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166 Masterpiece 4 • PneumADDic II
The AND Handles

The AND Handle sub-
assembly connects the
Piston sub-assembly to the
pneumatic switch for the
AND Gate sub-assembly.

A key component of the gates’ functionality is how the Piston sub-assemblies interact
with the pneumatic switches.The AND Handle sub-assemblies you are about build, slip
snugly over the lever of the pneumatic switches, and are hooked to the Piston sub-assem-
blies via a pair of rubber bands.The purpose of the rubber bands is to allow the pistons
contract beyond the limits of the pneumatic switch without it.As the pistons contract
beyond the limits of the pneumatic switch, the rubber bands stretch to compensate for
the difference. In the case of the AND Gate sub-assemblies, you can see this when the
inputs are 0, 0, as shown previously in Figure 1.9.You will need to build four of the
AND Handle sub-assemblies.

AND Handle Step 0 AND Handle Step 1 AND Handle Step 2