Solenoid Graver Controller

thingiverse

I do own an air pressure graver system, but sometimes I would like something that is more portable - easy and quick to set up and without carrying around a compressor etc. Some people have already been experimenting with DIY gravers made with solenoid valves. Those operate at 12V and will not drag a lot of power. The resulting system is lightweight and easy to transport and setup. I have written the code so that a maximum frequency of about 60Hz should be possible, which yields 3600 strokes per minute. My lab PSU shows that during operation the graver will draw a bit less than 1A power, so given that the solenoid I use in the handpiece is rated at 23W (which at 12VDC computes to something just below 2A) a 12V/2.5A power supply should be fine. The Arduino could, in theory, control up to 3 separate handpieces which would make this device also nice for a multi-seat workbench when it is expanded to the maximum capacity.