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Unread 10-01-2007, 16:22
sanddrag sanddrag is offline
On to my 16th year in FRC
FRC #0696 (Circuit Breakers)
Team Role: Teacher
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Rookie Year: 2002
Location: Glendale, CA
Posts: 8,515
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Re: Off robot air compressor

I still stand firm on my belief that compressed air is compressed air no matter how it is compressed, and that should the rules allow it, any team putting compressed air into their tanks would do so with a compressor that is manufactured by a professional company that does not put out more than 125 psi. I don't think anyone is going to bring their rusted out compressor, or engine driven compressor, or 5 HP compressor.

I think after the completion of a season, there should be a "petition for change of rules" forum/form submission/etc for the next year, done in a very formal and controlled manner by the mentor of each team who wishes to participate.

Anyhow, moving on.

On the topic of the pressure switch, as an inspector, I saw numerous teams without one at the regional. They didn't even know what it was or how to program it. No one had an extra. What were we supposed to do? Render their pneumatic system un-usable because it is missing the switch? Or (per the manual) not allow them to place their robot on the field because it was missing a (trivial) required part? They payed big bucks to field a robot (just like everyone else), so, that they did, and there were no problems. I guess what I'm saying is, we don't like the some of the rules, but lets get the word out anyhow so we can deal with them sooner rather than later.

Teams. Please install and program the pressure switch and wire and control the compressor by the rules regardless of whether it is on your robot or not.

And on my above note, I suppose we are expected to have a Spike relay on the robot, to control a compressor off the robot? I'd rather run out there with a pre-charged two gallon tank and go "pssh, pop" (about a 1.5 second process) than sit there and fiddle around with wires and whatnot waiting for it to finish going "brrmmmmmmmmmm" for a half mintue or so. Pneumatic systems leak. This is FRC, nothing is perfect. We'd like to be able to fill our tanks right on the field. But we don't want to hold up the event by waiting for the incredibly low CFM compressor to do it, especially now that we have 4 tanks.
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Teacher/Engineer/Machinist - Team 696 Circuit Breakers, 2011 - Present
Mentor/Engineer/Machinist, Team 968 RAWC, 2007-2010
Technical Mentor, Team 696 Circuit Breakers, 2005-2007
Student Mechanical Leader and Driver, Team 696 Circuit Breakers, 2002-2004