Compressor
 

Do we need to program the compressor in Labview? Is the compressor already programmed into the coding of the double solenoids?

Re: Compressor
 

When you open a solenoid, the compressor start running (and stops when it fills the tanks) automatically.

Re: Compressor
 

So all i need to do is program the solenoid in the Begin vi, Telop vi, and the Finish vi, and when I do this the compressor will automatically turn on and stop without manually programming it to do so?

Re: Compressor
 

Yes, just so.

If you want to see how it's done, double-click on the Solenoid Open and looking at the block diagram you'll see the compressor Open.

Re: Compressor
 

We've added 2 double solenoids to our program and the compressor does not start. we added the compressor to the Begin vi and tested it and still no compressor. Attached is a copy of our coding in Begin and Telop that pertains to the compressor.

Re: Compressor
 

The enums in Teleop are incorrect for Relay. That's why they have red dots.
Get a correct Relay Enum by

• Deleting the wire into Relay (the one with the red dot)
• Right-click on the now vacant Relay input node and choose Create->Constant

That's the correct Relay enum type.

• Now make copies of the correct one and replace all the others
• Finally, remove the Enum you created into Relay and wire Relay into the Select as it was before.
• If done correctly all the red dots should be gone.

Separately, is the status light on the Pneumatics Control Module blinking green?

Re: Compressor
 

Why does one of your double solenoids have a 0 wired to it, and the other a 1?

Re: Compressor
 

Okay I changed the program in telop. is there anything else I need to change? Like in the Begin vi?

Re: Compressor
 

In the begin vi the 0 and 1 corresponds with the channel in the Pneumatic Control Module that the double solenoids are using. Or at least that's what I think.

Re: Compressor
 

Solenoid B in Begin.vi needs the "1" changed to a "0"

To check that the PCM is setup correctly, use a web browser and type into the address bar:

roboRIO-2001.local

That should bring up web page where you'll see PCM listed on the left side.
Click on PCM and verify that the CAN ID = 0

What are the status lights on the PCM doing?

Re: Compressor
 

I changed Solenoid B to "0" and i can't find the pcm in the web browser. The status light on the PCM is blinking slow red. (No Can Com?)

Re: Compressor
 

That number corresponds to the CAN ID of the PCM itself. It defaults to zero, and should remain zero unless you're adding a second PCM to the system.

The enumerated "Solenoid 0", "Solenoid 1", etc. define which outputs of the PCM are connected to the solenoids.

If your PCM is blinking red, then you need to look at your CAN wiring and make sure it is correct. The yellow/green CAN terminals on the roboRIO should be wired to one pair of terminals on the PCM, and the other pair of PCM terminals should be wired to the CAN terminals on the Power Distribution Panel.

Re: Compressor
 

We rewired our CAN wires (They were wired incorrectly). Now the PCM is blinking green. We have yet to test the program though.

Re: Compressor
 

We ran into a problem where the buttons do not retract the pistons. Did i program the buttons wrong?

Re: Compressor
 

If some of the LEDs next to the solenoid ports 0, 1, 2, 3 light but do not change, then there is still something wrong with the code.
Want to post the latest?

Re: Compressor
 

There are no LEDs next to the solenoid ports as far as I can tell.

Re: Compressor
 

The PCM solenoid LEDs are easy to miss if they are off, and hard to miss if they are on. Here is what they look like:


If none of the LEDs are on then your commands are not getting to the PCM (or it's Disabled).
Did you go back with a web browser and confirm the CAN ID used by the PCM =0?

Re: Compressor
 

The CAN ID is 0 and none of the LEDs are on. The Light Device LED box is unchecked. Could that be why?

Is there an example of how to program the buttons in Labview that I could see?

Re: Compressor
 

There are some examples here.

The Light Device LED is just a way to make the PCM flash so you can confirm which one it is if you have multiple PCMs.
You can test it by checking it then clicking Save. The PCM will immediately blink rapidly for a second or two.

Re: Compressor
 

We reworked the programming and some LEDs do turn on. However only Solenoid B seems to work. Solenoid A automatically expands the piston and refuses to retract. Solenoid B (used for our noodle system) extends and retracts the piston correctly yet Solenoid A (used for our lift system) extends the piston without the pressing a button and refuses to retract.

Re: Compressor
 

Your Teleop code doesn't show where the Buttons array is coming from. It almost looks like there are two different arrays coming in from the top left, each being converted for some reason to a cluster, then a member of each cluster is being chosen independently to select the solenoid state.

Give us some more context so we can see what you're trying to control the solenoids with.

Re: Compressor
 

The reason why we converted them to a cluster was because that was what we were used to the previous years. We changed them back into arrays.

Noodle Solenoid works (Previously labeled Solenoid B). Lift Solenoid doesn't (Previously labeled Solenoid A).

Re: Compressor
 

We sorted everything out and now everything runs. Our team wants to reprogram the solenoids so that the pistons stop expanding or retracting once the button is let go. As of right now if you push a button, the piston will either fully extend or fully retract. No in between.

Re: Compressor
 

The two position pneumatic cylinders and solenoids only have two positions, no in-between.

There are some tricks possible, but success varies, e.g., two cylinders end to end can produce up to four different positions.