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Anyone know where to buy electronic air valve? — Parallax Forums

Anyone know where to buy electronic air valve?

HoangTran83HoangTran83 Posts: 52
edited 2010-07-12 22:54 in General Discussion
Does anyone know where I can buy air valve that are made for hobby used and can be controlled with a micro-controller?

Comments

  • T ChapT Chap Posts: 4,249
    edited 2010-07-11 16:45
    I bought an air flow valve at mcmaster carr mcmaster.com that operates off 12 volts. I drive it with a Propeller pin through a mosfet that shorts the solenoid to ground. It works great for controlling a vacuum air flow.
  • localrogerlocalroger Posts: 3,452
    edited 2010-07-11 20:18
    Solenoid air valves are a bit of a problem. Good quality solenoid valves use a small pilot valve that is directly operated by the solenoid to switch air pressure that actually moves the larger piston, switching the "real" valve. This involves a lot of precision machining and there aren't any cheap solutions. You can sometimes find them in surplus but they often lack critical parts like gaskets and manifolds when you do.

    Some people have used 24 VAC solenoid controlled sprinkler valves, which are pretty cheap, with compressed air (apparently this is a favorite way of triggering an air powered "spud gun") See: www.spudtech.com/content.asp?id=21
  • $WMc%$WMc% Posts: 1,884
    edited 2010-07-11 22:24
    I'm not sure what your application is. If your looking for a solenoid valve take a look at ASCO , You can find them with a google search. If you need a POPPET style valve like localroger is referring to. search google for airconnons. Martin engineering is another source for poppet style valves.

    Once you have a part# you can search e-bay for some surplus!

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  • HoangTran83HoangTran83 Posts: 52
    edited 2010-07-12 18:48
    thank you for all the inputs, i will definitely check out the sites recommended.
  • John R.John R. Posts: 1,376
    edited 2010-07-12 22:54
    Look for Clippard and Humphry or "miniature pneumatics".

    I don't think you'll find anything that will directly connect to a micro-controller, but you should only need a transistor or FET (and a "clamping diode").

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