pic: In-Line Pneumatic Fittings

[TheHolyHades1]

Is it worth using these type of fittings when the brass fittings do a good job in serving as a heatsink for the compressors?

[Dunngeon]

Originally Posted by TheHolyHades1

Is it worth using these type of fittings when the brass fittings do a good job in serving as a heatsink for the compressors?

It's not that they serve as a heat sink for the compressor, but that they dissipate heat before it melts the tubing. In any case, weightloss anywhere on the robot is very good, and you won't melt tubing on a competition bot because of the short run times

So yes, if both components are legal then it's worth it to us (and many others)

[GeeTwo]

Originally Posted by Dunngeon

you won't melt tubing on a competition bot because of the short run times

It depends entirely on how much air you need. If you're using air solely to shift gears, probably not. If every function other than drive is pneumatic, quite possibly. We blew out several hoses (with a crack like a .22) during practice for rebound rumble. We had a pneumatic climber, but we didn't even have the climber attached yet. We were just making adjustments to the Frisbee primer that required depressurizing the system. In filling up our (seven?) plastic tanks, we blew out the hose at the end nearest the compressor. The large quantity of air depressurizing through the rupture cooled the tubing back down, so it took us several swaps to figure out that it wasn't just defective tubing. This was followed by closer monitoring to figure out the actual cause. Our solution was to relocate as much of the brass as possible to before the first piece of tubing, and continued monitoring for swollen tubing.

[Dunngeon]

Originally Posted by GeeTwo

It depends entirely on how much air you need. If you're using air solely to shift gears, probably not. If every function other than drive is pneumatic, quite possibly. We blew out several hoses (with a crack like a .22) during practice for rebound rumble. We had a pneumatic climber, but we didn't even have the climber attached yet. We were just making adjustments to the Frisbee primer that required depressurizing the system. In filling up our (seven?) plastic tanks, we blew out the hose at the end nearest the compressor. The large quantity of air depressurizing through the rupture cooled the tubing back down, so it took us several swaps to figure out that it wasn't just defective tubing. This was followed by closer monitoring to figure out the actual cause. Our solution was to relocate as much of the brass as possible to before the first piece of tubing, and continued monitoring for swollen tubing.

Emphasis mine. I said Competition Bot. We use a different compressor that is rated for 100% duty on the practice bot, but use the VIAIR 90C on the competition bot for the obvious weight savings. Nearly our entire bot was pneumatic, and the 90C was capable to compressing for nearly 20 minutes straight before we ever had a blow out. (not that I recommend it)

On the practice bot, we use either a Thomas 215 or another who's name escapes me.

Also, if your tubing was blowing out from only filling 7 (assuming black Clippard?) tanks you may want to re-evaluate both the fittings and tubing you are using. I know in our case, we have melted the O-rings within the 1/4 pneumatic quick connects (but this is after 30+ minutes of running and the crappy FIRST Choice connectors)

Or add a fan.

We use Freelin-Wade tubing, and SMC pneumatic fittings.

[ToddF]

Mounting a KOP computer cooling fan blowing on the compressor head allows the small compressor to be run at 100 percent duty cycle. We have done all day demos with our 2014 bot, with pneumatic catapult, and the compressor barely gets warm. This year our air consumption is less, so we left off the fan. Just filling two tanks gets it scalding hot.

[GeeTwo]

Originally Posted by Dunngeon

Emphasis mine. I said Competition Bot.

We made the corrections during practice and did not have the problem during competition. For UA, our understanding (probably incorrect, as I recently learned from another thread) was that relieving the air pressure between matches was mandatory. As a result, we stressed the system more during competition than we did during pre-climb practices when we were actuating a single 3/4" diameter cylinder with about a 6" stroke.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by TheHolyHades1

Is it worth using these type of fittings when the brass fittings do a good job in serving as a heatsink for the compressors?

Just as a note: If I'm not mistaken, these would be located well downstream from the compressor, say on the other side of the storage tanks. This isn't the pressure relief valve, it's a regulator. The PRV has a specific part number, and must be hard-mounted.

[TheHolyHades1]

Originally Posted by EricH

Just as a note: If I'm not mistaken, these would be located well downstream from the compressor, say on the other side of the storage tanks. This isn't the pressure relief valve, it's a regulator. The PRV has a specific part number, and must be hard-mounted.

Ah. I figured I missed something. Thanks!