im looking to built a manipulator and am pretty set on hydraulics. I would use an array of solenoid valves and syringes as the rams/cylinders. Instead of hydraulic fluid, i would use water, pumping water in and out of the solenoids. My only issue is that i am not so sure on the choice of pump... right now i have this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 832wt_1130
since its reversible and i will have to pump water in AND out of the syringes. Im not sure the pressure will be high enough with that pump though. I did find a 5bar water pump for about $30 but i think it might pump too much water at a time making the manipulators movements too fast and imprecise:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/6-5L-12V-CPU-Co ... 1368wt_927
does anybody have any suggestions for the pump and/or general opinions on the idea of using hydraulics?