One of my mentors came to me and asked me to come up with an equation that would calculate how far apart this one "Grabbing Mechanism" would open up if we knew certain arm lengths and that the solenoid we would use would pull the x value down by 1 inch (as shown). Here are my results; please enjoy and use if your grabber is similar.
y=total arm length
y1=arm length from static(non moving but pivoting joint) to first dynamically placed joint(moves with extension and compression)
y2="Arm length of "truss" in center of the arm mechanism. It is the tilted arm.
x=height ( or length) of first dynamically placed joints to middle joint.
Look at document attached.
arm spread.doc