Beginners Guide to Pneumatics
For many teams pneumatics is a luxury to have, but if you are interested in buying them and do not know how to use them we will explain every competition legal.
1. Absolute needs
> Reservoir
> Fittings for Reservoir with some type of lock substance on them
> Tire Pump Fitting
> Solenoid valve (fittings and drivers usually come with)
> Cylinder either double or single acting (single only has one place to plug tubing into and uses an internal spring to pull back; can be created from a double acting piston by plugging a tube into the back hole and using an external rubber band to pull piston back, this method is commonly used to conserve air)
> Cylinder fittings with some sort of lock substance on them (do not need the L shaped fittings shown in the image, the bronze straight ones are fine)
> T fittings
2. Important Notes
> The nuts that come with the pistons are super hard to find make sure you do not lose those
> The nuts on the reservoirs add excess weight, an easier way to attach is big zipties plus you do not have to cut custom holes in metal
> You can use two T fittings after solenoid to actuate two pistons at once, but make sure the tubes from each T fitting are either both going to the back of the pistons or both to the front of the pistons. These cannot be flipped.
> Rule is that the reservoirs can only be pumped to 100 psi
> Find yourself a Vex re-saler of SMC pneumatic parts that you can buy individually. Make sure they are the same products, but the hassle is worth it because Vex only sells pneumatic kits and you do not want to buy a whole kit in order to get another piston.
3. Extra things
> On/Off Switch: used to quickly empty reservoirs (safety reasons)
> Pressure Regulator: Increase or decrease the amount air sent to the pistons from the reservoir; This is commonly used to increase amount of times the piston fires or to increase piston strength.
> L shaped fitting: this is a flow switch which can slow down the exhaust of the air preventing the piston from slamming as fast back; This can prevent bending of the system it is attached.
1. Absolute needs
> Reservoir
> Fittings for Reservoir with some type of lock substance on them
> Tire Pump Fitting
> Solenoid valve (fittings and drivers usually come with)
> Cylinder either double or single acting (single only has one place to plug tubing into and uses an internal spring to pull back; can be created from a double acting piston by plugging a tube into the back hole and using an external rubber band to pull piston back, this method is commonly used to conserve air)
> Cylinder fittings with some sort of lock substance on them (do not need the L shaped fittings shown in the image, the bronze straight ones are fine)
> T fittings
2. Important Notes
> The nuts that come with the pistons are super hard to find make sure you do not lose those
> The nuts on the reservoirs add excess weight, an easier way to attach is big zipties plus you do not have to cut custom holes in metal
> You can use two T fittings after solenoid to actuate two pistons at once, but make sure the tubes from each T fitting are either both going to the back of the pistons or both to the front of the pistons. These cannot be flipped.
> Rule is that the reservoirs can only be pumped to 100 psi
> Find yourself a Vex re-saler of SMC pneumatic parts that you can buy individually. Make sure they are the same products, but the hassle is worth it because Vex only sells pneumatic kits and you do not want to buy a whole kit in order to get another piston.
3. Extra things
> On/Off Switch: used to quickly empty reservoirs (safety reasons)
> Pressure Regulator: Increase or decrease the amount air sent to the pistons from the reservoir; This is commonly used to increase amount of times the piston fires or to increase piston strength.
> L shaped fitting: this is a flow switch which can slow down the exhaust of the air preventing the piston from slamming as fast back; This can prevent bending of the system it is attached.