View Single Post
  #3   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 05-02-2013, 19:47
nighterfighter nighterfighter is offline
1771 Alum, 1771 Mentor
AKA: Matt B
FRC #1771 (1771)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Rookie Year: 2007
Location: Suwanee/Kennesaw, GA
Posts: 835
nighterfighter has a brilliant futurenighterfighter has a brilliant futurenighterfighter has a brilliant futurenighterfighter has a brilliant futurenighterfighter has a brilliant futurenighterfighter has a brilliant futurenighterfighter has a brilliant futurenighterfighter has a brilliant futurenighterfighter has a brilliant futurenighterfighter has a brilliant futurenighterfighter has a brilliant future
Re: Compressor Auto Shut-off

Quote:
Originally Posted by chriz4gx View Post
Well the Compressor Is like programmed by the manufacturer(I think) to turn off at 120 Psi and kick back in after it reaches lower than 90 Psi.
Not quite.

We've used the compressors when making a T-Shirt shooter to reach around 150/160 PSI.

The automatic shutoff you MIGHT be referring to is the pressure switch that is wired up to the DIO. It is set to trigger when the pressure reaches 120PSI, and the compressor code, once started, will always keep the compressor on until the pressure switch is turned on. (Or switched off, I don't remember which state it is usually in).

There is also the automatic blow-off/relief valve, that must be adjusted to blow at 120PSI. It opens up at 120, releasing the pressure until it falls back down below 120.

For the purposes of FRC:
In C++ (and I assume in Java also): You create a compressor object, specifying what relay port the Spike is on, and what port the DIO input is on for the pressure switch. You then simply tell the compressor object to start, (such as ourCompressor.Start() ) and everything is done.

You can also use the Stop() method to disable the compressor, if you need to shut it off to save battery power for something else.

For non FRC uses: (AKA- When you want to use it to go above 120 PSI, or don't have a pressure switch installed)

Create a Relay object. (Relay myRelay = new Relay(1) Then have a button to turn the relay on, and one to turn it off. This will tell the Spike to turn the compressor on and stay on, until you turn it off. Be careful though, there will be NO automatic shut off (so the pressure might exceed safe limits), or more likely, the compressor will get EXTREMELY hot.


As for FRC Labview code: Having not used Labview, I can't say for certain: But I'd imagine what chriz said should work. There should be examples somewhere for you to find.
__________________
1771- Programmer, Captain, Drive Team (2009-2012)
4509- Mentor (2013-2015)
1771- Mentor (2015)