looking for a 12 volt DC push/pull solenoid

[Robert Milton]

Thanks for the response Dr. Pepper,....hare is what i am dealing with. My apparatus fits in shoe box size space. With in that arrangement i have few plates and spools situated on a motor driven shaft. And at times i need to exert horizontal pressure/weight against a lever that could move and push these spools and plates closer together, then of course when need be remove said pressure. I was able to provide said pressure with a simple 5 long inch spring and used a solenoid to release pressure. But i discovered that i might need to different settings for 2 different pressure settings [which can be accomplished by extending a shaft coming out of a solenoid or actuator by 5 to 30 mm],..i was thinking of an actuator maybe. [stepper motor or logic controller system would be to expensive for this simple apparatus] . So this is my mission for now,...lol...

 

[dr pepper]

You can apply variable force with a solenoid if you drive said solenoid with a pulse width modulated power source, the technique is used a lot in automotive applications, linearity might not be great but you can compensate for that.

 

[gary350]

W.W. Granger sells what you want. Solenoid come in many sizes and voltages. If you want a push pull connect 2 of them together end to end. After solenoid A pulls to the left then solenoid B can pull it to the right and so on.

Many years ago I bought a solenoid to open a valve when power was turned off a spring closed the valve. My solenoid had to be strong enough to open the valve and pull the spring too. Push a button valve opens then release the button valve closed.