The working principle of the solenoid, a fundamental electromagnetic component, is quite intuitive. It is mainly composed of two parts, the coil and the piston, which are tightly combined. When electricity is applied to the coil, the flow of current generates a strong magnetic force, which directly acts on the piston and generates thrust or tension, depending on the winding method of the coil. It is worth noting that simply changing the polarity of the lead does not change the direction of the force acting on the solenoid (because the direction of the force depends on the winding method of the coil and is independent of the polarity)

Open frame solenoid, this small and powerful electromagnetic component, has a wide range of applications in many fields. The push/pull force generated by it far exceeds its volume, making it play a critical role in many occasions such as vending machines, copiers, water pumps, locks, brakes, gear positioning, and packaging sorting equipment. In addition, Digi Key offers two basic frame types of solenoids to meet customers' different installation needs: one is a tubular solenoid with threaded bushings for easy panel installation; Another type is an open frame solenoid with threaded inserts that support chassis installation. Please note that most of the solenoids we provide are tension type, but we also list some thrust type solenoids for customers to choose from

Main specifications of the open frame solenoid
When selecting a solenoid, multiple specifications need to be considered comprehensively to ensure that it can meet specific application requirements. These specifications include:

Framework type: determines the installation method of the solenoid, such as panel installation or chassis installation.
Voltage: It must be matched with the voltage source of the client to ensure that the solenoid can work properly.
Power: It is determined by the stroke length and the required operating force, directly affecting the working efficiency of the solenoid.
Travel length: refers to the distance traveled by the solenoid piston, which determines the range of its pushing/pulling force.
Operating force: The pushing/pulling force generated by the solenoid is an important consideration when selecting a solenoid.
Push or Pull: Determine the working mode of the solenoid, whether it generates thrust or tension.
Standard or lockout: Standard solenoids are non polarized, while lockout solenoids are polarized and have specific release voltage specifications.
Work cycle: The working modes of the solenoid include continuous, intermittent, and pulse, and different types of work cycles will affect its power and tension.
In addition, when comparing standard and lockout type solenoids, it should be noted that lockout solenoids include release voltage specifications and their working principles are different from standard solenoids. Due to the polarization characteristics of the locking solenoid, it can pull into the piston when a unidirectional voltage is applied, and when a lower reverse voltage is applied, the coil will generate sufficient reverse magnetic flux to counteract the effect of the fixed magnet. This characteristic gives the locking solenoid a unique advantage in certain applications.