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Unread 13-01-2014, 14:09
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Mark Sheridan Mark Sheridan is offline
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FRC #3476 (Code Orange)
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Re: Creating the Lightest Pneumatic System

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Schreiber View Post
I'm specifically referring to the pressure relief valve, pressure switch, and the pressure vent plug. Are the 574ml Clippard tanks the most mass efficient air storage solution?

I've heard of some teams using smaller diameter fittings and 1/8" OD pneumatic tubing, can anyone confirm this and/or provide a vendor, advantages/disadvantages to this?
I think these storage tanks are the most weight and cost efficient. I found some aluminum tanks that are better but there volumes were several gallons and the price was just outside the cost limits. I used the other storage tanks on Andy-mark and liked them. Not sure if I will try the 574 ml tanks this year.

I have used 1/8" OD tubing at my work. I use them a lot because I tend to restrict the flow anyways. Last year we had some small cylinder that were in a small area that forced our 1/4" OD line to be bent in a radius not recommended by the MFG. Also, we were bending the push connect too much and caused leaks. So we had to constantly checking on it and re zip tie-ing it to try to reduce the radius So this year we want to some 1/8" OD tubing on hand just in case we had a tight area.

Freelin-Wade sells a version of polyurethane tubing that is equivalent to the 1/4" on Andy-Mark, it has the same rated burst and durometer. Last I checked, Mcmaster sells only the Nylon which should be ok. I use this 5097T312. Should work fine. The plan I am using for my team is to do everything in 1/4" and use the quick disconnect fitting 5779K699 with 1/8" to see if the flow rate is ok and then swap the fitting to make it 1/8" I am only going to do this if we need the weight or the smaller bend radius.
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