Mechanical, Build & PneumaticsModule 6 of 12

The Components: Controllers, Compressor, Valves, and Cylinders

A part-by-part tour of every device in an FRC pneumatic system, with real part numbers and specs. By the end you can identify and spec each component and know which controller to buy.

The Components: Controllers, Compressor, Valves, and Cylinders is module 6 of 12 in the Mechanical, Build & Pneumatics guide. It picks up where Pneumatics Fundamentals: How Air Becomes Motion left off and hands over to Building, Wiring, and Programming a Pneumatic System. Its 4 lessons are about 94 minutes of the guide's ~21 hours.

4 lessons~94 min47 lessons in this guide

Start with lesson 1 All of Mechanical, Build & Pneumatics

In this module

4 lessons

01Pneumatics Controllers: REV PH and CTRE PCMThe brain of the system is a CAN module that runs the compressor and switches solenoids. Compare the REV Pneumatic Hub and the CTRE Pneumatics Control Module.22 min read

02Compressor, Pressure Switch, and Analog Pressure SensorHow air gets made and how the system knows when to stop. Covers the legal compressor, the Nason pressure switch, and the REV analog pressure sensor.24 min read

03Regulator, Storage Tanks, and TubingThe parts that store air and step it down to a usable pressure, plus the tubing and fittings that connect everything.24 min read

04Solenoid Valves and CylindersThe output stage: solenoid valves switch air, and cylinders turn it into motion. Learn single vs double solenoids and single vs double-acting cylinders.24 min read

Previous modulePneumatics Fundamentals: How Air Becomes Motion

Next moduleBuilding, Wiring, and Programming a Pneumatic System

Longer reads

Articles that go deeper on this

FRC Pneumatics: How to Design, Wire, and Program a Pneumatic SystemComplete FRC pneumatics guide: components, the REV Pneumatic Hub vs PCM, single vs double solenoids, safe wiring, WPILib programming, and the 60/120 psi limits.9 min read

The FRC Control System Explained: roboRIO, PDH, Radio, and Everything BetweenThe FRC control system explained: how the roboRIO, REV PDH, radio, motor controllers, and CAN bus connect to make your robot drive — a plain-English electronics board tour.8 min read

All 12 modules in Mechanical, Build & Pneumatics

Department overview