Re: 1726 Prototype Testing
 

Not only does the comment on youtube represent an incomplete understanding of the very clever system that 1726 has devised, but also an incomplete understanding of the Q&A. It has been specifically answered that building up pressure in a pneumatic cylinder, then releasing it is perfectly legal given that certain other conditions are met.

There is an excellent discussion of this topic here http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...threadid=62836 with links to relevant Q&A answers/clarifications.

In short... launch away my friends... just not in the pits and not using any system of compression other than the compressor, or any pressures exceeding 60 psi on the working side of the system.

Jason

Re: 1726 Prototype Testing
 

Quick Question:

Are you guys recycling the air from the launcher cyclinders' exhaust or just letting it vent?

If so, how? We are also a little worried about and air consumption.

Re: 1726 Prototype Testing
 

I'm pretty certain there is no way you are going to be able to 'recycle' air that has been used to do work and still get something useful out of it. (I think it's a violation of one of those important Thermodynamics laws)

I think the other ends of the cylinders are just vented to the atmosphere. The team is working on a way to make the system only need air in the one direction by having the cylinders return automatically when the air pressure is cut.

Also, the timing of the actuation is important. We really only get work out out of the first 3" of compressed air in the cylinder, so it doesn't make sense to keep spilling the air into cylinder after it's allowed to fire. The most efficient way to do it would be to fill the cylinders, and then close the valve immediately after letting the arms go (so as not to break the 'open valve' restriction) These savings all add up, and the system I just described would use about 1/10 of the total air that a double acting, full out pressure set up would (with our two 10" stroke cylinders, at least).

It's kind of hard to explain in a post, but hopefully you get the idea...

Re: 1726 Prototype Testing
 

Can you guys do me a favor and post some side pictures with the ball in the "ready to launch mode"

Re: 1726 Prototype Testing
 

I've been trying to get them to post more pictures for days now (I'm up at college right now and I don't get to play robots :(), but they keep making excuses like they have to do homework and stuff...

They should be home any minute now, maybe one of them could put up more pics.

Re: 1726 Prototype Testing
 

yeah, lots of excuses! we actually got the "rake" thing on the top of the robot that retains the ball before shooting, done tonight! but it was time to go home just as the pneumatic plumbing was completed, so no "real" shooting tests got done.

But we did get the robot to catch the ball after knocking it off the overpass...on the second try...it's pretty easy to do.

film at eleven....

Re: 1726 Prototype Testing
 

Unfortunately that won't be happening... our hosting service's server crashed and they are spending a lot of time fixing it. While they're working on it, the server is in read-only mode and files cannot be uploaded, so no pictures or forum until the server is fixed!

.

Re: 1726 Prototype Testing
 

Thanks, just curious because I saw that you had the exhast port with tubing coming out of it and was woundering if it ran to anything. Your plan for the phumatics sounds very ingenious, nice work:D !

Re: 1726 Prototype Testing
 

Oh man, that this is beastly! :yikes:
Someone alrady probably asked this, but how much psi are you using on that?

Re: 1726 Prototype Testing
 

In a four tank configuration our psi drops by about 30 per shot. We are doing our best to conserve air and hopefully will be able to get through the matches especially if we start with the tanks precharged.