Legality of Spring Loaded Pistons

[Yan Wang]

Based on the part flowchart, spring loaded pistons are ok... is this true? Can someone post a specific reference in the rules stating their legality?

[KenWittlief]

do you mean spring loaded pistons that you buy from somewhere? or adding springs to the pistons from the FIRST supplier list?

are you talking about pneumatics?

[Max Lobovsky]

do you mean spring loaded pistons that you buy from somewhere? or adding springs to the pistons from the FIRST supplier list?

are you talking about pneumatics?
Aren't all of the above legal? (Except a pneumatic piston not from FIRST's supplier)

[KenWittlief]

yes, they should all be legal - you can add springs to retract the pneumatic cylinders if you want

and you should be able to purchase an off the shelf spring loaded piston device, as long at its not a pneumatic cylinder from 'someone else'

[ngreen]

Does bimba sell pre-spring loaded pistons? Because that would be very awesome. Not that I could use it but I would solve a couple teams problems.

[pras870]

I agree with Ken, following the flow chart, there seems to be nothing wrong with using a Spring Loaded Piston, as long as it does not violate the ruling for custom pneumatic parts.

[ryan_f]

i have about 10 bimba pneumatic cylinders that are 3/4 " stroke 1 1/2" bore. and they are spring loaded in a way. They don't have a second air intake thing but instead just a small hole. We bought them at princess auto for about $2 each. We didn't use them this year just in case they weren't allowed to be used on the robot

[ngreen]

Yeah do the make those things in 24" stroke and 2" bores. Because that would help several teams. Like 134.

[dlavery]

and you should be able to purchase an off the shelf spring loaded piston device, as long at its not a pneumatic cylinder from 'someone else'

Spring-loaded pistons are NOT legal. Review the fourth paragraph of <R54> and the parts-use flowchart (including the expanded flowchart in Rules Update #10) VERY carefully.

Is a spring-loaded piston an air cylinder ordered from the Custom Cylinder Order Form? No.

Is it a purchased cylinder or actuator IDENTICAL to those available on the Custom Cylinder Order Form? No.

Spring loaded pistons are not available on the order form in the pneumatics manual. Therefore, you cannot purchase pistons that are spring loaded.

-dave

[pras870]

I stand corrected, I did not see the updated Flow Chart in this team update, I apoligize.

[thoughtful]

if i am right arent we allowed to use springs this year?, than why not attach the spring seperately to that part your piston is going to be on, and the whole thing will act as a spring loaded piston

[pras870]

I'm pretty sure this would be legal, seeing as how you're not modifying the piston itself in anyway.

[ngreen]

Yeah, it would be legal but a manufactured one would be better in this case because it is designed to work in this way but a team designed one might be more dangerous. A pre-built one would be easier to implement into the system too. Too bad, the rule is clear now. Just make sure your spring loaded device doesn't break the 10 ft/sec rule.

[KenWittlief]

sorry for the confusion - I did not mean piston = pneumatic cylinder - I was thinking of a spring loaded piston as a spring device, not something that uses air pressure to move.