# Bow an instrument, or push a surface **URL:** \ **Category:** dadamachines\ **Created:** [October 1, 2020, 1:59pm UTC](https://forum.dadamachines.com/t/bow-an-instrument-or-push-a-surface/470 "2020-10-01T13:59:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chambo](https://forum.dadamachines.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Chambo](https://forum.dadamachines.com/u/Chambo)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 1:59pm UTC](https://forum.dadamachines.com/t/bow-an-instrument-or-push-a-surface/470/1 "2020-10-01T13:59:33Z")
Hi, hello everyone, first time poster. I’m looking at ‘bowing’ an instrument, and pushing against a surface. Is there a way to do that with the solenoid? For example gradually push out and pull back for set times and solenoid ‘lengths’? ---
**Author:** ![Tom](https://forum.dadamachines.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tom](https://forum.dadamachines.com/u/Tom)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 3:09pm UTC](https://forum.dadamachines.com/t/bow-an-instrument-or-push-a-surface/470/2 "2020-10-02T15:09:29Z")
Interesting question! I hope you will get an answer from someone. Best, Tom ( Huge DADA fan:) ---
**Author:** ![Chambo](https://forum.dadamachines.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Chambo](https://forum.dadamachines.com/u/Chambo)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 3:43pm UTC](https://forum.dadamachines.com/t/bow-an-instrument-or-push-a-surface/470/3 "2020-10-02T15:43:19Z")
Thanks, there must be a way to do this sort of thing 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_Gateway](https://forum.dadamachines.com/user_avatar/forum.dadamachines.com/bad_gateway/32/158_2.png) [@Bad\_Gateway](https://forum.dadamachines.com/u/Bad_Gateway)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 4:12pm UTC](https://forum.dadamachines.com/t/bow-an-instrument-or-push-a-surface/470/4 "2020-10-05T16:12:14Z")
A robotic bowed instrument would be awesome. I feel like the solenoids move too fast for a good bowed note. Have you considered re-purposing an oscillating fan or something like that? Not the actual fan, but the part that goes back and forth. ---
**Author:** ![Chambo](https://forum.dadamachines.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Chambo](https://forum.dadamachines.com/u/Chambo)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 7:01pm UTC](https://forum.dadamachines.com/t/bow-an-instrument-or-push-a-surface/470/5 "2020-10-05T19:01:17Z")
I think that solenoids are just ‘on or off’ (1 or 0). So I think that there would have to be something that could be controlled in increments. Some sort of motor setup might work, but can you do this with the Automat toolkit? ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_Gateway](https://forum.dadamachines.com/user_avatar/forum.dadamachines.com/bad_gateway/32/158_2.png) [@Bad\_Gateway](https://forum.dadamachines.com/u/Bad_Gateway)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 9:25pm UTC](https://forum.dadamachines.com/t/bow-an-instrument-or-push-a-surface/470/6 "2020-10-05T21:25:26Z")
I’m pretty sure you can send power to anything you want from the automat. There’s a bunch of info on this forum regarding alternative solenoids. From those posts I gathered that the automat supports 6A total, and the 12 solenoids each pull 0.5A. However you can also have 6 stronger solenoids pulling 1A each. Or one motor taking up the full 6A. ---
**Author:** ![Chambo](https://forum.dadamachines.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Chambo](https://forum.dadamachines.com/u/Chambo)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 9:55pm UTC](https://forum.dadamachines.com/t/bow-an-instrument-or-push-a-surface/470/7 "2020-10-05T21:55:47Z")
Thanks I wonder f it’s possible to specify the speed and distance that a motor runs? Basically I have a drum membrane and I want to tighten it by pushing against it to adjust the pitch of the ‘skin’. So distance that it’s pushed will have an impact and the speed of the push will have an impact on the sound too ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_Gateway](https://forum.dadamachines.com/user_avatar/forum.dadamachines.com/bad_gateway/32/158_2.png) [@Bad\_Gateway](https://forum.dadamachines.com/u/Bad_Gateway)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 10:48pm UTC](https://forum.dadamachines.com/t/bow-an-instrument-or-push-a-surface/470/8 "2020-10-05T22:48:59Z")
There’s probably a few ways to go about that. Sounds like you have some mechanical engineering ahead of you. I don’t know the terms, but when you get a motor involved, you can do stuff like this: > **[Scotch yoke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotch_yoke)** > > The Scotch yoke (also known as slotted link mechanism) is a reciprocating motion mechanism, converting the linear motion of a slider into rotational motion, or vice versa. The piston or other reciprocating part is directly coupled to a sliding yoke with a slot that engages a pin on the rotating part. The location of the piston versus time is simple harmonic motion, i.e., a sine wave having constant amplitude and constant frequency, given a constant rotational speed. > This setup is most commonly u... Then the signals sent via automat can be timed to push against the skin. ---
**Author:** ![Chambo](https://forum.dadamachines.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Chambo](https://forum.dadamachines.com/u/Chambo)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 9:05am UTC](https://forum.dadamachines.com/t/bow-an-instrument-or-push-a-surface/470/9 "2020-10-06T09:05:12Z")
Looks interesting! Is there a link to the discussion on solenoids? I was wondering if there was pre-built unit that could somehow send out a rod. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_Gateway](https://forum.dadamachines.com/user_avatar/forum.dadamachines.com/bad_gateway/32/158_2.png) [@Bad\_Gateway](https://forum.dadamachines.com/u/Bad_Gateway)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 2:07pm UTC](https://forum.dadamachines.com/t/bow-an-instrument-or-push-a-surface/470/10 "2020-10-06T14:07:24Z")
> [@Solenoid selection](https://forum.dadamachines.com/t/solenoid-selection/288): > > Hello I would like to know what is the most powerful solenoid the dada could drive on a 24v powersupply (the one shipped with the M kit) What is the voltage rating, current consumption and force (in Newtons) of the solenoids that come in that kit please? Thanks Zzbb There are a few other neat posts for DIYers such as yourself - comb through the forum posts. I don’t think Dadamachines have pre-made a device that you’re looking for but I’d love to see you experiment : ) ---
**Author:** ![Harry23](https://forum.dadamachines.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/76d3ee/32.png) [@Harry23](https://forum.dadamachines.com/u/Harry23)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2021, 9:42am UTC](https://forum.dadamachines.com/t/bow-an-instrument-or-push-a-surface/470/11 "2021-11-23T09:42:37Z")
Me too. I am also looking for the best instrument for my music.