Help with basic project, double acting cylinder

[Luciano]

Not hydraulic but pneumatic, it may not make a difference in my project. Please help with what may be for some of you a basic school project: I need to connect a double acting air cylinder. 7 inch stroke, probably a 2 inch bore, or less. Power is not very important, I will only need about 20-30 lbs to actuate a lever. Speed is important, I need it to complete between 15-20 cycles a minute with smooth controled speed strokes. The system needs to be automated.
I will be using a 5 way 4 port solenoid valve with 2 meter out flow control valves, 1/4 inch NPT ports big enough I am thinking. Question is how do I make the sytem automated without spending a lot? Suggestions much apreciated. Feel free to suggest a different type valve.

[beenthere]

Sounds like a crank on a adjustable rpm motor that would slide the contol valve back and forth would be what I would look into for starters.
Something akin to a windshield wiper motor and mechanism comes to mind.

[AKKAMAAN]

Not hydraulic but pneumatic, it may not make a difference in my project. Please help with what may be for some of you a basic school project: I need to connect a double acting air cylinder. 7 inch stroke, probably a 2 inch bore, or less. Power is not very important, I will only need about 20-30 lbs to actuate a lever. Speed is important, I need it to complete between 15-20 cycles a minute with smooth controled speed strokes. The system needs to be automated.
I will be using a 5 way 4 port solenoid valve with 2 meter out flow control valves, 1/4 inch NPT ports big enough I am thinking. Question is how do I make the sytem automated without spending a lot? Suggestions much apreciated. Feel free to suggest a different type valve.

I have a relay ladder logic circuit that makes a DA cylinder automatic extend-retract for as long as you do not push the stop button....
budget probably less than 30$

I wrote it by hand, for another forum a few years ago....

[Luciano]

Thank you both.

AKKAMAAN, this is great. Unfortunately I am not very good with circuit boards(History major, go figure) do I wire the valve at L1 and L2 by the D6 and D7 diodes? This is for a two position valve ?

[AKKAMAAN]

Thank you both.

AKKAMAAN, this is great. Unfortunately I am not very good with circuit boards(History major, go figure) do I wire the valve at L1 and L2 by the D6 and D7 diodes? This is for a two position valve ?

You do not need a circuit board...
The relays must have this configuration....

Get relays with plug in sockets, and solder points on the sockets...some shrink tubing to protect solder points from mis connections

Just now I am not updated on shopping this hardware, but there are great online suppliers around....
BTW...try radio shack...

[AKKAMAAN]

Good site for basics in relay technology

[AKKAMAAN]

do I wire the valve at L1 and L2 by the D6 and D7 diodes? This is for a two position valve ?

Thats right, it is actually C1 and C2....sorry for my poor hand typing LOL

It was designed for for a 3-position hydraulic valve...no coils activated, valve in neutral, and cylinder cycling stops.
But pneumatic, you can use two 2-pos valves too...or your 3-pos 5-way valve....same result

If you need time delay between cycles we can trow in a cpl time relays....

[greasemonkeyok]

Although it is likely there are many other good places, I have had good luck electrical components from Mouser.com.

[Luciano]

AKKAMAAN, would I be able to control the cycle number? Between 10-20 a minute? I would need to find the cycle speed needed.
Is this the kind of relay I need?
785XBXCD-12D Magnecraft General Purpose / Industrial Relays

Thank you for the follow up.

[Luciano]

Can I use a relay with timing function? Like this one?

McMaster-Carr