I’m looking to build a very small combat robot (1lb or a kilobot)that uses pneumatics, but I can’t really find the kind of parts that I’m looking for. Does anyone else know of a good website to find small air cylinders and RC valves etc.
Thanks in advance. 
In addition to Robart:
]clippard.com/ - Small components, but maybe not small enough. They carry one of the few relatively small electronically controlled proportional valves I’ve been able to find though./:m]
]pneutronics.com / globalspec.com/supplier/productannouncements/parkerhannifinautomationpneutronics - Website is often down, but they make some very small pneumatic components./:m]
]en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_pneumatics - Probably your best bet if just getting started with pneumatics./:m]
There are few other suppliers of smaller pneumatic componets. Most only supply directly to industrial customers. There are very few off-the-shelf solutions (except for Robart’s and Legos). I’m not sure anything will work for a very small robot at the sizes you mentioned. Legos would probably be your best bet. I think a pneumatic solution loses a lot of pneumatic’s benefits when working at miniature scales though.
Also, in a recent issue of either “Robot Magazine” or “Servo”, there was an article on a new line of miniature pneumatic valves that were controlled with artificial muscles. Concept looked interesting and picture made them look really small, but I’m not sure of actual dimensions.
What would be the function of the pneumatics on the bot?
Thanks for the links, that was the kind of thing I was looking for.
Sounds cool, I’ll have to look in to that.
In theory, the bot is supposed to be able to flip other bots with it. I don’t really know how feasible that is in this weight class, but that’s what I’m going to figure out! Even if it’s not the best, it’ll still be an interesting robot to mess around with. 8)
I’d either look to get the guts from a cheap CO2 BB type pistol powered by a small CO2 cartridge to operate a piston, or look at using the innerds from an electric powered BB type gun like an airsoft. The electric airsoft probably has an electric motor that cocks a spring that drives a piston. Either this could possibly puff another piston, or operate a rod attached to the piston that mechanically operates the flipper. Need something small, lightweight, and quick (and cheap).
