
clintgarr75
USA
Asked
— Edited

I was wondering, the way the Omnibot 2000 claws are set up, it seems a solenoid may be able to make them open with a spring acting to close them. Is this possible? and if so is it a good idea due to the fact that solenoids are usually high voltage and I can not seem to find a digital one, are they able to connect with the EZ-B? Please let me know if this is a good idea? Thanks.
I am not exactly sure how you want to your claws to work. If you use a solenoid, that will only move in one direction, a spring would return it. That sounds like what you were looking at. If that is the case, you could power it with a TIP as @Troy suggested, and Rich designed. You could also use a relay. They come on boards from two, to dozens.
relays
If you want to power it in both directions, you could use an actuator or motor. Then, you would need an H-bridge to switch from forward to reverse as @dshulpious said.
actuators
I have put together a diagram of how to make a simple H-bridge using two relays. I am going this route because I will have many motors, and putting in a few large relay boards in neater than a dozen separate H-bridges.
When both relays are in normal position, the motor is grounded on both sides. If you flip one, or the other, it will make that side hot, and turn the motor either forward, or reverse.
Thread link
Btw, don't forget to credit Rich for answering your original question on solenoid use.
These were $ 3.90 so they are very cost effective , they need 12 volts and a relay can trip them or you could use tip120 Darlington transistors too.
There are micro or mini versions of this that are a few dollars more buy they are still cheap and strong.
Oh this may be a brushed motor, rack and pinion gear arrangement inside and not a solenoid. Do you know Josh?
Here's a more compact model , they get about a inch shorter than this without being a special order part.
Would this word for the claw? It seems really small, but I don't know if it would have enough power to hold anything with Thanks,