Pneumatics
Compressed Air

What you need to know
Probably my personal least favorite part of electrical:  Pneumatics 

 Pneumatics: The use of compressed air for quicker and faster movements that a motor can not provide 

 Parts : 

 Compressor 

 Charges air for components on the robot. 

 Pressure Switch 

 Works with a controller to tell the compressor when to shut off. 

 Solenoid Valves 

 Electronically controlled valves. 

 Pneumatic Controllers 

 PH/PCM  

 Controls the compressor and up to 8 solenoids.  

 It gains input for a pressure sensor to control the compressor when needed. 

 CAN based communication 

 Pressure Switch 

 Manages amount of pressure in the robot  

 Acts as “go-between” for the PCM and compressor. 

 Dump Valve 

 Releases (or dumps) all air out of the robot. 

 Electrical Solenoid Valve(s) 

 Actuates the different sides of a pneumatic component such as a shifter or piston. Can be single or double action. 

 Compressor 

 Charges air for components such as pistons and shifters on the robot. FRC-legal amount of air is 120 psi (pounds per square inch).  

 Emergency Relief Valve 

 Keeps the air under 125 psi if the compressor or pressure switch is working incorrectly 

 Pneumatic Practices: 

 

 

 For cutting tube use a special tube cutter to get clean cuts 

 

 

 To make seals tight we use 2 and a half layers of teflon tape for brass fitting threads 

 

 

 Make sure tube don’t kink or fold and don’t touch the tips of tubes  

 

 

 General Pneumatic Layout: 

 

 NOTE: We usually don’t use pneumatics unless the robot requires quick movements (in one motion) in a short time span

Pneumatics 101 Presentation