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Unread 06-11-2014, 16:33
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FRC #2177 (The Robettes)
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Re: 80/20 as a storage chamber?

Assuming the specific model # you buy has a data sheet that lists gas pressure rating, there are two concerns I would have.

FIRST, modification. Did you cut the 80/20 to length?. If so, it's been modified and per the 2014 rules not a legal pneumatic component. If, on the other hand, you can purchase the exact length you need, that may not come into play. I would also look very carefully at how stuff may have been mounted to the 80/20, that could be another source of modification making it illegal as a pneumatic component.

Second, Safety. Like with all pneumatic storage tanks, I'm going to look at the likelihood of it getting hit, bent, or broken. Most tanks can be placed in a relatively protected area... Using 80/20 as both storage and your robot frame would raise a lot of concerns about the damage that could occur when you get hit on the field. From the standpoint of keeping a team running the whole weekend, having a single hard hit to the frame crack or dislodge something and cause you to lose air pressure with what could be a very lengthy fix is highly concerning. And while aluminum doesn't have the same failure mode as some of the plastic tanks we've seen explode, I would be concerned about explosive decompression in an area that is likely very near motors, electronics, and wiring that could all easily be shorted or damaged in such a situation.
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