Heavy Duty Latching Solenoid
A manufacturer sought a solution to replace the pneumatically powered clamps they were using on their production line. The application required the clamps to hold a piece in place while it was being welded. Once welded, the clamp would release and allow that piece to move down the line. It was important to have a solution that would not only hold the piece in place but would also locate it in the precise position for welding.
After exploring several options, TLX decided that a latching solenoid was an excellent solution for this application. The custom solenoid TLX designed provided both the locking and latching functions the manufacturer needed. When installed in the manufacturer’s production line, the solenoids were latched in the retracted position with permanent magnets while using no power. With the solenoids retracted, the piece to be welded could be positioned in the fixture. The solenoids were “unlatched” by a short pulse of power to cancel the magnet which allowed the plunger to engage the part, insert a pin to position the part and hold it down utilizing a heavy duty spring. When the welding was complete, a short pulse of opposite polarity was sent to the solenoid so that it returned to the retracted position and released the part to move down the production line. The custom latching solenoids easily replaced the pneumatic clamps and provided an energy efficient solution for the application.
For applications requiring high latching forces and durable design, the heavy duty latching solenoid design provides an excellent energy efficient solution. Strokes and latching forces are flexible depending upon solenoid size and design requirements.
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