Does anyone know the difference between the air flow valve fitting and the elbow fitting in the VEX V5 Pneumatics Kit? On one of the VEX V5 articles, it says that you could replace an air flow valve fitting for an elbow fitting. It also says that you could replace an elbow fitting for an air flow valve fitting, so it seems like the same thing to me. Thanks!
See https://kb.vex.com/hc/en-us/articles/17126345547156-Understanding-the-V5-Pneumatics-Kit-Components
The Air Flow Valve Fitting is used to control the speed at which your Air Cylinders move. Unlike the Air Pressure Regulator which controls the force of the Air Cylinder movement, the Air Flow Value controls the flow rate which affects speed.
The Air Flow Value is usually fitted to a port on the Air Cylinder for which you want to control the speed.
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Assuming you saw the pictures in the article,
- The air flow valve has a little metal twisty thing on one side. This twisty thing you twist to regulate airflow (lefty-loosy righty-tighty I believe)
- And elbow fitting is basically your regular fitting but bent 90 degrees for tight areas. Doesn’t do anything else really.
Yes, kind of…
An air flow regulator with the twisty thing turned (left?) all the way would act as an elbow fitting, and vice versa.
However, a regular elbow fitting cannot regulate airflow, so if you want less pressure or speed, then you can’t use it as an air flow valve.
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Careful with this. The airflow valve regulates speed, but doesn’t regulate pressure. It will take longer for the cylinder to fill and move, but it would apply the same force (eventually).
If you want to regulate pressure (to limit the force, to save the air, etc), you need a different component - an air pressure regulator.
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