So this is a drop target bank... The four black plastic rectangles have springs attached to the bottom, and when they are raised up, they hook to the ledge (the black long plastic piece at the top with the 5 screws on it).

I am brainstorming, looking for a way that I can cause a target to fall down through electronics........ I am imagining some kind of miniature coil, that is be somewhat flat, until current goes to it-- and then it would raise up a tiny amount (1/8" or something), and that would cause the target to get pushed off the ledge, so it can fall down.

I was originally looking for tiny solenoids, but all of those were too big to fit on this--- So I just thought I'd ask here if anyone knows off the top of their head something that could be used to accomplish this?

Thanks!

 

I read something about really tiny fans. Not rotational, more like flapping a bird wing. Searching my memory, not getting much. Maybe a piezo element with a lever...

 

Muscle wire?

https://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDrillDownView?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&freeText=muscle%20wire&search_type=jamecoall

 

Simply passing a current through a wire, to cause it to heat up and stretch?

 

Is muscle wire repeatable? (keep repeating the same motion just because electricity is applied?)

Never mind. I just found the reference.

 

Is muscle wire repeatable? (keep repeating the same motion just because electricity is applied?)

That's my understanding, but I don't have any first hand experience. Maybe I should order some; looks like fun stuff.

 

Muscle wire?

https://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDrillDownView?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&freeText=muscle%20wire&search_type=jamecoall

In my experience Nitinol- "muscle wire" is very disappointing, just look at the huge range of common product that utilize this magical material - NOT.

 

It might be good enough for an eighth of an inch...

 

Usually, metal expands when heated.?

 

The "trick" about muscle wire is that it resumes a previously applied shape when heated.

 

A Piezoelectric actuator?