Pneumatics Question

[JesseCRN]

Alright, we have an idea for a High Goal Scorer. I have seen multiple teams use something like this with Pneumatics. How many cylinders do you use?

I have never used Pneumatics before, so I might not saying the right thing

What do I need to complete a set? I think we will be getting some random parts for Pneumatics, so if someone can let me know what I need for it to work, that would be great!

Which set would be the best to use for this (this mechanism will only be used once) and what are the differences between the two?
Pneumatics Kit 1 - Single Acting Cylinders
Pneumatics Kit 2 - Double Acting Cylinders

Thank you all!

[anon50541363]

Just a suggestion look at Owens teams videos they had a nifty high goal scorer with a string using the power of the lift.

[JesseCRN]

Just a suggestion look at Owens teams videos they had a nifty high goal scorer with a string using the power of the lift.

Alright.

I think Pneumatics sound SO awesome though Were might I find a video or picture?

[RoboDesigners]

There’s really only one (functional) difference between Kit 1 and Kit 2:

In Kit 1, you have “Single Acting Cylinders.” That is to say, when you activate the piston/cylinder, air pushes the rod out. However, when you deactivate the cylinder, a spring returns the rod to the start position.

In Kit 2, you have “Double Acting Cylinders.” When you activate the cylinder, air pushes the rod out. When you deactivate the cylinder, air pushes it closed.

This basically means that Kit 2 closes faster and with more force than Kit 1.

[JesseCRN]

There’s really only one (functional) difference between Kit 1 and Kit 2:

In Kit 1, you have “Single Acting Cylinders.” That is to say, when you activate the piston/cylinder, air pushes the rod out. However, when you deactivate the cylinder, a spring returns the rod to the start position.

In Kit 2, you have “Double Acting Cylinders.” When you activate the cylinder, air pushes the rod out. When you deactivate the cylinder, air pushes it closed.

This basically means that Kit 2 closes faster and with more force than Kit 1.

We would only need air to be push the cylinder out. So Kit 1 should work for us?

Then, if I look through the Kit 1 page, all the parts in there should make it work?

[anon50541363]

Around 1:32 seconds

[JesseCRN]

Oh, alright cool!

I’ll see about that.

[AndrewRemmers1902]

We would only need air to be push the cylinder out. So Kit 1 should work for us?

Then, if I look through the Kit 1 page, all the parts in there should make it work?

It depends on its use, but yes. If you can use it to just push out then you should be pretty good. I like doing Double Acting simply because I enjoy powering in both directions, even though it is not always needed.

[therealcedz]

We would only need air to be push the cylinder out. So Kit 1 should work for us?

Then, if I look through the Kit 1 page, all the parts in there should make it work?

I recommend getting kit 2. Even if you only need air to push the cylinder out, if you were to get the double acting piston, you could tension the mechanism with rubber bands to give it a little extra power. Also, having double acting pistons for different mechanisms are nice. You’ll be wanting them in the next years to come.

[RoboDesigners]

It should also be noted that you will get about twice as many actuation with Kit 1 vs Kit 2. This is because air is used to open AND close the cylinder in Kit 2. However, Kit 1 only uses air to open the cylinder.

[Jij]

I believe there are some other similar threads, you might want to have a look for them they might be useful.

My personal opinion on which to pick - for the extra US$50 get the double acting kit. You can do the same with the double acting ones as you could with the single acting ones, just only put air in through one direction. And the best bit is, if you only want to use air in one direction, you can choose WHICH direction gets air powered. You then just use rubber bands to do the work for the other direction of motion. Also by buying the double acting kit you are future proofing your team, which is perhaps the most important thing.

For the sakes of a high goal scorer though, you probably don’t need pneumatics. You could do something like 4886A, using the rope to pull it over, but my personal favourite is the way I saw one of the Asian teams doing it at Asia Pacifics. It was so simple. All they had was a platform, with a lever, so when they drove into the high goal the lever was pushed, tipping the platform. The other way is to just use your normal intake to do the high goal scoring, if you are still using a design which can reach the high goal with its intake (assuming your new robot HAS an intake I suppose… ;)).

~George

[JesseCRN]

I believe there are some other similar threads, you might want to have a look for them they might be useful.

My personal opinion on which to pick - for the extra US$50 get the double acting kit. You can do the same with the double acting ones as you could with the single acting ones, just only put air in through one direction. And the best bit is, if you only want to use air in one direction, you can choose WHICH direction gets air powered. You then just use rubber bands to do the work for the other direction of motion. Also by buying the double acting kit you are future proofing your team, which is perhaps the most important thing.

For the sakes of a high goal scorer though, you probably don’t need pneumatics. You could do something like 4886A, using the rope to pull it over, but my personal favourite is the way I saw one of the Asian teams doing it at Asia Pacifics. It was so simple. All they had was a platform, with a lever, so when they drove into the high goal the lever was pushed, tipping the platform. The other way is to just use your normal intake to do the high goal scoring, if you are still using a design which can reach the high goal with its intake (assuming your new robot HAS an intake I suppose… ;)).

~George

OK. I will see if we can get some rope and try that out. I am not going to reveal a lot, but we do have an intake

[anon50541363]

OK. I will see if we can get some rope and try that out. I am not going to reveal a lot, but we do have an intake

What kind of intake a tank tread table?

[ClockWorkKnights]

How do you program Kit 2 in Robot C to go out and in. I can only get the soleniod to allow one direction.

[Jij]

How do you program Kit 2 in Robot C to go out and in. I can only get the soleniod to allow one direction.

You just go:

SensorValue(pneumatics) = 0; //For position 1
SensorValue(pneumatics) = 1; //For position 2

If that doesn’t work, post your code and we can have a look

~George

[RoboDesigners]

^^
Square braces:

SensorValue[pneumatics] = 1;
//etc.

SensorValue] and motor] are essentially arrays…

[edjubuh]

For future viewers (or you, Jesse):

For easyC, use the Digital Output block under the motors category (I believe), in order to control the solenoid. Also, be sure that your controller configuration is set to Output for your solenoid. (See this thread)