mailbox paper tube moving hand

[burnt]

this something QZ was talking about in chat the other day.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBqVjAAJFl4


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib-IBGMpgJk

parts used
the hand was just from a cheap store and the piston bracket was 3d printed.. but could make something out of wood to slide down the tube.
air piston ----- https://www.aliexpress.com/item/CDJ...32817987661.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.AQAj7B
air solenoid ----- https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4V2...32615978052.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.AQAj7B

 

[AAH]

Except for the stroke a central locking solenoid could be used and there'd be no need for air that way.
The clunk of the air ram could be hidden by a sound effect triggered at the same time.

 

[David_AVD]

Hahaha... looks good.

I tend to use car lock solenoids, but the stroke is very limited without using a pivot and lever.

 

[OzAz]

Brilliant @burnt exactly what I envisioned.
Does that Bracket (green bit) hold everything securely in place OK? I'd been wondering how to secure the mechanism to the tube.
I've been thinking of using a DC linear actuator for the 'piston' as not keen on having to get into pneumatics

 

[burnt]

it holds it really well.. in your case OZ you could have a longer piston and have more reach. by hiding the back. as for the sound, it only comes from the solenoid which can be placed meters away