[TheForge] Power hammer Vs air hammer

[Demon Buddha]

Rich Maynard wrote:
> My suspicion is that with a compressible fluid you would not be able to rely
> on positioning like that unless you incorporated some kind of feedback.

	Well, I'm not necessarily looking for precisely that sort of precision, 
but only something in the ballpark.  Also, compressibility for a given 
mass (ram) is largely dependent on the volume of air.  As the volume 
increases, the ram becomes "stiffer" in its motion.
> 
> An optical sensor connected to a wee microcontroller ought to do it, and a
> rotary sensor on the treadle.

	Oh sure, one could do it digitally, but I live in a digital world and 
am sick of it, to be honest.  I'm looking for something a little 
older-fashioned and simple.
> 
> Hammer-by-wire, anyone?
> 
> Of course, such delicate electronics have no place in a smith's shop!

	There you go. :)