What do you think about mounting an air compressor vertically?

[Steven S]

This year we've crammed too much stuff in our robot and our compresor wouldn't fit, so we're gonna put it vertically, we put surgical tubing between the 4 bolts and the fiberglass we're using and it doesn't let it shake the whole system. What do you guys think? there isnt a rule against this is there?

[Miner]

I don't know if there is a rule against it, but i would find it a little dangerous.

First of all, the heat that the compressed air creates would be enough to maybe melt the rubber of pnumatic tubing or some wires. Be careful that you dont place the compressor near any of that.

Second, You want to be able to secure the compressor to the frame, but allow it to move a little. The legs that came with it in the Kit of Parts are vibration reducers. I would suggest using them, but also secure the robot.

Check section 8 of the rule book, pnumatics manual on the FIRST website and look for that rule.

Good luck!
Jacob

[Steven S]

yeah we don't have tubing near it, and we tested the surgical tubing around the bolts (it works as good or better than the rubber bolts that came with it)
I really don't think there's a rule against it.

Just a warning to everyone else.........if you do this, after taking the plate off make sure NOTHING gets in your compressor......safety purposes.

[Miner]

Just a warning to everyone else.........if you do this, after taking the plate off make sure NOTHING gets in your compressor......safety purposes.

Good Point. We are also going to try and put one of the large fans above our compressor to blow air down on to it and cool it off... it might help.

[dlavery]

Originally Posted by Steven S

yeah we don't have tubing near it, and we tested the surgical tubing around the bolts (it works as good or better than the rubber bolts that came with it)
I really don't think there's a rule against it.

Just a warning to everyone else.........if you do this, after taking the plate off make sure NOTHING gets in your compressor......safety purposes.

Just to clarify, are you saying you took the metal plate off the front of the compressor? If so, that is a big no-no. Rule <R92>.

-dave

[iwashere1990]

I think he means he replaced the rubber footings that came with the compressor. Then crafted new ones with the surgical tubing and bolts

I Think...

[Rosiebotboss]

Originally Posted by Steven S

yeah we don't have tubing near it, and we tested the surgical tubing around the bolts (it works as good or better than the rubber bolts that came with it)
I really don't think there's a rule against it.

Just a warning to everyone else.........if you do this, after taking the plate off make sure NOTHING gets in your compressor......safety purposes.

Exactly what plate are you talking about? You didn't modify the compressor in any way, did you?
If you did, don't show up at my inspection station with a modified compressor. (Or any other inspector for that matter!)

[camtunkpa]

As other have mentioned, as long as you didn't modify the compressor itself you should be fine. As far as rules I don't think there are any rules about the position of the air compressor. 222 ran out of space in 2005 and our compressor ended up mounted upside down

[TubaMorg]

In addition to what's already been said:

Not all motors are designed to run in a vertical orientation. As in there may not be thrust bearings designed to take an axial load like you would see when mounted in a vertical position. Running the compressor like this may lead to failure. Then again I could be wrong!

[Andrew Bates]

We mounted ours horizontally on its side at the front of our robot using the vibration isolators. We were worried that the compressor being on side might be too much for the vibration isolators but after 3 weeks it seems fine. The compressor seems to run fine too.

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by TubaMorg

In addition to what's already been said:

Not all motors are designed to run in a vertical orientation. As in there may not be thrust bearings designed to take an axial load like you would see when mounted in a vertical position. Running the compressor like this may lead to failure. Then again I could be wrong!

While this is true, the effect a gravity imposed thrust load would be negligible in this circumstance.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

The manufacturer does not list any restrictions in mounting orientation for this pump. The shock isolators will not give their design deflection when mounted on the side or upside down. That is not likely to be an issue in our designs.

[ALIBI]

Originally Posted by Rosiebotboss

Exactly what plate are you talking about? You didn't modify the compressor in any way, did you?
If you did, don't show up at my inspection station with a modified compressor. (Or any other inspector for that matter!)

This year it does not matter to us, we are not using compressed air. In years past we have rotated the the head of the compressor so that the exhaust fittings are in a different direction. We always passed inspection. Would you consider that a modification? Is changing the orientation of the fittnigs a rule violation?

[EricRobodox]

careful with rotating the head. If you dont put the o-ring correctly back in, which is a pain in the butt sometimes, you will completely mess up the seal. We tried with an old compressor once and figured it was not worth the time.

when mounting, please keep in mind that the compressor heats up. If its going to be around electronics, make sure there is some breathing room where things can get cooled. Otherwise, you will have a hot area on the robot that wont be good for compressor, electronics components, or other part in the area sensitive to high temperatures.

[Steven S]

we put the metal plate back on the compressor, we just took it off to replace the screws holding it with longer ones that we can use to mount it.
The 4 screws that came with it weren't long enough to go through the fiberglass supporting our compressor.