Pneumatics

Weve all most sorted the pneumatics out on Leveller. The swicher clicks when we tell it to via tor RC. The solanoid clicks at the top when we tell it to. But when we open the the gass into the system the ram fires and wont fire again even though the swicher and solanoid still click.
Dose any one have any ideas what could the problem be?
Thanks

if you have a solanoid valve you might have it plummed in the wrong ports. been there done that. :)

could have done that, where do they go on envy?

i have stripped envy down but will let you know when i put it back together this weekend my exact piping system. why not try and swap the pipes and see if you get anywhere. i am sure you will find the problem.

What you using ? a 5 port

Cheers Shane, well have a play with it.
Yeah Simon its a 5 port solanoid valve

I think you just got the pipes back to front. Its feeding streight to the ram rather than being stopped then feeding the ram when opened.

Simons more than likely correct.

The port configuration is normally 3 ports on one face of the valve body and two on another face.

The middle port of the three is the inlet from your buffer tank or regulator.... the other two either side are exhausts and shouldnt have anything in them.

The remaining two ports will go to the extend and retract of the ram.

http://www.teamdavinci.com/understanding_pneumatics.htmhttp://www.teamdavinci.com/understanding_pneumatics.htm

Thanks guys, I think I know what Im meant to do now, ill have a look tomorrow.

Sorted ?

Not yet, weve had a look and we think all the plumbing is OK. We think we didnt have enouigh gas. were going for some more tomorrow and hopfully thatll sort it.

Ill let you know how it goes...

A pic or sketch would help if the problems continue.

Hi guys,
thanks for all the help, we have managed to get the flipper working:):):):):)
just hope we dont break it before a competition! lol

excellent james :)

Ive been having a look round Hydras pneumatics system trying to work a few things out. Like why the flipper keeps getting stuck up and the axe down and a few other things too.

It is currently plumbed as follows:

Bottle - regulator & 1000psi prv - 12mm pipe - t piece to 1kg buffer - 12mm pipe - t piece to lp prv - 12 mm pipe to t piece - 12mm pipe to flipper and axe 5/2 valves

from 5/2 valves - 12mm pipe to activate - 6mm pipe to return.

First thing that jumped out at me was the size of the buffer, so Ive replaced it with a 2.5 kg tank.

Next thing is the amount of connections and ts in the system.

I have a small manifold which I can tie everything back to. IE: input from regulator and star connections to everything else. As I recall from school the fact that the regulator and the buffer are connected at this point should hold everything at the same pressure irrespective of leaks and everything else.

My question is, will this help or am i wasting my time?

Andy

Stuck as in never comes down or stuck till pressure builds back up and then eventually becomes unstuck?
Minimising all the Ts by using a manifold and adding a bigger buffer should certainly help.

Why 6mm return ? ...it might be a flow restriction and could cause excessive back pressure and slow your Axe/Flipper.
Do you use QEVs and lower pressure return on the flipper?

(Message edited by woody on October 12, 2008)

Stuck as in till the pressure builds up.

I am assuming that increasing the pipe sizes to the returns will actually make little difference except to affect the speed when the pressure does eventually build back up?

Andy

You can see it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UDmzHDbVY4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UDmzHDbVY4 if you need it pointing out, just wait till you hear Luke shout its twitching!! and youll see what I mean.

This appears to have been a problem in Hydra form the start. You can see it happening here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YL8HCwu4Lqshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YL8HCwu4Lqs

Andy (OK I accept I have no life if Im watching videos to find out whats wrong) S

Sorry Woody, guilty of not reading your posts again!:mrgreen:

6mm return is what has always been there and its been left alone till Ive been happy to do some major surgery (Time and confidence)

6mm return has a qrv attached to the ram so shouldnt slow down the flipper or axe on the way down. Flipper return is 10bar (as main system) but smaller tube.

The smaller tube is needed as its flexible enough to take the route from the 5/2 valve to the top of the ram and move with the ram.

Would a qrv on the bottom of the ram be a sensible idea if the buffer doesnt work? this I assume would reduce any back pressure on the return stroke.

Andy

A QEV on the ram base isnt needed or wanted...your problems seem to be purely down to a lack of pressure in your buffer tank.
Are your 5/2 valves Solenoid/Spring or Solenoid/ Solenoid?

Dunno Woody, Ill have a rummage round inside Hydra and see what I can find out.

Suppose I should find out if it is purely a buffer issue at Nottingham, so Ill wait till then. Will probably put the manifold on anyway as it seems a good idea.

Andy

Solenoid / Solenoid valves will have a coil each end ...Its possible... if you have this type.. for the valve to stay open till enough pressure is built up to operate the return of the internal spool....thus the ram stays open till minimum operating pressure is attained.
A solenoid / spring type doesnt suffer from this problem as the spring returns the internal spool.
Having said that solenoid / spring valves wont solve the actual problem you appear to have of low buffer tank pressure.

Woody

In that case theyre solenoid spring valves. As Ive put the 2.5kg buffer in (was 1kg) hopefully thtatll see an end to the problem.

Andy