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Unread 09-12-2004, 04:07
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Jeffrafa Jeffrafa is offline
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AKA: Jeff Lewis
FRC #1425 (Error Code)
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Rookie Year: 2004
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Re: Pnumatic Rules Suggestions/Gripes

I actually thought the pneumatics rules were quite open and not really very restricted, as some of you seem to think. Given last year was my rookie year, but my dad has also sold pneumatics for 20 years, so i do have some previous experience and exposure to them.

The restrictions that they do have only make sense - you halfta have standards set for things like compressors and accumulators or there's no way that it could even be a remotely fair playing field. I can sympathize with needing more or larger air storage, but this should still be something that is standardized, either with having an additional clippard tank or two larger tanks - not by just allowing people to pressurize whatever they can get ahold of.

As far as actuators are concerned, Section 5.2.9 <R54> states "There is no limit to the number of solenoid valves, air cylinders, and connecting fittings you may use on your robot. They must, however, be “off the shelf” pneumatic devices rated by their manufacturers for pressure of at least 125psi."

That rule states there is no limit to the number of pneumatic devices, so long as they are commercially avalible and rated for at least 125psi. This would include rodless cylinders, rotary actuators, pneumatic grippers, multiposition cylinders, and countless solenoid valves, for these are all avalible from any number of different manufacturers. I don't see how that seems restricted.

FIRST dosen't half to supply everything that you can use in the kit, and we shouldn't expect them to - although they do give you plenty to work with. Pneumatic actuators are an example, they give you some to work with, but that dosen't mean you are limited to what they give you.

Our team had a number of complexities in our pneumatic system last year. We didn't have any specialty actuators, but we did run both 30 and 60 psi in order to save air where we didn't need high force. We even had two cylinders which we could switch between the two pressures by using a solenoid valve backwards and plugging the exhaust ports, this would let us raise our hook while saving our air for when we needed it to actually hang. We had 2, three position solenoid valves and we also had an air filter hooked up just after our compressor to help eliminate some of the moisture we were getting built up in the air system, certianly not something FIRST robots usually, or mabye even have ever had - but it is standard in industry application.

Anyways, thats just a few of my thoughts
Feel free to comment back or correct me if i may have misspoke,

Jeff
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