Subject:
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Re: Electric Compressor for Pneumatic Engines
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.technic
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Date:
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Tue, 18 Jul 2006 17:09:07 GMT
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Viewed:
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18875 times
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In lugnet.technic, Mark Bellis wrote:
> In lugnet.technic, Avi Parvin wrote:
> > I’ve build few type of pneumatic compressors with different motors and pumps,
> > and also few types of pneumatic engines. Unfortunately, none of the Lego
> > compressors were able to drive the engines more than one or two rounds. Manual
> > pumping proves that the engines are built correctly, but this is too exhausting…
> >
> > Can someone please suggest a decent electric compressor, or at least compressor
> > spec (PSI), which is suitable for Lego? My requirements are simple: Strong
> > enough to drive pneumatic engine, gentle enough not to destroy the plastic
> > elements.
> >
> > Thanks in advance,
> >
> > Avi Parvin
>
> I have a car tyre air compressor with a variable pressure limiter, which is
> essential for LEGO pneumatics. It will nominally produce 250psi. I set the
> limiter to 20-25psi normally, perhaps 30psi for short periods. Note that you
> need a pressure limiter, not a gauge. The compressor with a pressure limiter
> costs 4/3 as much as one without. Mine was £19.99, probably $25-30. The
> compressor is quite noisy and runs off 12-14V car battery voltage. I use an
> ex-computer cabinet power supply that provides 12V at 6 amps - the compressor
> uses up to 4 Amps when driving LEGO models.
>
> The compressor works well on my pick and place robot, which usually requires 6
> hand pumps to operate. I think the compressor provides about 8-10 hand pumps
> worth of air at up to 30psi. I used the football inflator attachment in the end
> of a LEGO pneumatic tube, with a rubber band rolled over the two to stop the
> tube detaching.
>
> If your model won't move at 25psi then you need more cylinders in parallel.
> This follows the principle of reducing the load on expensive LEGO parts in order
> to maximise their life. I always use 2 opposing cylinders for turning a
> turntable. If the load is more than 2 switches, use more cylinders. In my pick
> nad place robot, the greatest load is 2 cylinders pushing 5 switches, which
> sticks a bit at 20psi, works OK at 25psi and is fast at 30psi.
>
> Mark
Thank you very much for the detailed answer.
I’m starting with foot pump (5$), and will search for electric compressor later
on. Pressure limiter, as I understand, is a must. I also prefer 220V. With those
two constraints the offering is very limited, so it may take some time to find
the proper one.
Avi Parvin
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: Electric Compressor for Pneumatic Engines
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| (...) I have a car tyre air compressor with a variable pressure limiter, which is essential for LEGO pneumatics. It will nominally produce 250psi. I set the limiter to 20-25psi normally, perhaps 30psi for short periods. Note that you need a pressure (...) (20 years ago, 14-Jul-06, to lugnet.technic)
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