Third party pneumatics

[That_guy]

I just realized that I won’t have enough T-fittings to connect all of my reservoirs together and still have enough left to split the air into the pistons on the robot. Is there any way I could order from a third-party source and have the parts shipped in time to practice driving and programming for worlds?

I need to order T-fittings and fittings for reservoirs

For shipping, I live in GA

[Daggerbenji]

Here is the link for a T-fitting from SMC http://www.plccenter.com/en-US/Buy/SMC/KQ2T0400 . And the reservoir fittings [http://www.plccenter.com/en-US/Buy/SMC/KQ2H0334S. Though they require a minimum $50 order and will probably take 2-3 weeks. If you search “KQ2T0400” and “KQ2H03-34S” on amazon you can find some that may take less time to get to you.](http://www.plccenter.com/en-US/Buy/SMC/KQ2H0334S. Though they require a minimum $50 order and will probably take 2-3 weeks. If you search “KQ2T0400” and “KQ2H03-34S” on amazon you can find some that may take less time to get to you.)

[MGOD]

We’re not really getting the whole story here, though. Are you going to use these pneumatics just to practice with? Or are you planning to use it for the competition too?

Rule R5/6 strictly states:

<R5> Robots may be built ONLY from Official Robot Components from the VEX Robotics Design System
unless otherwise specifically noted within these rules.
a. During inspections if there is a question about whether something is an official VEX component,
a team will be required to provide documentation to an inspector, which proves the
component’s source. Such types of documentation include receipts, part numbers, or other
printed documentation.
b. Only the VEX Robotics Design System Components specifically designed to be used for Robot
construction are allowed. Using additional components outside their typical purpose is against
the intent of the rule (i.e. please don’t try using VEX apparel, competition support materials,
packaging or other non-robot products on a VEX Robotics Competition Robot).
c. Products from the VEXpro product line cannot be used for robot construction. Products from
the VEXpro line which are also cross listed as part of the VEX EDR product are legal.
d. Official Robotics Components from the VEX Robotics Design System which have been
discontinued are still legal for competition use. However teams must be cognizant of <R5a>

<R6> Official VEX products are ONLY available from VEX & Official VEX Resellers. To determine whether
a product is “official” or not, consult www.VEXrobotics.com.

I’d personally say as long as you know for sure that they act exactly like vex components and don’t affect anything in the long run, it’d be okay to practice with them. Just be sure you switch them out for VEX pneumatics when you get to worlds. (I’m sure they sell sets there).

[Oliver_W]

@MGOD

I’d personally say as long as you know for sure that they act exactly like vex components and don’t affect anything in the long run, it’d be okay to practice with them. Just be sure you switch them out for VEX pneumatics when you get to worlds. (I’m sure they sell sets there).

Unlike most other parts, such as sensors and wheels and metal, VEX doesn’t produce their own pneumatics. They get them from SMC, which means the same parts are available directly from SMC (and through other retailers).

As you can see on the vex product page, the parts linked by Daggerbenji are the same model numbers (KQ2T04-00 and KQ2H03-34S) that vex uses. They aren’t just near enough, they’re exactly the same thing. There’s no way an inspector at Worlds, or anyone else, could tell the difference.

[That_guy]

Yeah, we need somewhere in the range of 6-7 additional t-fittings, and buying full pneumatics kits just to get t-fittings would obviously be impractical. Thanks for the tip on buying them from amazon though!