Vacuums!

[Arkorobotics]

"For the purposes of the FIRST competition, a device that creates a vacuum is not considered to be a pneumatic device and is allowed. This includes, but is not limited to, Venturi-type vacuum generators and off-the-shelf vacuum devices (as long as they are powered by one of the Kit-of-Parts motors)."

I was curious, is this as easy as reversing the pump to suck?

[amos229]

I was curious, is this as easy as reversing the pump to suck? [/quote]

In my experience in custom airbrushing, due to the way the pumps move the air they dont create a substantial vacum on thier own. Idk about the first pumps but I know if i try using mine to suck it heats up fast.

[Alex698]

Originally Posted by amos229

I was curious, is this as easy as reversing the pump to suck?

In my experience in custom airbrushing, due to the way the pumps move the air they dont create a substantial vacum on thier own. Idk about the first pumps but I know if i try using mine to suck it heats up fast.[/quote]

I would NOT recommend hooking your pumps in reverse, due to the fact they were never built to work that way. (otherwise there would not need to be a resona to color-code the wires )

[Thorcat]

If you look at the manufacturer's website, they say the the head is set up for compression only. Product Page

I would take this to mean that if you hooked something up to the suction side it would not create very much suction because the rubber piston seal would be useless.

[Dranyam]

Good idea! I wish i'd thought of it

[GUI]

The KOP compressor will not work as a vacuum pump, but it is not necessary when you have the KOP vacuum generator and suction cup. We tried picking up an inner tube with it, and it is more than enough to hold on to the tube.

[Tottanka]

the punp creates a lot of vaccum pretty fast as seen here:
http://www.frc-1947.com/Stuff/vacum1.avi
http://www.frc-1947.com/Stuff/vacum2.avi

[Jeremiah H]

Something we came up with, as an alternative (if we don't need the compressor onboard or just want to do something different) involved a piston, screw drive assembly, and a little motor.
The idea is that you rig up the end of the piston's rod to the nut of an acme thread (or KoP, whichever) screw drive and mount a small, fast motor to the screw. The piston is staged with the rod all the way in, with the nut at the extreme nearest point to the piston. Your vacuum line is connected to the piston at the opposite end from where the rod enters. The other end (nearest the rod) is left open to allow displaced air to escape.
When you want to produce a vacuum, all you need do is power that motor until it has driven/pulled the rod far enough to create the desired vacuum strength. You could reverse this idea and start with the piston all the way open and the vacuum line connected at the other fitting, then push the rod in until you have the desired strength. You also could push/pull the rod with a cable or lever or something else.
I think this is allowed, but I must admit that I haven't gotten too far in this year's manual yet.

[ttedrow]

[quote=Arkorobotics;549662]"(as long as they are powered by one of the Kit-of-Parts motors)."

QUOTE]

This is were the "got you" is. The air compressor is not a KOP motor. So, using it a vacuum device would not be allowed.

[Brandon Holley]

the compressor has a motor in it, and its in the kit of parts....

[Greg Wood]

Hey does anyone know where we can buy extra suction cups? And the hardware for that.

[Peter Matteson]

We made a vacuum generator in 2004 using a globe with a crank on the end of it to drive a pnuematic piston with check valves on it. It worked well. This is the type of mechanism that the rule refers to not reversing or some other way tampering with the compressor.

[Robo_Coyote]

Could you post a picture of you piston and valve idea or a larger description?

[Peter Matteson]

Originally Posted by Robo_Coyote

Could you post a picture of you piston and valve idea or a larger description?

I don't have any pictures I can post. I'll see if I can get one at one of our meetings this week. As for a description, short of a P&I diagram of how to make the system work a picture is the only way to explain it so most people can understand what we did.

[ttedrow]

Originally Posted by Brandon Holley

the compressor has a motor in it, and its in the kit of parts....

That is true. But, the Compressor comes under the rules R99 to R106. You will have to present a good case to convince me that the cmpressor can be use as vacuum device