Flow control valve recommendation

[JCharlton]

I think what you'll find is you can't get _enough_ flow to make a cylinder work effectively. Do you have any cylinders to make a prototype? In our testing a simple kicker could roll the ball, but not lift it the minimum 12".

We've done some experimentation, and the result is that a narrow cylinder will extend quickly, but not impart much energy into the ball. The large cylinder, while it looks like it should do the job, is starved for air because of the narrow tubes, valves, regulator, and can't extend very fast.

The cylinders, particularly the larger ones, work like dampers, resisting moving faster with increasing force.

Some teams are working on "pre-charging" the cylinders, where the piston is partially extended, physically blocked and filled with the 60psi air, then released quickly.

That said, you can connect two solenoids feeding one piston that have different flow control connectors (inline ones are convenient), or use a second regulator on the other circuit. If the regulator is downstream from the valve you can get pressures lower than the 30psi needed to activate the solenoid.