We do a lot of water falls on these jobs it make
The car wash stand out.
But my point is to make art with water you need the right valves the little valves in the picture
You could run hundreds of them there really fast acting.
You make a water fall with say 200 nozzle with those valves you could print in water drops
There 24 volt ac or dc
We control them with PCL relay cards
But you could make a card with shift register and transistor arrays that you could control with
Microprocessor or microcontroller

 

We do a lot of water falls on these jobs it make
The car wash stand out.
But my point is to make art with water you need the right valves the little valves in the picture
You could run hundreds of them there really fast acting.
You make a water fall with say 200 nozzle with those valves you could print in water drops
There 24 volt ac or dc
We control them with PCL relay cards
But you could make a card with shift register and transistor arrays that you could control with
Microprocessor or microcontroller

I can't thank you enough for the information. I will be looking I to this as soon as I can and see if it's possible for me to get my hands on the parts needed to replicate this process.

I want to remind you that I am not an engineer, I'm a code monkey. So this is going to be a learning curve to figure out how to replicate this and learn enough about it to where I can fully grasp and understand how it works.

Do you have any recommendations on where I can learn about the components that will be used to replicate this type of a system and alter it where it would work to implement into what I'm needing it for.

Thank you again for taking time out of your day to reply. I sincerely appreciate it and look very forward to hearing back!

 

I'm just going to add a few things.

ASCO makes manifoldable valves. You can string up to 10 together and put them together will allthread. Nice except the 60 Hz valves need leaning bepfore putting them into service, They buzz otherwise. The culpret is dust.

Solenoind selection, watch for inert gs and air and also for valves that need lubricated air. Be careful.

If there is an issue with power dissipation, you can"kick" the solenoid and reduce power. There are drivers available that can do that..

Critical, you really have to do position monitoring.

You can always use air pilots. Air actuates the valve. if you use 4-way valves you can alter the stroke speeds. Air valves are more likely to have a position switch option.

24 Vdc isn't bad.

What I did was I bought a steel "convera-box" The cover is "L" shaped. On that cover was mounted two rows of up to 10 valves,
The short-side had a 37 pin connector. Good for 18 valves. Replacing valves is easy. Col replacements require apin removal tool, crimper and pins.

theis went to a 24 DPDT-relays controlled by TTL. I did implement labeled process switches and big LEDS for the actual status and manual control. I also put a tiny man/auto switch at each large push button. I also had very small LED that read the computer output.
It controlle dtoxic gasses, and seeing the computer status with ut the valves operating was beneficial.

Two valves had indicators. They were all air operated with 24 Vac pilot valves. The indicators wer built-in for a safety system.

The actual valve controller had a removeable large terminal strip about 10 positions. I could take certain DPDT relays and use just the contaxct. they were all initially wires to the CPC connector, the other contact operated the LED. If I wanted an real status indicator, I could make on using the screw therminal plugable terminal strip.

This system also had a few valves on a UPS. if they were open at the time of a power failure, they would stay open. Fun to design. Air is always present.

For another system, I designed a kick version with a lot of wasted power.

and for yet another, there was a shutter that had a 3 min on 3 min off time aprox, 10h/5d cycle. Real close to that was a 1mmthick glass filter thta costs aprox, $1000.00 USD. The shutter opened really slowly using PWM.

There are all sorts of options.




There are drivers for automotiive that will have status outputs. More of electrical problems, not mechanical,

 

These are what you need there for air but most dont have a problem with water.

 

@be80be Those valves have the same footprint I used, so they could be ASCO.

I was just annoyed that i had to take them apart, and ultrsonically clean them and ut them back together before putting them in for service at 24 Vac.

 

@be80be Those valves have the same footprint I used, so they could be ASCO.

I was just annoyed that i had to take them apart, and ultrsonically clean them and ut them back together before putting them in for service at 24 Vac.

That would suck to have to do that to hundreds of valves. Is there an alternative that's still cost effective, and while keeping noise to a minimum?

