This strand is for conversations about solenoids.
I recently got this Mini Push-Pull Solenoid - 5V from Adafruit. It works well driven by an Elecfreaks Wukong motor controller board.
The “mini 5v” is able to strike a bell with enough force to make it ring loudly, and I think it might be a useful off-the-shelf solenoid for making electromechanical percussion instruments. When I have time, I’d like to explore using a set of these solenoids to play a toy xylophone.
Here is a video of the solenoid ringing a bell.
Update: Earlier I wrote that I’d tried this Medium Push-Pull Solenoid - 5V or 6V and it did not work. On further investigation, I discovered that I’d ordered the 12v solenoid by mistake (they look identical). It’s clear why the 12v solenoid did not work with just 5v. The one I meant to order would probably work.
You can also build your own solenoid for a linear motor, the files are here: CAD Library
And here’s the linear motor itself: CAD Library