[ebarker]

Thanks, That clears up a lot. SMC single coil must be 'held'. SMC double coil is 'latching'.

The approach we have taken the past two years is to build a little beyond where 'we can see' in terms of total design approach. Both years we built a full pneumatics deck, everything from compressor to the valve outlets.

It turns out that this year we have nothing to do with the pneumatics but it was a good training exercise plus it keeps part of the team busy and engaged. We have a big team now.

In prior years we used the FESTO but are changing to the SMC.

We may take a pneumatic solenoid and have it "dance a decoration" around for grins and giggles.

I just thought something that is confusing me again. The documentation says if you hold both coils on the double SMC the both ends of the cylinder are charged. That makes me think that the internal valve mechanisms are not linked together or at least can float around until both are moving air to the cylinder.

I need to do some bench testing.

Thanks