Chief Delphi - Purchasable Tricks and Easy Fixes

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Chief Delphi (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/index.php)

- General Forum (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=16)

- - Purchasable Tricks and Easy Fixes (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98490)

Billfred

01-12-2011 22:07

Re: Purchasable Tricks and Easy Fixes

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Cormier (Post 1088001)

That's a good point. Also those sign shops make some sweet vinyl decals to make robots look pretty nice. ;)

This too. We put our sponsors and schools on the arm this year, and it ran me around $15. (And nine SCRIW trophies ran around $80.) Have the adults on your team ask around--someone is bound to know a guy who knows a guy. (All of 2815's work has been done through the company that does signage for my employer, meaning I rarely have to make a special trip to get the vinyl.)

Gary.C

01-12-2011 23:11

Re: Purchasable Tricks and Easy Fixes

Quote:

Originally Posted by JesseK (Post 1087842)

A small word of caution: while it sounds great for many things, VHB doesn't sound like something you'd want to use to mount electronics. Electronics inevitably need to be replaced at some point and there's no good sense is using an adhesive that will rip the backing off of your spikes, victors, jaguars or digital sidecars. We had this problem when we tried industrial strength Velcro to mount electronics one off-season.

VHB does sound pretty useful though. Thanks for the tip.

Even though we mount our electronics with bolts into our belly pan, VHB wouldn't rip the backing off electronics. We used it to hold our radio in place and our camera when we we had it on for our first regional. Also used it on other electrical things for other projects. It will come off with some pulling if you twist first and then pull. It also leaves hardly any residue.

JamesCH95

02-12-2011 08:32

Re: Purchasable Tricks and Easy Fixes

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanddrag (Post 1087953)

Any purchasable tricks for pneumatics? Any fancy little fittings or valves or parts that many may not be aware of?

I really like the "wye" style fittings of various connection styles. In some cases are cleaner to package than a "tee" fitting and I believe they flow better than a "tee" fitting if that is a concern.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#push-to-con...ttings/=f6qut1

I am also a huge fan of manifold mount solenoid valves, another part I wasn't aware of until recently. They make pneumatics easier to install, have fewer leaks, and package nicely.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#aluminum-so...valves/=f6qwyf

thefro526

02-12-2011 09:03

Re: Purchasable Tricks and Easy Fixes

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanddrag (Post 1087953)

Any purchasable tricks for pneumatics? Any fancy little fittings or valves or parts that many may not be aware of?

Plastic Air tanks from Pneuaire: http://www.pneuaire.com/reca44cuin.html

And I'm with James on the 'Wye' fittings, they're so much better than Tees in many applications.

Oh, and I've found that Automation Direct seems to have the lowest prices on Pneumatic Fittings and pretty good shipping. http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/...(Thermoplastic)

pfreivald

02-12-2011 09:18

Re: Purchasable Tricks and Easy Fixes

Quote:

Originally Posted by thefro526 (Post 1088055)

Plastic Air tanks from Pneuaire: http://www.pneuaire.com/reca44cuin.html

Sweet. We didn't use pneumatics last year, and I was just about to ask what plastic air tanks people were talking about!

sanddrag

02-12-2011 09:42

Re: Purchasable Tricks and Easy Fixes

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesCH95 (Post 1088051)

I am also a huge fan of manifold mount solenoid valves, another part I wasn't aware of until recently. They make pneumatics easier to install, have fewer leaks, and package nicely.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#aluminum-so...valves/=f6qwyf

What exact brand and model of valves are those?

JamesCH95

02-12-2011 10:03

Re: Purchasable Tricks and Easy Fixes

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanddrag (Post 1088060)

What exact brand and model of valves are those?

When I've purchased the 1/8" size style A they've always come out as SMC SY3000-series components, an FRC favorite. Be sure to specify the "24V" option, they will then work perfectly with the solenoid control module on the cRIO. To be extra-sure on the make/model I call McMaster and double-check for these sorts of things.

SMC SY3000 components can certainly be had for a lower price elsewhere, such as Automation Direct like theFro526 says. It just so happens that our main sponsor has an open account with McMaster, so it is very easy from a 'red-tape' perspective to order through them. And McMaster's next-day delivery on everything for ground-shipping prices is a life saver during build season for us.

Matt C

02-12-2011 10:23

Re: Purchasable Tricks and Easy Fixes

Quote:

Originally Posted by pfreivald (Post 1088058)

Sweet. We didn't use pneumatics last year, and I was just about to ask what plastic air tanks people were talking about!

Yea, I picked up 4 mid-sized ones last year but didn't get them soon enough to be able to use them. They offer an amazing weight savings over the "old" aluminum tanks.

Just remember to save the spec sheet. :D

Oh, they are also cheaper than the standard "KOP" aluminum tanks.

pfreivald

02-12-2011 14:47

Re: Purchasable Tricks and Easy Fixes

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt C (Post 1088086)

What was the turnaround time? Should I order some now?

Garrett.d.w

04-12-2011 04:05

Re: Purchasable Tricks and Easy Fixes

We recently bought a few for ourselves and they took about 4 or 5 business days to arrive at our shop (I think).
These tanks are defenitly worth it. The weight and money savings on these things has allowed us to put a lot more of them on our preseason robot. The added air capacity helps extend our battery life and keep the performance of pneumatics consistent.

Siri	04-12-2011 07:58

Re: Purchasable Tricks and Easy Fixes

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garrett.d.w (Post 1088508)

We recently bought a few for ourselves and they took about 4 or 5 business days to arrive at our shop (I think).

Keep in mind that these tanks are growing very popular among FRC, so they may end up on back order in the future. (I think this happened to a local team last year.) If you're a pneumatics team, you may just want to buy them now. You can always use/reuse them later.

Andrew Schreiber

04-12-2011 11:33

Re: Purchasable Tricks and Easy Fixes

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siri (Post 1088517)

Maybeh... there is always the ever popular theory of a robot that must be constructed utilizing only wood.

Just a reminder that last years rules may not carry over to this year and those tanks may be illegal again.

thefro526

04-12-2011 11:41

Re: Purchasable Tricks and Easy Fixes

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber (Post 1088554)

Eh, I think Siri's point still stands. They're not so expensive that you're really out all that much money if they aren't legal.

Or if you're worried about back order and legality, you can order them the Saturday of Kick-off.

IndySam

04-12-2011 11:44

Re: Purchasable Tricks and Easy Fixes

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber (Post 1088554)

Maybeh... there is always the ever popular theory of a robot that must be constructed utilizing only wood.

That way we could tell if she were a witch :)

Andrew Lawrence

04-12-2011 11:56

Re: Purchasable Tricks and Easy Fixes

Quote:

Originally Posted by IndySam (Post 1088559)

That way we could tell if she were a witch :)

Burn her, burn her?

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