap way to build a pneumatic wack a mole if you know some good pneumatic system that might suit my needs, feel free to share 😛 So i was thinking of using solenoids. I was wondering how to compute the solenoids (and magnet) i need regarding the fact that I want to push a 100g cylinder over 10 cm ? Here is a little drawing that might help understanding ---
**Author:** ![blimpyway](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/blimpyway/32/1100906_2.png) [@blimpyway](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/blimpyway)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 8:45pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/whack-a-mole-with-solenoids/412234/2 "2016-10-10T20:45:43Z")
why not servos? ---
**Author:** ![lastchancename](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/lastchancename/32/215426_2.png) [@lastchancename](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/lastchancename)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 9:21pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/whack-a-mole-with-solenoids/412234/3 "2016-10-10T21:21:12Z")
I reckon a solenoid action is too fast for this... the pneumatics give an 'organic' feel to the motion. +1 for servos if you can't go to pneumatics. Remember to provide some slip cluthch whatever you do! ---
**Author:** ![glub0x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6a8cbe/32.png) [@glub0x](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/glub0x)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2016, 7:49am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/whack-a-mole-with-solenoids/412234/4 "2016-10-11T07:49:48Z")
Well when the player hit with the little hammer wouldn't that harm the servo ? This is even worse if he hits when the servo is powered ... I'm not 100% sure what "slip cluthch" is, do you mean some linear guide? ---
**Author:** ![lastchancename](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/lastchancename/32/215426_2.png) [@lastchancename](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/lastchancename)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2016, 9:17am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/whack-a-mole-with-solenoids/412234/5 "2016-10-11T09:17:15Z")
That's exactly what the **slip-clutch** is for... (sorry my earlier typo) A rubber isolated clutch that -slips- when the mole is hit - so the torque isn't passed back to the servo shaft mechanism. cheers ---
**Author:** ![Wawa](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/wawa/32/1211303_2.png) [@Wawa](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/Wawa)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2016, 9:25am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/whack-a-mole-with-solenoids/412234/6 "2016-10-11T09:25:39Z")
There are long stroke solenoids (had to Google it). [![](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/6/5/0/65041b4cf1e2a32a0632dba36e36ba965de75549.jpeg "DIY-long stroke solenoid") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKgRCIarczo) Leo.. ---
**Author:** ![lastchancename](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/lastchancename/32/215426_2.png) [@lastchancename](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/lastchancename)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2016, 9:31am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/whack-a-mole-with-solenoids/412234/7 "2016-10-11T09:31:37Z")
[![](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/6/5/0/65041b4cf1e2a32a0632dba36e36ba965de75549.jpeg "DIY-long stroke solenoid") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKgRCIarczo) That's pretty cool. I'll have to read up on how they develop traction and hold their position... If you can control them at the right speed - they could well do the job. You want to move the mole about 80-100mm in 100-200mS, on a single-ended shaft. That works for me! Keep us informed - interesting. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![system](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/system/32/1140315_2.png) [@system](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 5:59pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/whack-a-mole-with-solenoids/412234/8 "2021-05-05T17:59:44Z")