Air assist solenoid

[john banks]

Would you put this after your regulator/filter/water trap?

I could get 24V or 36V DC from the existing power supplies on the machine (will check current ratings and use a relay also unless I'm clearly within the limits of the output for the purpose), or use 230V AC with a relay.

Any good sources of appropriate solenoid valves that might have low current requirements and flow well?

Anything else to consider?

I also have an old Subaru 3 port boost control solenoid which you can blow through as well as air assist pipe. I would have to use a suitable current rated resistor to get it down to say 14.4V or similar like a car if using the 24V supply.

Khalid is considering the same and sent this link:

http://www.rabbitlaserusa.com/Manuals/ConnectingSecondaryAirAssist.pdf

[Gary Hair]

I just bought a 24v solenoid on Amazon, it arrived yesterday. I'll plug a 24v ac adapter into the switched ac port on the side of my laser, there is a setting in the driver for "air" that sends power to the ac port. I have been manually switching the air on and off with a valve, but it will be nice to finally have it automated. The port on the laser is intended to power a small compressor but I have a 60 gallon compressor in the garage that I use to supply air, no need to have another compressor when I can use the solenoid instead. Here is the url for the solenoid I bought. www.amazon.com/dp/B005CTH4FS/ref=pe_175190_21431760_cs_sce_dp_1_A (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005CTH4FS/ref=pe_175190_21431760_cs_sce_dp_1_A)

Gary

[Mike Null]

Here's another link as Amazon says they're sold out. http://www.uxcell.com/2p025-24v-normally-closed-pneumatic-solenoid-valve-p-101372.html

[john banks]

226628
I'm looking for the 6 way green connectors (I need two to do the air solenoid and door lid switch) that plug into the motherboard, but on Farnell the parametric search has a very limited selection that look nothing like in 4mm pitch, there are more in other sizes, but the pitch is 4mm.

[Rich Harman]

They are called Phoenix connectors, if that helps...

[john banks]

Thanks. I have the larger 5mm pitch ones on the stepper motor drivers, and I can see these when I search for Phoenix connectors, but can't find the 4mm pitch ones that are on the main board. Before I realized they were smaller I thought I could use some spares I have from my broken stepper motor driver but they are too big. Do you have any more info/links/part numbers/datasheets/sources?

[john banks]

http://uk.farnell.com/phoenix-contact/1803617/plug-free-3-81mm-6way/dp/3704944?Ntt=phoenix+1803617
Think these might be them. Thanks.

[Doane Buksar]

You might get away with using a dremmel to cut your existing 5mm pitch connector in order to convert the 6 pin into a 2 (or 3) pin connector. The cumulative difference in pitch would be much less and would hopefully fit the mainboard connector (don't force it). I did this sucessfully for a connector I had on hand and can take a photo of the installation later.

[Doane Buksar]

Here is the mod I did for the blower connector. The small connector is one I salvaged from an old PLC. That spot on the motherboard was previously unoccupied.

227207

[john banks]

Thanks, I need to get to this once I sort out what compressor to get that is 240V, not too noisy, too oily and not too expensive!

[john banks]

What is the white wire connected to OUT2?

[Doane Buksar]

That pin is active whenever the machine fires the laser. I ran the attached white wire to an input on my PLC and will probably use it to trigger some sort of external warning indication that the laser is cutting.