How much air would this use?

[Kevin Sevcik]

Originally Posted by bkahl

For future questions, I would suggest this excel calculator created by Paul Copioli: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/3166

It has an air usage calculator but also a calculator for center-to-center hole spacing for chain, and a in depth calculator combining multiple different motors within one gearbox.

Paul's Calculator and JVN's Design Calc are two things always open for me during build season for solving design problems like yours.

Now I'm itching to modify Paul's calculator to cover multiple working pressure pneumatic systems. Or possibly toss in compressor calculations, but that'd get complicated quickly....

[Levi Madden]

The best way to figure that out is to test it. It's not too difficult to make a basic pneumatic set up with it, all you need to do is plumb in a solenoid to the cylinder, and then try different amounts of tanks, you should be fine with 2-3 tanks.

[bkahl]

Originally Posted by Levi Madden

you should be fine with...

This saying is a bit of a pet peeve for me.

Why not do the math first, then test exactly what the math says? It could save you from throwing unnecessary tanks at a pneumatic system, something too many teams do.

[Levi Madden]

Originally Posted by bkahl

This saying is a bit of a pet peeve for me.

Why not do the math first, then test exactly what the math says? It could save you from throwing unnecessary tanks at a pneumatic system, something too many teams do.

I know, It was a recommended starting place. Do the math and the testing then decide how many you need, keep in mind that you don't want to run until you have empty tanks, you want to run until your stored reaches below your working. Usually when someone says "I think" or "it will be fine" it's never just "fine".

[bkahl]

Originally Posted by Levi Madden

In my experience there's no such thing as too many tanks

Weighing in at about .64lbs a piece* (Black Clippard Tanks), there is absolutely a point where you can reach too many tanks...

*http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-2649.htm

[Levi Madden]

Agreed, there is such thing, account for what you need and then add a little more.

[Knufire]

Originally Posted by bkahl

Weighing in at about .64lbs a piece* (Black Clippard Tanks), there is absolutely a point where you can reach too many tanks...

*http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-2649.htm

In 2014, Warlords (2485) found that a 5gal sheet metal tank was a more efficient solution weight and volume wise compared to the necessary amount of black Clippard tanks given the air usage of their pneumatic catapult.

[Levi Madden]

Originally Posted by Knufire

In 2014, Warlords (2485) found that a 5gal sheet metal tank was a more efficient solution weight and volume wise compared to the necessary amount of black Clippard tanks given the air usage of their pneumatic catapult.

We wanted something like that last year, but we thought all of the large tanks like that we found would never pass inspection.

[Knufire]

Originally Posted by Levi Madden

We wanted something like that last year, but we thought all of the large tanks like that we found would never pass inspection.

Why not? What rules were you concerned about?

[Levi Madden]

Originally Posted by Knufire

Why not? What rules were you concerned about?

The only real good one we found was clearly labeled "not to be refilled".

[Knufire]

Originally Posted by Levi Madden

The only real good one we found was clearly labeled "not to be refilled".

Huh? Searching 5 gallon air tank on Google shows many results of refillable air tanks.

[Levi Madden]

Originally Posted by Knufire

Huh? Searching 5 gallon air tank on Google shows many results of refillable air tanks.

I was not the person in charge of researching air tanks, I just know what I was told. That is the past now, its a new year, and we only need 3 tanks!