I'm building a robotic system that plays billiards. This thread is related specifically to the subsystem of that machine that thrusts the pool cue. The general plan is to embed powerful magnets in the handle of a pool cue and to then have the cue pass through a copper tube wrapped in magnet-wire. By energizing the coils, I should be able to retract the cue and then, by reversing current direction, thrust the cue through the tube with varying stroke power based on the voltage applied.
I plan to use two 12V batteries in series to charge a large capacitor to up to 24V (depending on desired shot strength). Then, by having a controller give a signal to a relay, I hope to dump the stored energy from the capacitor through the coils to accelerate the cue stick with force hopefully comparable to that of a human.
Here are the components I'm planning to start with:
Controller: Arduino
Batteries: 12V 8ah buggy batteries
Relay: Automotive starter
Capacitor: Car Audio 8 Farad
Magnet wire: 14 GA, 156ft
Magnets: Disc Neodymium N52
Questions:
What red flags to you see?
What is dangerous about this system?
How can I calculate the expected force on the cue stick?
Thanks for reading and thanks even more for any help!
I plan to use two 12V batteries in series to charge a large capacitor to up to 24V (depending on desired shot strength). Then, by having a controller give a signal to a relay, I hope to dump the stored energy from the capacitor through the coils to accelerate the cue stick with force hopefully comparable to that of a human.
Here are the components I'm planning to start with:
Controller: Arduino
Batteries: 12V 8ah buggy batteries
Relay: Automotive starter
Capacitor: Car Audio 8 Farad
Magnet wire: 14 GA, 156ft
Magnets: Disc Neodymium N52
Questions:
What red flags to you see?
What is dangerous about this system?
How can I calculate the expected force on the cue stick?
Thanks for reading and thanks even more for any help!