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.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.Originally Posted by Max
If you ask that, you learned something. NO that wall ain't thick enough to do what you suggest.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.
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