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Low voltage pneumatic valve — Parallax Forums

Low voltage pneumatic valve

JordanCClarkJordanCClark Posts: 198
edited 2013-05-23 21:28 in General Discussion
For anyone looking for pneumatic valves, I just came across this article. Looks like Bimba is offering a 3 and 5VDC version of their Isonic line of valves. May open up come possibilities.

Personally, my opinion of Bimba is that all their mainstream components are disposable-- no way to rebuild them if needed-- and had a cheap quality to them. I tended to shy away from them.

But technology and materials have changed in the 10 or so years since I've last used them. Maybe it's time to revisit.

Comments

  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2013-05-23 10:38
    Amps x Volts = Watts and Watts is the measure of POWER

    1 Horsepower is roughtly 745 Watts.

    If you need any really powerful devices, you are going to have to convert 3.3V or 5.0V control logic to both more AMPS and more VOLTS. So it seems silly to cater to the tiny, nearly useless devices. Granger has real stuff for gritty DIYer in the Mid-west of the USA.

    Follow the power. Your microcontroller will awe people.

    Is there really a market niche for small battery powered pneumatic devices?
  • JordanCClarkJordanCClark Posts: 198
    edited 2013-05-23 11:42
    Not sure why the didactism on power raised its ugly head. I'm thinking lack of coffee...

    Actually, I was thinking more in the way of embedded industrial applications. Even if you use them as a pilot valve to drive a larger pneumatic valve, the electrical power consumption is less than the standard 24VDC valves in use today.

    So... wait for it... I was following the power...

    Not everyone here is a DIYer...:smile:
    5-23-2013 2-05-55 PM.png
    373 x 275 - 35K
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2013-05-23 12:01
    I am just concerned that some new users try to do everything with 3.3v or 5.0v. And of course, they also feel the need to have their prime power source be a USB port that is limited to 5 volts at 500 milliamps for a whooping 2.5 watts.

    Still it is hard to comprehend what inspired these devices if it wasn't seridipity and an excess of either cash or enthusiasm.

    Microcontroller seem to do more and more with a few watts, but machines seem to always do more and more with more watts.
  • RforbesRforbes Posts: 281
    edited 2013-05-23 12:13
    I'm with Loopy on this one- however, microcontrollers are most definitely still in a state of "growth" and considered cutting edge technology in some ways. They're not proven technology like the old Allen Bradley SLC500 PLC's and what have you. So, since they're still finding their way into mainstream markets, more stuff is needed to make them more versatile without cumbersome interfacing.

    I could see these valves finding a lot of use in instruments and medical/lab/diagnostic equipment. And as Jordan said, for things like pilot valves.

    Come to think of it, pick and place conveyors or sorters might have a need for these. I'm thinking of "puffing" applications where small, precisely aimed jets of air are used to eject a faulty part from a tray, bin or conveyor.

    Who knows... maybe we'll end up seeing them in inoculation guns. Hey, wait! I'm trademarking that! Or copyrighting it! Or patenting it! Whatever it takes to make bazillions. ;)
  • kwinnkwinn Posts: 8,697
    edited 2013-05-23 13:03
    Loopy Byteloose wrote: »
    Amps x Volts = Watts and Watts is the measure of POWER

    1 Horsepower is roughtly 745 Watts.

    If you need any really powerful devices, you are going to have to convert 3.3V or 5.0V control logic to both more AMPS and more VOLTS. So it seems silly to cater to the tiny, nearly useless devices. Granger has real stuff for gritty DIYer in the Mid-west of the USA.

    Follow the power. Your microcontroller will awe people.

    Is there really a market niche for small battery powered pneumatic devices?

    You do not necessarily need high power solenoid valves to control high pressure large volume flow of liquids. A low wattage servo-hydraulic valve can control a hydraulic system that moves fast enough to produce audible sound waves yet can apply forces in the thousands of pounds range.
  • JordanCClarkJordanCClark Posts: 198
    edited 2013-05-23 13:59
    Y'know, guys, all I said was this could open up some possibilities, not that this was going to be a huge industry game changer. In industrial applications, 24VDC is pretty well here to stay. Heck I'm not sure what applications would be a good fit.

    But if I were thinking of aplpications:
    • single point grease dispenser-- in the 1-3 gram volume range.
    • Small pick/place-- already mentioned, but could be either a gripper or vacuum.
    • small air knife-- already mentioned
    • poka-yoke
    • pilot actuator
    In either an embedded application or as a proof of concept, I wouldn't summarily reject them due to perceived limitations. Sometimes it just needs a little inspiration. As we speak, Rforbes is on his way to bazillionairedom (yes, I just made that up...). :lol:
  • LawsonLawson Posts: 870
    edited 2013-05-23 21:28
    Nice, those coils are low enough power that they could easily be driven by a few parallel 74AC gates. A 74AC244 or 74AC245 at five volts should be able to drive 4 of them easily.

    Lawson
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