Island 5 LEGO Pneumatics Make a Scissor Lift
Circuitry
POP students will learn about LEGO Pneumatics and how to build a lift
powered by air.
LEGO Pneumatics- Making a Scissor Lift
Uses for Pneumatics
What is Pneumatics?
Pneumatics is the use of pressurized air to do work.
Lots of machines and tools use pneumatics to function. In other words, air pressure can be used to power machines so that they can do what they are designed to do.
Pneumatic tools are powerful, fast, and light compared to tools that use other power sources. Builders use them a lot to make jobs easier. Dentists also like pneumatic tools for these reasons.
The Power of Air Pressure
Single Acting Cylinder
Air is pushed in on the left and the pressure pushes the piston out to the right. The piston acts as a movable wall that sits in a cylinder. Air cannot move past the piston to escape, but the air can push the piston through the cylinder.
In a pneumatic machine, the piston would be connected to something that would then do work, like a lever or other moving part.
Double Acting Cylinder
Air is pushed in on the left and the pressure pushes the piston out to the right.
Then air is pushed in on the right, which pushes the piston back to its starting place.