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tutorial_iv

Motorized Lego Air Compressor

Keywords: Lego, Pneumatic, Sequencing, Circuit, Cylinder, air compressor


Motivation and Audience

This tutorial is to create a source for air flow for pneumatic circuits. Using the battery box and the power functions M Motor, electric current is turned into rotational force which translates into reciprocating force to power the pump. This pump compresses the air so that when the switch is facing the left side, the will be a constant air flow into the tank and when the switch is flipped, the pressure from the pump is relived into the atmosphere.


Parts List and Sources

Part Description Part # Qty
Technic Axle 3 4519 1
Technic Pin With Friction 4459 17
Technic Pin Long with Friction 6558 1
Technic Pin Long 32556 2
Technic Bush with Two Flanges 3713 1
Technic Beam 3 32523 1
Technic Beam 5 32316 4
Technic Beam 7 32524 5
Technic Beam 7 x 5 with Open Center 5 x 3 64179 1
Technic Brick 1 x 14 with Holes 32018 1
Technic Brick 1 x 4 With Holes 3701 2
Technic Brick 1 x 6 with Holes 3894 2
Technic Plate 2 x 4 with Holes 3709b 1
Technic Plate 2 x 6 with Holes 32001 1
Technic Pulley Wheel 5D 3736 1
Technic Pneumatic Valve with Pegholes 47223b 1
Technic Pneumatic Pump 2 x 2 x 5 2797c02 1
Technic Pneumatic Air Tank 58120 1
Pneumatic Hose - Various Length 5102 1
Electric Power Functions M Motor 8883 1
Electric Power Functions Battery Box 88000 1

Construction

Step 1:
Attach the two 7×5 open centered beams together using pins with friction. Attach more pins with friction on the outside in the pattern shown. These pins will be used to help mount the motor and pneumatic components. Add long pins with friction on the bottom to provide supports for a stand. In this design, the pump hangs off the side below the level of the 7×5 beam, and thus a stand is necessary to raise it up.

Step 2:
Connect the two 1×4 bricks and the 1×14 brick to the beams as shown. The motor and air tank have stud slots on the bottom so these will be used to make a base for those. Add two small beams to the front of the frame so that we can mount the pump and then attach more beams to the long pins on the bottom to build a stand for the compressor.

Step 3:
Attach a 2×6 plate to two more 1×4 bricks on top of the frame with the air tank on top. On the other end of the frame, attach two 1×6 bricks with the M Motor on top. Attach the pump to the front of the frame with the pressure port facing upwards.

Step 4:
Connect the motor to the pumps knob using an axle 3, a bush with two flanges, a pulley wheel 5D, and a long pin without friction. This connection will turn the rotation motion of the motor into reciprocating motion on the pump. Also attach a pneumatic valve to the side of the frame. This valve will be used to turn compression on and off.

Step 5:
Finally attach the pressure port from the pump to the center port of the valve. Connect the right port of the valve to one of the input ports on the air tank. The other port on the air tank will be used to direct air flow into your circuit.


Final Words

For small circuit with few pistons, manually pumping the pneumatic pump provides adequate pressure, but it is not automatic. This motorized compressor provides adequate air flow for medium sized pneumatic circuits. In future designs, if you find this compressor is not meeting the circuits needs, more components can be added such as a more powerful or second motor, a second air tank, or more pumps.

tutorial_iv.txt · Last modified: 2016/02/29 01:09 by jadintredup