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Unread 13-12-2005, 00:37
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ZZII 527 ZZII 527 is offline
"Scale Electric Vehicle"
AKA: Shane Colton
FRC #0097
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Re: Check out our cannon bot!

As a general warning, be EXTREMELY careful if you are using PVC for pressurized air storage. Even if it is rated to pressure much higher than what you will be using, it can be dangerous. It is designed for incompressible liquids that don't store much elastic energy. Compressible gases, on the other hand, store tremendous amounts of energy and can cause violent explosions. It is for this reason that PVC manufacturers explicitly state that it is not to be used with compressed air.

If you are going to use PVC for an air cannon, make sure it is pressure rated (it will say so right on the pipe) and make sure you properly cement all connections. Also, DO NOT use it outdoors in cold weather - the plastic becomes very brittle and is more likely to fail.
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Last edited by ZZII 527 : 13-12-2005 at 00:42.