Materials List: Fun with Air-Powered Pneumatics

Each group needs:

  • 2.5 meters polyurethane green tubing, 5/32" X 3/32" (McMaster, 5648K233)
  • air reservoir, 1-1/4" bore, 6" length, 8.7 cu inch, 1/8" NPT female, 250 psi (JH Foster, D-27715-A-6)
  • relief valve, 60 psi, pull ring, ¼" NPT (Grainger, 5A707)
  • pressure gauge, 0 to 60 psi, ½", 1/8" NPT, lower (Surplus Center, 21-1663-N)
  • 1 control valve, hand-operated, 3-way 2-position, 1/8" NPT female ports (SMC, NVM130-N01-08)
  • 1 cylinder, 7/16" bore, 2" stroke, single acting, spring return, nose-mounted (JH Foster, 012)
  • fittings (McMaster): 1 tee, 5/32" tube, glass-filled nylon (SMC, KQ2T03-00); and 2 orange plugs, 5/32" (SMC, KQ2P-03)
  • hex nipple, 1/8" NPT, brass, package of 10 (Grainger, 6MN96; use 2 of 10 for extension activity materials, listed below)
  • tee, 1/8" NPT, brass, package 10 (Grainger, 6MN48)
  • bushing adapter, 1/8" M to ¼" F NPT (Grainger, 6MN88)
  • three 10-32 fender washers (McMaster, 91090A120)
  • two 10-32 nuts (McMaster, 90480A195)
  • two 10-32 lock nuts (McMaster, 90633A411)
  • three10-32 wing nut (McMaster, 90866A111)
  • two 3/8" washers (McMaster, 91090A112)
  • plastic cap, fits 1-1/8" outer diameter, 19/32" inside height (McMaster, 9567K15)
  • 2 fittings, 5/32" tube to 10-32 UNF male, glass-filled nylon (SMC, KQ2H03-32)
  • 6 fittings, 5/32" tube to 1/8" NPT male pipe, glass-filled nylon (SMC, KQ2H03-34S)
  • 1 fitting, 5/32" tube to 1/8" NPT female pipe, glass-filled nylon (SMC, KQ2F03-34)
  • tire filling valve (Schrader valve), 1/8" NPT (Surplus Center, 455-NN-N)
  • bicycle pump
  • 1 gallon unlined paint can (no ears) with lid (Empty Paint Cans, 30WS1U)
  • tennis ball (or any small ball)
  • meter stick
  • safety goggles, pair per person

To share with the entire class:

  • drill with metal cutting bit to drill holes in paint cans
  • Teflon tape

For the extension activity, each group needs:

  • 1.5 meters polyurethane green tubing, 5/32" X 3/32" (McMaster, 5648K233)
  • 1 control valve, hand-operated, 3-way 2-position, 1/8" NPT female ports (SMC, NVM130-N01-08)
  • 1 cylinder, 7/16" bore, 2" stroke, single acting, spring return, nose-mounted (JH Foster, 012)
  • fitting (McMaster): 1 tee, 5/32" tube, glass-filled nylon (SMC, KQ2T03-00)
  • 16-oz white HDPE tub (Container & Packaging Supply, T013)
  • support stand with post (Cynmar, 120-30358)
  • right angle clamp (Cynmar, 120-30626)
  • hex nipple, 1/8" NPT, brass, need 2 of package of 10 from materials listed above (Grainger, 6MN96)
  • two 10-32 fender washers (McMaster, 91090A120)
  • two 10-32 wing nuts (McMaster, 90866A111)
  • 1 fitting, 5/32" tube to 1/8" NPT female pipe, glass-filled nylon (SMC, KQ2F03-34)

Suggested suppliers:

https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/umn_pneumatics_activity01