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Use solenoide to accelerate plastic ball


JanineDrube

Hi everyone,

I am working on a research project about the impact of hailstones. I'm trying to build a device to shoot plastic balls - the "hailstones" - vertically downwards. I would like to be able to vary the energy with which the balls are shot/accelerated.

Therefore I want to use a  linear pull solenoid, activate it and place the plastic ball underneath on a membrane (so it doesn't immidiatly fall). Then I'll turn off the magnet, so the inner bolt will be pushed down by the spring, hit the ball and shoot it downwards (see attached sketch).

Now I am looking for a suitable solenoid. I hope to find one, where I'll be able to exchange the spring for different measurements, so the plastic balls will hit the ground with different energies.

I hope someone can advise me on this. Thanks in advance!  :)

Janine

P.S. the attachmend doesnt seem to work, does anyone know how to attach a picture?

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