How to Setup Solenoid using Pneumatics Bumper

[brettreardon123]

We have been having trouble getting the solenoids to actuate when using the pneumatics bumper as opposed to just using a relay with a spike. We are not sure if we are even wiring it correctly, does anyone have a diagram or a tutorial on how to do this? Please reply ASAP, our regional is in two days.

Thanks,
Brett

[smcmahon]

I'm far from a pneumatics expert here Brett, but I can tell you how our team did it this season..

We had the two air outputs coming out of the solenoid (Festo) and then down to the two air inputs on our two-way air cylinder.

The solenoid (Festo) also has two sets of black/red wires. Small gauge, probably 22AWG or so. We attached little 2-pin header on those, much like you'd find on the female end of a PWM cable.

We attached those pins to the pneumatic bumper, in Slot 8 of the cRIO. We used pin sets 8 and 6.

In the code, we set up two buttons as Boolean variables. When the button is pressed the code receives TRUE. When the button is released and not being touched, it reads FALSE. This also sends a signal to the pins noted above, thus energizing the solenoid in the particular direction.

So, in our case, when we press one joystick button, it energizes pin set 8, and then solenoid forces the air piston to extend. When we press the opposing button, it energizes pin set 6, which causes the solenoid to retract the piston.

I'm sure much better info could be got from someone with more experience. This is very basic telling of our setup.

A note: we had been using 12-volt solenoids. If you are as well, be sure that you have the pneumatic bumper wired to a 12-volt power source (on the PD) and not 24-volts. I have no idea what sorta bad stuff could happen if the voltages don't match up.

[buildmaster5000]

Check the Team 358 site. They have very good tutorials on all things punematics.