This is a typical solenoid from a pinball machine...when power is supplied to the coil, a magnetic field is created and the rod (plunger) travels in a linear manner to perform a task such as moving the flipper.
The plunger, of course, must have magnetic properties and is almost always made of steel.
I'm doing a small job making some plungers that have 'custom' dimensions. I can make these of solid steel rod or steel tube.
I think two things....
1) The plunger will travel if it's solid steel, but it will also travel just as effectively if it is a hollow tube....the amount of mass is not a significant factor in the ability of the plunger to travel.
2) A hollow tube of steel will travel as effectively as a solid rod of steel...but it will move more quickly and with less 'demand' on the coil as it has a lower mass/inertia.
My question is...am I right in thinking that?
The plunger, of course, must have magnetic properties and is almost always made of steel.
I'm doing a small job making some plungers that have 'custom' dimensions. I can make these of solid steel rod or steel tube.
I think two things....
1) The plunger will travel if it's solid steel, but it will also travel just as effectively if it is a hollow tube....the amount of mass is not a significant factor in the ability of the plunger to travel.
2) A hollow tube of steel will travel as effectively as a solid rod of steel...but it will move more quickly and with less 'demand' on the coil as it has a lower mass/inertia.
My question is...am I right in thinking that?