Pneumatic Hammer Control

[NewB]

Hello,

I am working on a science project that will pneumatically pound a
small nail into a piece of wood. I will be using a Basic Stamp to
control it. My question is what would you suggest for the actuator
and control mechanism (electrically controlled air valve?)? I have a
coleman bike/tire pump to 'power' the actuator. Any help will be much
appreciated. Please keep in mind that my budget is not huge for this
project.

Thank you in advance!

 

[ChrisGibboGibson]

Hello,

I am working on a science project that will pneumatically pound a
small nail into a piece of wood. I will be using a Basic Stamp to
control it. My question is what would you suggest for the actuator
and control mechanism (electrically controlled air valve?)? I have a
coleman bike/tire pump to 'power' the actuator. Any help will be much
appreciated. Please keep in mind that my budget is not huge for this
project.

Thank you in advance!

Have a google round the robot websites. Probably full of stuff like this.

My first thought would be a bike pump backwards for the actuator and a plastic
pipe with a crease in it, released by a solenoid for the control, fed from a
reservoir (a soda drink bottle?) pumped up with your bike pump. Cheap and
simple.

Gibbo.

 

[Joerg]

Maybe you can find some info about how rotary hammers work. I just bought a Bosch Bulldog rotary hammer. It has a hammer-only mode and from the lack of wrist pain after a 10 hour demolition project I assume it uses some kind of pneumatic action.

These things really rip. I was amazed that I could buy this tool for just over $200. With the variable speed it can hammer very gently but when fully pushing the trigger it sent a fist size chunk of concrete 10" up into the air.

Regards, Joerg

 

[steamer]

--Howzabout adapting the mechanism in an electric stapler? They
really whack pretty good and it's just a solenoid...

 

[Rich Grise]

Hello,

I am working on a science project that will pneumatically pound a small
nail into a piece of wood. I will be using a Basic Stamp to control it.
My question is what would you suggest for the actuator and control
mechanism (electrically controlled air valve?)? I have a coleman
bike/tire pump to 'power' the actuator. Any help will be much
appreciated. Please keep in mind that my budget is not huge for this
project.

Thank you in advance!

PUt gravity to work for you. Raise a weight with air pressure -
that way you don't have to put all the force to the hammer at once -
and drop it on the nail. You could use an ordinary hammer and
a balloon, if you want cheap.

And an aquarium pump could raise a good enough head of pressure,
if your piston is big enough.

Good Luck!
Rich

 

[Scott McDonnell]

Check out: http://www.goldmine-elec.com/default.htm

They have solenoid valves for as low as 99 cents and pneumatic cylinders for
<$5

You will also need a manifold, and exhaust header, of course. But you may be
able to build these yourself since you are using lower a PSI.

Also, the thousands of DIY Halloween sites detail how to make pneumatic
pistons from PVC pipes, manual bicycle pumps, and screen door returns.

Check out:
http://wolfstone.halloweenhost.com/TechBase/pnucyl_PneumaticCylinders.html#BicyclePumps

Good luck,

Scott