Pneumatics...

[Vikesrock]

Originally Posted by ebarker

is there any special jumpers or anything on the solenoid driver to setup to use 24VDC ?

To get 24VDC out of the solenoid breakout you put 24V from the cRIO port of the Power Distribution Board into it.

EDIT: Also I'm definitely a pneumatics newbie but I don't understand one of the concepts in the Pneumatics for Newbies guide on the Team 358 website. The guide suggests that you would be able to run a 2"x12" cylinder (38cu in. at 60PSI) off of a single accumulator (listed as 18.5 cu in @120PSI) once. While this would be true if you could evacuate all the air from the accumulator and send it into the cylinder, in actuality can't you only run a 2"x6" cylinder once at the full 60PSI? After running this cylinder once the volume of air in the accumulator would be cut in half so the pressure should be cut in half as well, right?

[Lakedaimon]

So this explains why we have not gotten the parts to get the pneumatics system working. I thought that the fittings had just somehow been left out of our KOP last year (and also the checklist.) I was thinking we would get some this year, and was surprised and frustrated to find that they were missing again (we are a second year team this year, so we've never gotten any.) So... if anyone can give some advice on what we should buy and where is the best place to get it, it would be much appreciated!

[IndySam]

Originally Posted by Lakedaimon

So this explains why we have not gotten the parts to get the pneumatics system working. I thought that the fittings had just somehow been left out of our KOP last year (and also the checklist.) I was thinking we would get some this year, and was surprised and frustrated to find that they were missing again (we are a second year team this year, so we've never gotten any.) So... if anyone can give some advice on what we should buy and where is the best place to get it, it would be much appreciated!

If you can find a veteran team in your area. Odds are they will have lots off fittings on hand.

[Mark McLeod]

Yes, you're quite correct. Only 18.5 cu in of air are available at 60 psi from one of the Clippards at 120psi. Unless you use the vampiric, suck 'em dry, mechanism...
I also see that there are several unfinished notes that should be fleshed out. Senioritis obviously set in - both mine and my students.
Thanks.

Originally Posted by Vikesrock

EDIT: Also I'm definitely a pneumatics newbie but I don't understand one of the concepts in the Pneumatics for Newbies guide on the Team 358 website. The guide suggests that you would be able to run a 2"x12" cylinder (38cu in. at 60PSI) off of a single accumulator (listed as 18.5 cu in @120PSI) once. While this would be true if you could evacuate all the air from the accumulator and send it into the cylinder, in actuality can't you only run a 2"x6" cylinder once at the full 60PSI? After running this cylinder once the volume of air in the accumulator would be cut in half so the pressure should be cut in half as well, right?

P.S. Ed, I'll have to check on those.

[artdutra04]

Not receiving any push-to-connect fittings in the KoP was (for me) the same as not giving teams one official soccer ball in the KoP: a somewhat inexpensive gesture that could have alleviated most teams from having to track down a really obscure component. Anyway, after searching high and low among various suppliers online, we found that Automation Direct had the best prices on COTS push-to-connect fittings. (If you want the cheapest, just search eBay for "push to connect").

Here's links to all the various 150PSI, 1/4" tube, push-to-connect fittings that may be useful, the bold ones especially so:

Three-way Union T: http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/...Union_Tee/UT14
90 Degree Elbow: http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/...ion_Elbow/UL14
Three-way Union Y: http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/...9/Union_Y/UY14
Four-way Union Cross: http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/...ion_Cross/UX14
Straight Connector: http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/..._Straight/US14
1/4" NPT Male to Tube (Straight): http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/...dy%29/MS14-14N
1/8" NPT Male to Tube (Straight): http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/...dy%29/MS14-18N
1/8" NPT Female to Tube (Straight): http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/...aight/FS14-18N
1/4" NPT Male to Tube (Elbow): http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/...Elbow/ME14-14N
1/8" NPT Male to Tube (Elbow): http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/...Elbow/ME14-18N
1/8" NPT Male Run T: http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/..._Tee/MRT14-18N
1/8" NPT Male Branch T: http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/..._Tee/MBT14-18N
1/8" NPT Male Meter-In Flow Control Falve:* http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/...r-in/FVR14-18N
1/8" NPT Male Meter-Out Flow Control Valve:* http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/...-out/FVS14-18N

* Either meter-in (slows air into the pneumatic cylinder) or meter-out (slows air coming out of the cylinder) works, just be sure to keep it consistent. Back when push-to-connect fittings were in the Kit of Parts, teams were given meter-out fittings.

[Lakedaimon]

Fantastic response Artdutra04, thanks!