Creating the Lightest Pneumatic System

[Mike Schreiber]

Pneumatic Systems are heavy. We all know it, but we have a lot of flexibility in components we can use and I wanted to probe the CD community to see what people do to shave ounces off of their pneumatic setups. Given the mandated components in R78 has anyone shopped around for functionally equivalent parts that are lighter? I assume most teams have used these items because they are free in the KoP or on FIRST Choice.

I'm specifically referring to the pressure relief valve, pressure switch, and the pressure vent plug. Are the 574ml Clippard tanks the most mass efficient air storage solution?

I've heard of some teams using smaller diameter fittings and 1/8" OD pneumatic tubing, can anyone confirm this and/or provide a vendor, advantages/disadvantages to this?

I like the idea of using the SMC manifold sold by VexPro for simplicity, but I can't imagine that it is lighter than individual valves, it's a large aluminum block milled from solid, fittings and tubing on each valve seem like they would be lighter. Is this true?

Also these SMC solenoids are only rated to .7 MPA or 101 psi - according to my interpretation of R77 D I need an additional pressure relief valve on the low pressure side because the operating pressure is less than 125 psi. Is this the case? Or am I okay because the 60 psi regulator acts as a relief? If this is not the case, there is certainly a weight savings reason to go with Festo over SMC in the form of an extra pressure relief valve.