Pneumatics

[Lord Nerdlinger]

How do you connect the latex tubing to the flow masters?

Is there a picture of how all this pneumatics stuff works. We need some help


thnks

[FotoPlasma]

FIRST's Pneumatics Manual is very useful.

To connect the latex tubing to the plastic quick connect fittings, just slide the tube into the hole. It should lock into place, and you shouldn't be able to easilly pull it out. To release it, slide the plastic lip in, towards the plastic fitting, while pulling gently on the latex tube.

[Lord Nerdlinger]

thanks

does anyone have pneumatics schematics like

+ and - leads of each solenoid go to this pin of this and so forth

this would be really helpful

a wiring diagram of all pneumatics related components would be perfect

thnks

[FotoPlasma]

The solenoids are controlled by relays, Red from the solenoid to M+ on the relay, Black from the solenoid to M- on the relay.

When using double solenoids, as it says in the manual, be sure not to tell the system to both retract and extend the actuator at once. The effects of this are practically unpredictable.

I could have sworn there was more information about the pneumatics system than the official manual.

I'll keep my eye out, and if I find anything, I'll eiher edit this post, or reply...

[Josh Hambright]

u can either use this manual:
http://www.innovationfirst.com/FIRST...sersManual.pdf
Which tells how to wire up the solenoids to spikes

This has the wiring guide for the digital inputs and analog inputs on the controller (digital inputs are where u would connect the pressure switch) http://www.innovationfirst.com/FIRST...ence_Guide.pdf


The pneumatics manual can be found here:
http://www2.usfirst.org/2003comp/pne...anual_2003.pdf


And check the regular robot manual for a sample of which pins might be used for certain sensors.

[Frank(Aflak)]

You can do the double solenoids with one relay. But you need, erm, i forget what they are called, but they only allow current to go one way, and you need two of them for each unit.

But, that way, you can have your valve done on a single spike, forward is one way and reverse is the other.

We don't have our (whatever that electrical thing i was talking about up there is)s yet, but we are getting them this weekend and plane to wire them up to our valves soon, and then we can just expand and retract them all we want with the joystick! so much fun just to push a button and hear a *hisssss* and see it move! you have no idea! wait until we get our chassis together and can start waving our arms around.

Anyway. The tubing (is it latex? I thought the latex tubing was for launching boxes?) just slides in and seals. Its great stuff, really, I love it. Its almost too east, i feel like i'm doing something wrong when I dismantle our pneutmatics assembly and then set it back up in two minutes. Its crazycool.

[Jim Giacchi]

Originally posted by Frank(Aflak)
You can do the double solenoids with one relay. But you need, erm, i forget what they are called, but they only allow current to go one way, and you need two of them for each unit.

EDITED TO ClARIFY


If you take both of the Solenoids (-) Wires and connect them to ground, and then connect each separate Solenoid (+) to each of the terminals on the Spike i am 99% sure that it will work without requiring two spikes.

[Frank(Aflak)]

we tried without the diodes, no dice.

We cant afford to grab more spikes, so diodes it is.

W/o diodes we could shift each valve in only one direction, the problem being that without diodes when you activate the spike you pulse both solenoids, so whichever one wins (usually the same one all the time) will shift it or stop it from shifting, meaning that you can't do anything with it. So its either two spikes or two diodes.

By the way, diodes will be REALLY easy, you can just splice it in and wrap it with electrical tape, no problem.

But pneumatics rock, specially with you get them working.

[edit] - I failed to understand what you were saying the first time I read your post. Yes, that would probably work, but we've already sent someone to get diodes.

wait . . . .. no, maybe not, I'm not sure, but does the spike require a circuit for it to work? it might, I can't remember. Your idea will work if it doesn't.

[Josh Hambright]

yes all hail the power of air. pneumatics rawk...