Improving the response time and output force of solenoid linear actuators is the primary goal of this project, aiming for a fifty percent enhancement. Our client, HYDAC, deploys these actuators in controlling hydraulic valves. Enhanced actuators would optimize hydraulic system controls. These actuators must endure varying temperatures, input voltages, vibrations, shocks, and exposure to moisture and water due to diverse application environments.
Since the project's inception, our team has focused on research and understanding the complexity of hydraulic linear actuators. This is a difficult area, and proposing solutions demands in-depth knowledge. We've been studying solenoid linear actuators extensively and clarifying HYDAC's requirements using resources shared by our mentor, Jose Garcia Bravo.
Post our Gate 4 report, we'll present our findings and outline our post-Gate 3 plans. We recognize that enhanced response time may lead to increased force. Based on our research, we will identify potential areas of improvement, adhering to HYDAC's guidelines. Weekly meetings with our mentor and bi-weekly updates to HYDAC are planned. Prioritizing a clear timeline for our tasks is crucial, and we aim to finalize this early.
Potential challenges include validating our improvement ideas. While calculations and simulations can support our proposals, they might not catch all design flaws, which could emerge later. Effective communication with the client is vital to ensure our solution aligns with their vision and to leverage their expertise in identifying potential pitfalls. By end of October, we aim to have a successful testing prototype. By early November, we plan to present set of data that we’ve gathered and ready to report to our client HYDAC.
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