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They also can provide added air storage to your system
which will minimize how often your compressor needs to
run. Remember, though, that when it does kick back on, it
will run longer in order to refill all the additional storage
tanks and lines.
Designs that require large amounts of air will benefit
by having a storage tank nearby to satisfy its requirements.
Active props with multiple large cylinders running for
extended periods can be air hogs!
Manifolds
You can employ a manifold when you are using
multiple solenoids (Figure 5). This allows you to use a
single air line to supply several solenoids. It also combines
the exhausts into two lines which will further simplify your
design.
You may want to start with a simple pop-up kit
available from a variety of vendors, one of which is Fright
Props (see Resources).
A kit such as this can be utilized when constructing a
simple pop-up which is a perfect introductory pneumatic
project (Figure 6 and Figure 7). I used something similar
for my stand-up skeleton.
For the skeleton, I disassembled the spine and installed
a threaded rod with some nuts and washers attached. I put
this in the spine and added some Great Stuff expanding
foam and reassembled the spine. Great Stuff can be an
incredibly useful product, but does require a little extra care
DIY Animatronics
Figure 6. An example of what may be included in a
complete kit.
Figure 5. Four solenoids mounted on a manifold.
Figure 7. Simple pop-up mechanism.
