Help with Pneumatics

**chompalot** · 8th December 2003, 09:54

Hi,

Im very new to the whole bot scene, I have had plans to build a bot for a year or 2 now and am about to start building, I have no problem with electronics or building, just pneumatics. My plans currently have electric motors driving cutting weapons, but I would rather have something a bit more powerful ;-)

I know ( kinda ) how pneumatics work but the fine details such as size of buffer tanks and exhausting pressure from the ram and such like still elude me.

could anyone share some Genius with me??
Whats the simplest way to build a pneumatic system?

8th December 2003, 10:13

Take a look at the Technobots guide notes - http://www.technobots.co.uk/en-gb/pg_19.htmlhttp://www.technobots.co.uk/en-gb/pg_19.html theres two very good articles about LP and HP pneumatics.

However, it has to be said, people who dont know what theyre doing shouldnt play with compressed gas (dont think Im being condescending, I include myself in that statement!). Pnaumatics have the capacity to do a lot of damage to humans, so I, personally, avoid them at all costs. If youre not comfortable with pneumatics, theres plenty of weapons you can build without them.

**chompalot** · 8th December 2003, 10:36

Thanks Steve,

Ive had a good read through the articles, and Im not feeling to inclined to build a pneumatic weapon. Will wait until I find a new team member with skills in pneumatics.

May just have a pneumatic weapon on the next design....After this bot has been thoroughly pounded in battle.

**defyer** · 15th June 2006, 21:44

Anthony I have Canadas number 1 Heavyweight, its a 4 wheel drive flipper running at 1000 psi and can be run up to 2000 psi.

My system uses High Pressure Air,my system is as basic as it can get, I have 1/2 lines on the high pressure side, I have two 3 inch rams that are feed by a 1/2 ball valve which is attached to a pneumatic actuator the rams are double action which the exhaust ports left open, on the main feed line I t off to another 1/2 ball valve which exhausts the line so the flipper comes down as fast as it goes up, no need to feed air into the exhaust side or bungee cords, the feed and vent are instant, with neither valve being able to be open at the same time.

The valves are feed by a low pressure line feedding from the high pressure, via a smaller regulator, in all the system is extremely powerful, both valves are rated for 2000 psi not that i will ever use that much power, but 1000 psi system is what I was aiming for and managed to build it on the 4 th attempt.
I also dont use a buffer tank.

Think long and hard before you go the pneumatic route, it can be a pain in the arse.

**jamesb** · 15th June 2006, 21:56

hi martin,
welcome to the forum. that sounds like a great robot mate, and thanks for the description.
im sure, if anthony is still on the forum, hed find that as interesting as i did, but he posted last on this subject about 2 and a half years ago, so maybe he wont get your reply.

seriously though, i found it very interesting, any pics?

**jamesb** · 15th June 2006, 21:59

scrap that request, just visited your website and found pics.
cool, and so is the site.

**woody** · 15th June 2006, 23:26

http://www.buildersdb.com/botpics/4133.jpg http://www.buildersdb.com/botpics/4133.jpg

**defyer** · 17th June 2006, 01:58

The pic you see on the builders database was a quick mock up, the bot has had a total frame rebuild, to shave 25lb off, as it came in at 220 lb, the valves we use to give us the 1000 psi and upwards each weigh 9.5 lb, I will be posting a new pic in the next couple of days as for my site, well that needs a major update.

**woody** · 17th June 2006, 06:17

Hi Martin.

I made a visit to your site a while back ..September last year I believe.

Tescom and Goreg are popular high pressure / high flow air regulators .... whose make and model/specs do you use?
You say that your using 2 off ball valves , couldnt you have used a T or L ported ball valve?
How fast can you open the ball valves? ..... etc.

Cheers Woody