pic: Team Fusion's T-Shirt Shooting Robot

[N7UJJ]

Originally Posted by NoodleKnight

What are you using as the valve? SCH40 PVC is good up to it's pressure rating, which should be printed on the tubes, and I think it's far past 250 psi. The PVC joints are always built stronger than the pvc piping, so as long as you cured/glued the joints correctly, all will be fine.
I always like to put my psi limit depending on the valve, I usually use a normal sprinkler valve, which is good to 120 psi; so I set mine to 100-110 psi and it can shoot stuff far enough for my purposes. If you're using a ball valve, you could go higher, but at that point I'd be scared, lol. I suppose you could make some type of scatter shield for it.
If you're having problems shooting the t-shirt high up into the stands, try cramming the shirt down the barrel, hard. You don't want any air bleeding past the t-shirt.

I was looking at sprinkler valves and the ones I saw were 24 V AC. How did you power yours?

Allan

[billbo911]

Originally Posted by N7UJJ

I was looking at sprinkler valves and the ones I saw were 24 V AC. How did you power yours?

Allan

This project so inspired me, I had to have one. So, I built it. Now it is on our bot from 2005. We demo'd it at Freshman orientation night, talk about a hit!!!
We used a non-flow regulated in-line 1" valve from Rain Bird. I had the same question about the 24vac coil and 12vdc supplying it. All I have to say is, it works great. We are using a spike to trigger it.

[bhweezer]

We have videos of our cannon at a football game and a pep rally. I am going to post them after we get through with this hurricane.

[phrontist]

Does anyone have plans for this sort of thing? How do you release that pressure?

[Jay Trzaskos]

Wow, we should make one of those for the football games... it could replace our QB

JT
229

[Andrew Blair]

Where did you guys buy your pvc tank?

[mechanicalbrain]

Uh I don't think you buy PVC tanks you can make them quite easily though. Where are the videos!!! Ive been waiting!

[billbo911]

Originally Posted by Andrew Blair

Where did you guys buy your pvc tank?

We built our own. Drop a few $$ at your local hardware store and your in business. For example: (3ft. X 4in. ID SCHD 40 PVC) + (2 end caps) =~ 450 cubic in. pressure chamber. (3ft. X 3in. ID SCHD 40 PVC + 1 end cap) = 1 3ft. long barrel.

See a pattern developing? This is a classic case of DIY t-shirt launcher.

By the way, thanks again for the inspiration Team Fusion!!!


After writing this response, I realized that 364 is from Gulfport, Ms. Are you guys alright down there?? Did your school and robotics stuff survive? Is there anything we can do to help you out?

[Andrew Blair]

Originally Posted by billbo911

We built our own. Drop a few $$ at your local hardware store and your in business. For example: (3ft. X 4in. ID SCHD 40 PVC) + (2 end caps) =~ 450 cubic in. pressure chamber. (3ft. X 3in. ID SCHD 40 PVC + 1 end cap) = 1 3ft. long barrel.

See a pattern developing? This is a classic case of DIY t-shirt launcher.

By the way, thanks again for the inspiration Team Fusion!!!


After writing this response, I realized that 364 is from Gulfport, Ms. Are you guys alright down there?? Did your school and robotics stuff survive? Is there anything we can do to help you out?

No, I meant the pressure vessel. I'm not sure I'd want to build my own tank, but I'm sure it can be done.



-----------EDIT-----------------------------------------
My bad, I didn't thoroughly read your post. Thanks for the info! I guess I listened too intently to the "do not build air tanks out of pvc or you'll die" thread!

[yarb65]

What did you use for the hose from the tank to the barrel

[RyanN]

I'm not really sure what we used for the tubing. To tell you the truth, this tubing is over 4 years old, and was purchased before I was even on the team. It's pretty hard. If I had to guess, it's probably some type of water line that is used in boats, possible a sewage line for boats (don't worry, it was never used for the sewage though... )