Solenoid and Plunger Relationship

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between the position of a plunger within a solenoid and the pull force experienced by the plunger. Participants explore how the initial position of the plunger affects the force it experiences when the solenoid is activated, considering the implications of force-distance curves and optimal positioning.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether the initial position of the plunger affects the pull force, specifically asking what percentage of the plunger's length should be inside the solenoid for optimal force delivery.
  • Another participant suggests that moving the plunger a few millimeters into the solenoid would result in a higher initial force, referencing a diagram that supports this idea.
  • A third participant acknowledges the diagram's implication that starting with the plunger inside the solenoid leads to a higher force, while also questioning whether the solenoid stroke should end when the plunger's end or center reaches the center of the solenoid.
  • One participant expresses the expectation that the plunger should stop when it is centered within the solenoid.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants appear to agree that the position of the plunger affects the force experienced, but there is no consensus on the optimal stopping point for the plunger within the solenoid.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved questions regarding the exact relationship between the plunger's position and the force it experiences, as well as the definitions of optimal stopping points based on different interpretations of the force-distance curve.

escape_velocity
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Does the initial position of the plunger in the solenoid make a difference to the pull force it is subjected to?

I mean in the default position how much % length of the plunger should be within the solenoid so that optimum force is delivered to the plunger when the solenoid is turned on?

I see from the solenoid force distance curve is a sort of inverse curve initially only a small force is delivered to the plunger, but as the plunger starts entering the solenoid the force increases and finally reaches its maximum when it reaches the center of the solenoid. So I was wondering if I initially move the plunger some mm into the solenoid will the plunger start with a higher force?
 

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escape_velocity said:
if I initially move the plunger some mm into the solenoid will the plunger start with a higher force?

That's what the diagram appears to be telling you.
 
CWatters said:
That's what the diagram appears to be telling you.
Thanks CWatters, yes I have so far searched the web and found scattered pieces of information, and yes the graph seems to imply that if we start with the plunger within the solenoid it should experience a higher force... The diagram also seems to say that the maximum force is at the centre of the solenoid. So I was looking for more info if the solenoid stroke should terminate when the pluger end has reached the centre of the solenoid or should I end it when the plunger centre has reached the centre of the solenoid.
 
I would expect the plunger to stop when the plunger is centered within the solenoid.
 

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