Pneumatics

[NoLiver]

Hi all,

I am designing a robot which will ideally use pneumatics to fire a lifting arm (FW is a prototype for HW).
However I am new to pneumatics and have a few questions:

1) What is required in a pneumatic system? Ive had a look online and i believe that ill need the items in the list below, is this on the right lines?

• A tank
• On/off valve (possibly integrated with tank)
• dump valve
• safety blowout valve
• regulator
• Buffer tank (possibly)
• solenoid
• ram

2) Connectivity of the parts. From what ive read I believe that the following setup would be needed:
tank -> on/off valve -> safety valve -> dump valve -> regulator -> Buffer Tank -> solenoid -> ram

Is this on the right lines?

3) Where is the best place to get pneumatic parts?

4) Any recommendation of parts?

I understand from other HWs that the dump valve and on/off valve need to be accessible without the use of a tool.

Cheers

Nick

[Roboteernat]

take a look at the Killerhertz page firstly, good basic info
http://howto.killerhurtz.co.uk/pneumatics.htm

FW pneumatics tend to use paintball parts - tank, reg, hoses etc so have a look at the pneumatics thread on this forum under featherweight (link comming)