Pneumatic Device

The purpose for this submission is for the Butwin Elias Science and Technology Award. When deciding on what project to create, we, Harry Stella and Max Gregor, decided it would be interesting to create some sort of pneumatic device. The outcome of a lot of deliberation and work was the following project, and this is the step by step process on how we were able to create our project.

1.) 2 36 in. Corrugated Square Tubing

2.) Air Compressor

3.) Metal Saw

4.) Pneumatic Valve

5.) Pneumatic Cylinder

6.) Paracord or Similar Products

7.) Pneumatic Tubing

8.) Adapter to Connect Air Compressor to Pneumatic Tubing

9.) Various 5/16 Hardware (Nuts, Bolts, Washers)

10.) Electronic Drill with 5/16 Drill Bit

11.) Electronic Buttons

The primary way that this project connects to STEM is through the engineering aspect. We had to be able to design some sort of model for this product to work, so we went through the engineering process in order to create our finished product. Not only does this project contain simply the elements of STEM, but it goes beyond just the definition. A major idea of STEM is that you have to adapt to the changing conditions around you and overcome certain challenges. This project went through multiple redesigns and changes, but in the end, we were able to figure out something that worked.

The first step in making this project is cut the corrugated square tubing into your desired lengths. For us, the three sizes were 7 inches, 18 inches and 20 inches. To do this, you would use a metal saw.

Now, use your drill with the 5/16 drill bit to drill out where the corrugated holes are so that the holes themselves are 5/16 inches. Only drill out the hole that you will be placing the hardware pieces into. You can see in the image to the right that the third hole to the right is slightly wider as a result.

In this step, you will connect the pieces of corrugated metal together to complete the frame. You longest piece will go on the bottom, 20 inches. This will be connected to your second longest piece of 18 inches. The way these will connect is that the hole that you drilled out with the 5/16 bit, that is where the screw, washer, and bolt will go to connect the pieces. You would do this again to connect your smallest piece of 7 inches to the 18 inch piece.

This part is the most difficult, but also the most important. In order to connect the pneumatic cylinder, we found that paracord was the best solution. First, you will tie the pneumatic cylinder to the back of the 7 inch metal piece that is located at the top of the frame. Next, at the point of extension on the pneumatic cylinder, to the paracord around that piece and the back of the middle piece so that when the pneumatic cylinder extends, the longest piece of metal will do some sort of a curling motion.

In this step, you will first connect the tube from the air compressor to the adapter, and then from the adapter, connect it to the pneumatic tubing.

Now connect the pneumatic tubing into the pneumatic cylinder from pneumatic valve. Try saying that five times fast.

If you have done everything correctly and manage the flow of the air correctly, you should have a working pneumatic device! You will be able to generate a great force of power from something like this, so you could work to test out how much your device can curl!