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Re: Vacuums!
Reversing the compressor is a bad idea. Especially when we have a venturi vacuum generator that works perfectly fine with compressed air. Plus the advantages of using the compressor are that multiple functions can be powered by the compressed air it generates.
There are other, non-pneumatic, ways of producing a vacuum. Driving a piston with a motor works, but relies on a good seal (you can only evacuate the length of the piston). Drawing a good seal is still important for continous vacuum device, such as the venturi or a KOP motor+impeller, but since these type are always drawing in air, loss of seal doesn't mean loss of object.
One other disadvantage (or advantage) of piston type suction devices are that once the seal is made, the amount of suction is determined by how far the piston rod moves. Since continous type are open to atmospheric pressure the vacuum is determined by other things like air flow rate and pressure or motor speed.
If you are using pneumatics this year, the venturi pump is great. If you not going with a pnuematics a KOP motor with an impeller (FP with an impeller from a small shop vaccum worked great in '04) will work and can fairly small and light (you only near the small motor, impeller (plastic), and a housing).
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