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Looking for a mini vacuum — Parallax Forums

Looking for a mini vacuum

LaTechLaTech Posts: 3
edited 2008-01-01 05:07 in Robotics
First off, this user name will be used by me and 3 other students for our Senior Design Project here at Louisiana Tech University. We are working on a window washing robot for ASME. We are looking for some type of vacuum to assist our suction cups. I was wondering where we could find these mini vacuums or if they were even available. TIA!!!

also, mods if this should be in the sandbox, please relocate it.

Comments

  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2007-11-29 20:59
    You could try using a cheap plastic syringe with a linear stepper motor and a hose.

    -Phil
  • parts-man73parts-man73 Posts: 830
    edited 2007-11-30 01:18
    perhaps a fish tank air pump, only connect your tubing to the inlet.

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    Brian

    uController.com - home of SpinStudio

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  • DJSandbergDJSandberg Posts: 56
    edited 2007-11-30 05:55
    LaTech,

    Black and decker made a 12 volt vacuum cleaner. Several other companies made them also. You can usually find them at Goodwill. If you are looking for something more like a piston pump, I bought a Medo pump several years ago for about $64 that works well. You can also get one from a wrecking yard. They are used on several cars as a helper pump for the cruise control. I've got a 91 Toyota truck and it's got one.

    Daryl
  • Beau SchwabeBeau Schwabe Posts: 6,566
    edited 2007-11-30 08:30
    LaTech,

    If you already have flowing water at your disposal, why not use a water vacuum aspirator?

    Here is the basic principle of operation:
    http://www.frogfot.com/misc/waterjetvac.html



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    Beau Schwabe

    IC Layout Engineer
    Parallax, Inc.
  • dbc1218dbc1218 Posts: 33
    edited 2007-11-30 22:16
    You should be able to find something you like from here http://sensidyne.com/index.php Check out the micro air pumps is the products section
  • John MansfieldJohn Mansfield Posts: 1
    edited 2007-12-01 13:11
    I am using Sensidyne miniature vacuum pumps for a similar project. My particular pumps are 1-5/8"X1-1/4"X3/4", weigh 1 ounce, and run on 6VDC. One on each foot keeps a two pound walking robot attached to the ceiling. (My son wanted to build techno trousers like in Wallace and Gromit.) The phone number on the pumps is 1-800-451-9444.
  • LaTechLaTech Posts: 3
    edited 2007-12-09 01:30
    well weight is a major constraint due to the fact that the whole robotic unit must weigh less than 1kg and also work off of less than 24Vdc. Here is a link to the design competition rules just to give ya'll an idea of what i am up against. We are totally up to any ideas you might have! http://www.asme.org/Events/Contests/DesignContest/2008_Student_Design.cfm
  • LaTechLaTech Posts: 3
    edited 2007-12-09 01:41
    just checked out that link mansfield!!! that is sweet. just when i thought there was no hope.... wonder ho much those pumps are gonna cost. Oh sponsors.....
  • iamscottymiamscottym Posts: 30
    edited 2008-01-01 05:07
    CMU has a wall climbing robotics contest and one of their bots has a very efficient vacuum pump to cling to the wall. I believe the pump is made by Vortex. I don't have the link handy, but it's unique in that it creates a toroidal recirculating air flow rather than simply evacuating the air with an impeller.

    -iamscottym

    Northwestern University
    McCormick School of Engineering '08
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