Orientation of ports on Thomas compressor

[Gary Dillard]

I didn't see anything addressing this, either specifically allowing or specifically prohibiting; I just posted a Q&A. The ports on our compressor are side to side; the pictures on page 4 and 14 of the pneumatics manual show them front to back. Are we allowed to remove the 4 bolts on the compressor head and reorient the ports 90 degrees?

[Swampdude]

We've done it a few times, but never considered it to be questionable. The compressor obviously allows for it.

[Gary Dillard]

Hmmmmm, maybe that's why ours is rotated; I was looking at last year's compressor and Tytus did the pneumatics layout. If it comes stock front to back then I should be able to rotate it back. Does anyone else have a compressor with ports side to side?

[Drwurm]

I believe it's legal. We're also planning on doing that this year.

[lukevanoort]

Switching port oreintations on our compressor would free up some space on our robot this year; so, we posted a Q&A last night asking about it. The rules seem kind of iffy on doing it, but it really has no effect on the compressor's function, and seems perfectly safe. I guess we'll see what the Q&A says today or tomorrow.

[ALIBI]

We have rotated the ports several times in the past and have never had any issues. I am glad you did a Q & A to the GDC to make sure it is legal. We have also removed the the head to install all the brass and then put it back on in the same orientation.

[ALIBI]

I stand corrected. The GDC considers this a modification of the compressor:

Q & A 2/7/08: "As delivered from the factory, the ports on the Thomas compressor are oriented along the length of the body of the compressor. Removing the top of the housing and rotating the ports would be a modification of the compressor, and is explicitly prohibited by Rule <R92>."

Please do not rotate the ports. We never intended to violate the robot rules and most certainly will not rotate the ports again. We could have easily rotated the ports back to the original configuration had the compressor failed during the robot inspection. I wonder how many other teams/inspectors missed this in the past?

[Gary Dillard]

I had to hunt for this response; I assumed it would be put in the pneumatics section but it was in the "Material Utilization & Parts Use Flowchart" section. Hopefully teams will see it; I 'm sort of surprised that this is not allowed.

[Drwurm]

Guess i need to do some electrical rearranging now...

[MrForbes]

<R92> ......Consider pneumatic components sacred. They must remain in “out of the shipping box” condition.


They really mean this, apparently!

[Tytus Gerrish]

NO! why did you have to stir the Pot? now it's ruined for everybody