RCX Compatable Solenoid Valve
Pneumatic Digger Pics and Video
My old roommate Jeff Barrett and I whipped up this Pneumatic Digger. Its
actually pretty simple, its arm was modeled based on ideas gathered from
the technic set 8851 and its scoop was modeled after the scoop from the
cover of the Idea book 8888 (since we did not have one handy). It
uses a total of three large pneumatic rams powered by just two of the RCX
compatible Solenoid Valves. The pneumatic valves use a total of two
RCX outputs while the third is used by a motor to provide the rotation
of the digger. The Digger itself is powered 100% by the RCX.
A powerpack was used to power the pump used to supply the air.
The hand pump still has the spring on it which makes it a little harder
to pump, and has two blue Lego air tanks. It has two because it looks
cool; it would have been fine on just one tank. Rubber bands are
used to act as the retraction stroke of the pistons, so the power stroke
of the ram is used to scoop and raise, while the rubber bands serve for
the extension and dump phase. One solenoid controls the raising and
lowering of the Digger arm, while the other handles the scooping and dumping.
Rice Krispies are used as the "dirt", which had to be constantly replaced
during testing due to the fact that it is just too hard to resist eating
the dirt as you go along. I think it is a great example of how versatile
these little valves can be and how to maximize the number of actions you
can control with the RCX.
Download a clip of the Pneumatic Digger with its own executable viewer here:
287kb
Pics of the Pneumatic Digger and the Solenoid Valves
also
close
up of solenoid valve
email questions and ordering.
dpdelcollo@yahoo.com