 

I'm just going to add a few things.

ASCO makes manifoldable valves. You can string up to 10 together and put them together will allthread. Nice except the 60 Hz valves need leaning bepfore putting them into service, They buzz otherwise. The culpret is dust.

Solenoind selection, watch for inert gs and air and also for valves that need lubricated air. Be careful.

If there is an issue with power dissipation, you can"kick" the solenoid and reduce power. There are drivers available that can do that..

Critical, you really have to do position monitoring.

You can always use air pilots. Air actuates the valve. if you use 4-way valves you can alter the stroke speeds. Air valves are more likely to have a position switch option.

24 Vdc isn't bad.

What I did was I bought a steel "convera-box" The cover is "L" shaped. On that cover was mounted two rows of up to 10 valves,
The short-side had a 37 pin connector. Good for 18 valves. Replacing valves is easy. Col replacements require apin removal tool, crimper and pins.

theis went to a 24 DPDT-relays controlled by TTL. I did implement labeled process switches and big LEDS for the actual status and manual control. I also put a tiny man/auto switch at each large push button. I also had very small LED that read the computer output.
It controlle dtoxic gasses, and seeing the computer status with ut the valves operating was beneficial.

Two valves had indicators. They were all air operated with 24 Vac pilot valves. The indicators wer built-in for a safety system.

The actual valve controller had a removeable large terminal strip about 10 positions. I could take certain DPDT relays and use just the contaxct. they were all initially wires to the CPC connector, the other contact operated the LED. If I wanted an real status indicator, I could make on using the screw therminal plugable terminal strip.

This system also had a few valves on a UPS. if they were open at the time of a power failure, they would stay open. Fun to design. Air is always present.

For another system, I designed a kick version with a lot of wasted power.

and for yet another, there was a shutter that had a 3 min on 3 min off time aprox, 10h/5d cycle. Real close to that was a 1mmthick glass filter thta costs aprox, $1000.00 USD. The shutter opened really slowly using PWM.

There are all sorts of options.




There are drivers for automotiive that will have status outputs. More of electrical problems, not mechanical,

I will respond soon, trying to design a prototype for another product at the shop now. Will read through and respond back here in a bit.

I can't think all of you enough for all the help you have all given me and continue to give me.

 

LOL You are not going to have to clean them not for a long time.
But any valve will after time need to be cleaned or repaired at some point.

I been trying to fine a link I had at one time they used maybe 1000 of these kind of valve for a water fall that made a Car.
The ones I use have a led on the plug that shows when powered.

 

LOL You are not going to have to clean them not for a long time.
But any valve will after time need to be cleaned or repaired at some point.

I been trying to fine a link I had at one time they used maybe 1000 of these kind of valve for a water fall that made a Car.
The ones I use have a led on the plug that shows when powered.

If they have to be replaced every so many years that no problem at all. Easier then cleaning that many, makes more sense to just buy new ones rather then having to deal with service calls.

 

I can show you some thats maybe 10 years old
Never been cleaned and still work.
You can do amazing thing for these little valves

 

Mine were switching air and 24 Vac. The dust and 24 VAC caused the hum. 24 Vds was fine on 24 Vdc valves without cleaning. They got cleaned anyway.

 

Well I am looking to hire somebody to help me design this, I have a CAD guy that is going to be rendering up a rough pcb board in solid works so that we can start testing. If anybody is interested in such projects, I would love to hear what you could help with in this project. I am interested to see what comes of it if anything at all.

You guys have all been amazing and if you have anything else to offer please do, I will be closely listening in.

Sorry for the late response, I have been on vacation for some time now and just returned.

 

If your wanting to print with water drops ill post you a link the values we use are the way to go after all someone did the hard work.
They have power block that you control from in are case PCL.
But a micro would work just as well.
Youd use a expansion board
The thing about these valves is the contol you can drop a drop by drop.
Like this https://images.app.goo.gl/ziDuxCWC61e7fWN16

Can you send me those valves again that are extremely fast. I am having PCB designed.