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Rebound Catch Mechanism for Drop Weight Tester

Former Member

My team and I are from the University of Oklahoma and are trying to implement a linear solenoid as a rebound catch mechanism for a drop tester we are designing and building. The problem we are having is that we are all mechanical engineering students and don’t have any experience with these linear solenoids. We were wondering if anyone could help us purchase the correct parts to create a catch mechanism.

 

The system we are designing has and impact head that gets dropped from a height of around 6 to 7 feet and falls on two guide rods down to the impact specimen. Once the impact head has made contact with the impact specimen, the impact head rebounds about one inch and can not fall back down onto the specimen. So, we need to implement a system that can catch the impact head from making multiple impacts on the specimen.

 

We were thinking of using a fast, high force, electronic linear solenoid that would get activated when the impact head passed by some sort of electronic sensor. This linear solenoid would shoot out under the impact head so that it would not allow the impact head to fall back down onto the specimen and make multiple impacts. The impact head will have a variable weight from 10 to 30 pounds.

 

Any advice on the parts we need to order would be very helpful!

Thanks

  • There really isn't enough mechanical information considering this is a mech eng project. What distance does your linear solenoid have to traverse to cover the specimen? A few millimeters, or more? What speed and what force?

    Here is a manufacturer of high-speed solenoids that could be investigated: https://www.tlxtech.com/solenoids/high-speed-solenoids/

    At larger distances (you didn't specify), maybe a motor may be a better way? (this is just a guess, I'm no expert).

    If drop time is predictable then the motor can accelerate to top speed in advance, so that the motor is already turning while the impact

    head is dropping.

    If you know your specs, then you can look up linear solenoids here:

    Linear Solenoids | Farnell element14

  • I agree with Shabaz,

     

    If you want us to help you, we need more information on your design.

     

    There may be other options than just using solenoid driven devices.

     

    You could easily use a simple trigger mechanism to drop a counter weight connected to your drop weight, which would pull the drop weight up after first impact.

     

    It would be an all mechanical solution that would work automatically without the risk of a power fail during the experiments.

     

    DAB