[eaglecat]

As an engieneer of heavy machinery, we often use solenoid actuators. Specifically they are located in the pilot hydraulic valves that actuate the main hydraulic valves on our wheel loaders. (Electro-hydraulic designs.)

We have at times tested these on the bench. They get very warm if accidentally left on at full current. To say the least. They are large electro magnets. Will easily melt nearby electronics and burn tiny hands.

Electronic solenoids are EXPLICITLY banned. Given my above experiences, i posit this is due to safety.

Well, banned except for the itsy bitsy tiny 20 wind thing in the Festo.

You have many options, other than that for your design. Pilot pneumatic (though I have not seen it done) is amongst them. Actually would be quite ingenious. HOWEVER please read the rules, it gains you nothing, as the largest tubing you can use and only tubing size you are allowed to use (from what I read there and am told) for pneumatics is the small stuff in the KoP. Just different colors allowed.

But, in short, in searching the FESTO site, they have a "quick release version"... probably (my guess) is they use a finer wire lower O2 wire with 2x the windings to make a more powerful magnet in the same size... maybe neodenium instead of cobalt... same "juice up" linearly used radially in low versus high end model plane motors. (my inspiration for engineering) however, see my post about air resistance. I will be over the next few days finishing one about kicker design. It isn't all about fast. It is a lot about mass. Consider trying to add a lever to your pneumatic design, or looking at the "foot" mass... too high (hard to accelerate) or too low (much less than ball mass)? It is an Inelastic Collision with a CoR of about 60%... give or take, for the lower 0.62 bar inflation compared to FIFA testing at 0.8 bar.

- John (eaglecat)