[Al Skierkiewicz]

Everyone,
You are correct that a properly connected regulator, in good condition, in a properly working system should pose no problems. However, you need to inspect sometime with me to fully appreciate the need for some of these safety measures. I have seen teams who have had students disassemble pneumatic parts to see whats inside, and then reassembled with a few extra parts left over. I have seen systems where the pressure switch was on the low pressure side and the team wanted me to find them a new pressure relief valve since theirs kept venting. (they also wondered why their compressor ran most of the time. It only shut off when it reached protection temperature) I have seen teams with cracked knobs on their regulators from constant use and over tightening, regulators in backwards or improperly plumbed. Home made pneumatic parts, fittings and modified actuators. It is for these reasons there is a strict rule section on the use of pneumatics. I have witnessed catastrophic pneumatic failures and quite frankly it scared the **** out of me.

And that's just the pneumatics...