Is it safe to drill into the side of my (empty!) fire extinguisher bottle and tap a hole to have my outlet in the middle of the bottle? Not sure if there is enough wall thickness or if it makes it lose a lot of the strengh?
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Is it safe to drill into the side of my (empty!) fire extinguisher bottle and tap a hole to have my outlet in the middle of the bottle? Not sure if there is enough wall thickness or if it makes it lose a lot of the strengh?
I wouldn't risk doing that Max. More so if the extinguisher you have is a low press type (water, powder, foam)
Its a co2 fire extinguisher, I've seen people drill and tap in the end of the extinguisher before for pressure gauges, dump valves etc.
But I Think your right about drilling in the side
Taping it wouldn't be enough. I can't see a problem with a welding it if its a low pressure system. Ask the Beauty guys, they weld up their own buffer tanks.
As long as its LP you could do that and then pressure test it...although I really doubt anyone will certify it, but at least you'll know its safe. I don't know how strict are the rules regarding alteration/modification of pressure vessels.Quote:
I can't see a problem with a welding it if its a low pressure system.
Ok new idea- if I just use larger piping for the elbows then even with only half the flow I still get the maximum amount the burkert can take. Does anyone know what size pipe you need to supply a burkert with the maximum flow it can handle?
I have no experience with robot pneumatics systems, but I have built many air guns that I'll typically fill to 17 bar (limits of a cheap bike pump!), and I'd never trust a vessel with a large diametre like that, and just a tapped hole or something in one side. In the end of the bottle is different, the weakness is even, but in the side sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Unless it's an entirely custom setup, welded into place, properly pressure tested, etc, I'd give the idea a wide berth.
In fact, unless it is common practice in the hobby, I'd avoid drilling into the bottom of the bottle too.
As long it's empty , you can drill and tap to you hearts content.Quote:
Originally Posted by Max
If you ask that, you learned something. NO that wall ain't thick enough to do what you suggest.Quote:
Not sure if there is enough wall thickness or if it makes it lose a lot of the strengh?
For 1/8 or 1/4 bsp you can do so in the bottom - as it is about 3 times thicker than the wall, but even then you'll need to have it retested.
If you want a 1/2 BSP or bigger in the sidewall, you'll need a welded in/on piece. Most ali CO2 bottles are from a weldable kind of ali. And with the advent of cheap AC/DC TIG welders, more and more people can do so.
The main problem here is to get a firm retesting and certify adapted bottles.
So that's not an option, am I right in thinking that by using 1.5" BSP fittings and tubes then even with 3 bends in it I get the same flow through to the ram as using 1/2" BSP fittings and tubes?
Just build the damn thing, that spike won't do any damage, so whatever flow you give it, it won't matter.