Purchasable Tricks and Easy Fixes

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by Alex Cormier

That's a good point. Also those sign shops make some sweet vinyl decals to make robots look pretty nice.

This too. We put our sponsors and schools on the arm this year, and it ran me around $15. (And nine SCRIW trophies ran around $80.) Have the adults on your team ask around--someone is bound to know a guy who knows a guy. (All of 2815's work has been done through the company that does signage for my employer, meaning I rarely have to make a special trip to get the vinyl.)

[Gary.C]

Originally Posted by JesseK

A small word of caution: while it sounds great for many things, VHB doesn't sound like something you'd want to use to mount electronics. Electronics inevitably need to be replaced at some point and there's no good sense is using an adhesive that will rip the backing off of your spikes, victors, jaguars or digital sidecars. We had this problem when we tried industrial strength Velcro to mount electronics one off-season.

VHB does sound pretty useful though. Thanks for the tip.

Even though we mount our electronics with bolts into our belly pan, VHB wouldn't rip the backing off electronics. We used it to hold our radio in place and our camera when we we had it on for our first regional. Also used it on other electrical things for other projects. It will come off with some pulling if you twist first and then pull. It also leaves hardly any residue.

[JamesCH95]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

Any purchasable tricks for pneumatics? Any fancy little fittings or valves or parts that many may not be aware of?

I really like the "wye" style fittings of various connection styles. In some cases are cleaner to package than a "tee" fitting and I believe they flow better than a "tee" fitting if that is a concern.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#push-to-con...ttings/=f6qut1

I am also a huge fan of manifold mount solenoid valves, another part I wasn't aware of until recently. They make pneumatics easier to install, have fewer leaks, and package nicely.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#aluminum-so...valves/=f6qwyf

[thefro526]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

Any purchasable tricks for pneumatics? Any fancy little fittings or valves or parts that many may not be aware of?

Plastic Air tanks from Pneuaire: http://www.pneuaire.com/reca44cuin.html

And I'm with James on the 'Wye' fittings, they're so much better than Tees in many applications.

Oh, and I've found that Automation Direct seems to have the lowest prices on Pneumatic Fittings and pretty good shipping. http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/...(Thermoplastic)

[pfreivald]

Originally Posted by thefro526

Plastic Air tanks from Pneuaire: http://www.pneuaire.com/reca44cuin.html

Sweet. We didn't use pneumatics last year, and I was just about to ask what plastic air tanks people were talking about!

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by JamesCH95

I am also a huge fan of manifold mount solenoid valves, another part I wasn't aware of until recently. They make pneumatics easier to install, have fewer leaks, and package nicely.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#aluminum-so...valves/=f6qwyf

What exact brand and model of valves are those?

[JamesCH95]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

What exact brand and model of valves are those?

When I've purchased the 1/8" size style A they've always come out as SMC SY3000-series components, an FRC favorite. Be sure to specify the "24V" option, they will then work perfectly with the solenoid control module on the cRIO. To be extra-sure on the make/model I call McMaster and double-check for these sorts of things.

SMC SY3000 components can certainly be had for a lower price elsewhere, such as Automation Direct like theFro526 says. It just so happens that our main sponsor has an open account with McMaster, so it is very easy from a 'red-tape' perspective to order through them. And McMaster's next-day delivery on everything for ground-shipping prices is a life saver during build season for us.

[Matt C]

Originally Posted by pfreivald

Sweet. We didn't use pneumatics last year, and I was just about to ask what plastic air tanks people were talking about!

Yea, I picked up 4 mid-sized ones last year but didn't get them soon enough to be able to use them. They offer an amazing weight savings over the "old" aluminum tanks.

Just remember to save the spec sheet.

Oh, they are also cheaper than the standard "KOP" aluminum tanks.

[pfreivald]

Originally Posted by Matt C

Yea, I picked up 4 mid-sized ones last year but didn't get them soon enough to be able to use them. They offer an amazing weight savings over the "old" aluminum tanks.

Just remember to save the spec sheet.

Oh, they are also cheaper than the standard "KOP" aluminum tanks.

What was the turnaround time? Should I order some now?

[Garrett.d.w]

We recently bought a few for ourselves and they took about 4 or 5 business days to arrive at our shop (I think).
These tanks are defenitly worth it. The weight and money savings on these things has allowed us to put a lot more of them on our preseason robot. The added air capacity helps extend our battery life and keep the performance of pneumatics consistent.

[Siri]

Originally Posted by Garrett.d.w

We recently bought a few for ourselves and they took about 4 or 5 business days to arrive at our shop (I think).

Keep in mind that these tanks are growing very popular among FRC, so they may end up on back order in the future. (I think this happened to a local team last year.) If you're a pneumatics team, you may just want to buy them now. You can always use/reuse them later.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by Siri

Keep in mind that these tanks are growing very popular among FRC, so they may end up on back order in the future. (I think this happened to a local team last year.) If you're a pneumatics team, you may just want to buy them now. You can always use/reuse them later.

Maybeh... there is always the ever popular theory of a robot that must be constructed utilizing only wood.

Just a reminder that last years rules may not carry over to this year and those tanks may be illegal again.

[thefro526]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

Maybeh... there is always the ever popular theory of a robot that must be constructed utilizing only wood.

Just a reminder that last years rules may not carry over to this year and those tanks may be illegal again.

Eh, I think Siri's point still stands. They're not so expensive that you're really out all that much money if they aren't legal.

Or if you're worried about back order and legality, you can order them the Saturday of Kick-off.

[IndySam]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

Maybeh... there is always the ever popular theory of a robot that must be constructed utilizing only wood.

That way we could tell if she were a witch

Originally Posted by IndySam

That way we could tell if she were a witch

Burn her, burn her?