Pneumatic Ball Puncher
 

Okay so I am apart of a rookie team this year, we are team 5107 The Neurotoxoins. We have the idea of using a pneumatic piston to literally punch the ball and propel it. The only issue is none of us have worked with pneumatic before. What we were wondering is if the piston would extend fast enough and with enough force to propel the ball. Thoughts? Ideas?

Thank you,
Brenden Geary

Re: Pneumatic Ball Puncher
 

No.

Re: Pneumatic Ball Puncher
 

The problem most teams are running into (you can find their posts with a quick search) is that the solenoids used to control the pneumatic cylinders do not allow the air to flow through them fast enough. You'll get the cylinder to move, but it won't be the punching action you're thinking of.

You could try using the cylinder to move a lever to increase the speed of the ball.

Personally, i would recommend using surgical tubing to power your shooter. You got some in your kit and it's easy to find online.

Re: Pneumatic Ball Puncher
 

Well, its not quite that simple.

Generally speaking, no, a pneumatic piston that is otherwise FIRST-legal will not be able to impart enough energy to the ball quickly enough to "punch" it to a sufficient height to clear the TRUSS or the HIGH GOAL.

There ARE ways you can build a pneumatically powered firing mechanism that WILL do the job. Prototype your ideas and see what works and what doesn't.

Re: Pneumatic Ball Puncher
 

First of all welcome to FIRST and Chief Delphi!

There are many thread on this subject started already. I would suggest that you do a search and join in on those conversations.

Good luck.

Re: Pneumatic Ball Puncher
 

Agreed, from our testing, punching, using surgical tubing , say like 8 seperate rubber bands, should do the trick, especially at a 45 degree launching angle, from a predetermined sweet spot.

Re: Pneumatic Ball Puncher
 

I guarantee at least one robot on Einstein will use a pneumatic punch, either one large cylinder or 3-4 smaller ones.

Re: Pneumatic Ball Puncher
 

Look at the Simbotics robot from 2008. It uses what appears to be one cylinder to propel a much larger and heavier ball over the overpass.

Re: Pneumatic Ball Puncher
 

Re: Pneumatic Ball Puncher
 

Guarantee is a really strong word... On what basis can you be 100% certain of the types of robots that will be on Einstein?

Re: Pneumatic Ball Puncher
 

I seriously doubt that. Maybe pneumatics attached to a lever arm to throw the ball, but absolutely not to punch it.

Re: Pneumatic Ball Puncher
 

After looking at symbotics I really like their winch idea and would incorporate very well into the design and Claw we have at the moment. Are we allowed to "steal" their wench design from 2008.

Re: Pneumatic Ball Puncher
 

I wouldn't recommend stealing their wench, but I'm sure they wouldn't mind others using that winch design.

Re: Pneumatic Ball Puncher
 

Yes, you can borrow their design. You can steal from the best and invent the rest. Look at any game and look at how many robots are based off the same design, you would be very surprised.

Re: Pneumatic Ball Puncher
 

Team 20 has prototyped pneumatic system to propel the ball. We had absolutely no luck. The system barely got the ball in the air. :(