Air Pressure excavator
 

I was looking at this website
https://www.automationdirect.com/adc...tic_Components
I am wondering if you got a heavy duty system would it work like hydraulics? The only difference would be that the air can compress unlike the the hydraulic fluid. I am not sure if it would work but it seems like it should/would. It would need tons of compression but i don't see why it would not work. Please share if you know of someone who has tried or have tried yourself. I just noticed its a cheaper price than the hydraulic systems. I know maybe not as much power but for a bruder conversion it would be perfect as the hydraulics could stress the boom with the high amount of power. Mabe a small co2 tank would work for tank if i could find a big enough air pump.

Re: Air Pressure excavator
 

I think you're kinda on to something, however, i wonder about dual action capability and smoothness of control. With hydraulics, you can control the pressure throughout the entire stroke of your cylinder.
Just my thoughts! I'll be watching for others ideas on this topic!

Re: Air Pressure excavator
 

https://www.automationdirect.com/adc...Acting#start=0
Those are double acting cylinders so i figured that it would work the same. It would be more complicated then the hydraulics but i think cheaper. I was thinking two valves per cylinder; one for inlet and one for the outlet. So it would be a circuit. One would push the ram forward and the other one would let the pressure out of the top, kinda like the hydraulic system. Still don't have enough pressure for the whole system. I don't think that multitasking would be an option lol. Hydraulic systems run at around 180-200 psi if i read correctly. The only miniature air pump i have found pumps at about 25psi. That's enough to maybe move the bucket for a second lol. Still researching but i need to finish my bruder dump truck conversion before i start anymore projects. I already have the dump truck and my bruder d5. That will last a month at least lol.
-Rc

Re: Air Pressure excavator
 

check out airplane retracts and stuff, some of those are air powered.

i built a dump truck with a robart air cylinder a while ago, worked ok, but never tried to lift anything heavy. and i made the air tanks out of pvc and put them in the stock king hauler fuel tanks. used a hand pump to pressurize. worked most of the time until the glue failed on one of the air tank end caps at like 50 psi....

i'll stick with firgelli actuators from now on..lol

https://www.firgelliauto.com/

Re: Air Pressure excavator
 

For electric actuators I use the actuonix actuators there were called firgelli Before but seem to hold up well and plus right into a reciever which is awsome.
http://www.actuonix.com/

Re: Air Pressure excavator
 

Air is very "springy". If your bucket digs into something firm and then breaks loose it is going to catapult dirt everywhere. I'd would only use it as a last resort.

Re: Air Pressure excavator
 

So never mind on the air stuff. Lol i am using a firgelli actuator in my mack truck build right now but they are expensive. It would be about $300 for 4 of them for an excavator. and then i might as well go a little higher and get hydraulics lol. Thank you all for your help. Im not sure why im calling it help cause u shut my idea down :( lol just kidding thanks everyone!
-Rc

Re: Air Pressure excavator
 

Play with Lego Technics, they had an excavator kit.
Cheers!