Pneumatics 101: A Beginner's Guide to Building Air-Powered Props

An introduction and demonstration of the components required to build a pneumatic system. Many of my previous projects have included moving parts powered by electricity - e.g. stepper motors, servos, linear actuators. But, using air-powered pneumatic cylinders can generate a different quality of motion, which is more powerful, more natural, and more organic - it's perfect for animatronic character movement, but also trap doors, reveals, or other theatrical special effects in escape rooms, haunted houses, or other themed attractions. I'll introduce the functionality of each of the main pneumatic components you'll need, and also draw comparisons to their equivalent component in an electrical circuit. Timings: 00:00:00 - 00:00:24 Introduction 00:00:25 - 00:01:22 Component Overview 00:01:23 - 00:06:29 Compressor (Battery) 00:06:30 - 00:07:33 Regulator (Voltage Stepdown) 00:07:34 - 00:09:01 Air Tubing (Wires) 00:09:02 - 00:12:07 Connectors 00:12:08 - 00:13:22 Making Things Airtight 00:13:23 - 00:13:43 Splitters (Connector blocks, e.g. WAGO) 00:13:44 - 00:13:55 Valves (Switches) 00:13:56 - 00:14:41 Solenoid Valves (Relays) 00:14:42 - 00:15:00 Manifold (Multi-channel relay) 00:15:01 - 00:15:43 Cylinders (Linear Actuators) 00:15:44 - 00:16:24 Wrapup For more information on this project, or and of the other playful technology projects featured on this channel, please check out   / playfultech   or join the discord at   / discord