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Re: Electromagnetic gate latch?
We have a design that we would like to use that uses an electromagnet.
A retract stroke moves the leg back and touches steel to a powered off electromagnet.
This is the normal position of the kicker.
For the fire command, the electromagnet is powered on to temporarily hold the leg in its current position.
The solenoid for the retract stroke is then released and the leg holds in place due to the electromagnet.
The solenoid for the extension stroke is then powered: Due to cambered leverage, the magnet does not need to hold much holding force- maybe 10 pounds-
and within 1 second the software control automatically removes power from the electromagnet and the leg moves forward for the kick.
The electromagnet is only used to hold the leg in place and is only used temporarily as part of the sequence of a "fire" command.
It is a low power 12V magnet using less than 350 milliamps.
I have asked Luminary Micro if it is safe to control the voltage of such an electromagnet with a Jaguar. We believe we have found a quite novel way to adjust the power of the kick by adjusting the voltage to the electromagnet. (Other teams are welcome to borrow this idea especially if you let us and the judges know that we helped inspire your use of it.)
The team will redesign if the GDC/inspectors find such an arrangement does not have enough safety, either electrically or mechanically. But I must admit I do not see how such a system would be any more dangerous than a latch powered with a solenoid on a pneumatic actuator.
We would appreciate sage advice from safety experts or experienced FIRSTers as soon as possible.
Thanks!
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