== Cheap Cylinders And Pumps ==


http://www.robotgroup.net/brooks/cylindersc.jpg

Desposable syringes make good cheap and light weight cylinder actuators for air and water (oil based fluids eat the rubber too quick) .Make sure you get the luer-lock type so the hose fittings don't come off .I've been getting mine from Tractor Supply Company for a couple of bucks each and they work great for both master and slave cylinders .

http://www.robotgroup.net/brooks/needles.jpg

I've been making barbbed hose fittings from the 16 gage needles like these .

http://www.robotgroup.net/brooks/fittingb.jpg

To make them into fittings cut the ends off with a jewlers file .

http://www.robotgroup.net/brooks/fitting5b.jpg

Then file grooves rings to form the barbs for extra grip 

http://www.robotgroup.net/brooks/crimp.jpg

Slide a band crimp (I make mine from a 3/16ths wide strip of .040 aluminum) on the hose ,then slip the hose onto the barbbed fitting and slide the band down over the grooves and crimp like so ........

http://www.robotgroup.net/brooks/finishedcylinder.jpg

Attach the fitting to the cylinder and your ready to go .

== Pump Photos ==

 http://www.robotgroup.net/brooks/parastallticpumpb.jpg
                                                                                                    The parastalltic pump I made for circulating the fluids thru the pump bras which just happens to work great as a reverseable hydrolic drive for the cylinders .Only one tube is needed because they work as pushing or pulling the fluid .

http://www.robotgroup.net/brooks/pumpdriveb.jpg

  The drive is a Futaba servo with the feedback pot ,endstops and control board all removed (I got a big box of used servos when my favorite hobby shop went out of biz ).

http://www.robotgroup.net/brooks/openheart.jpg

  This one uses a 1/16th I.D. tubing

http://www.robotgroup.net/brooks/pumpguts.jpg

  I made the 2 roller pinch wheel by turning 2 offset posts on the end of an aluminum rod and Futaba horn spline mount to the other end .