Fully automated compressor station with 16 pumps

[AlmightyArjen]

I've been working on a fully automated container terminal for the past years (more on that on my Work In Progress YT channel) and since the project is expanding, so are the needs for pneumatic air. I already built an automated compressor a few years back but it can't deliver enough power when the pneumatic cranes are continuously in operation. So I built a bigger compressor! It has 16 pumps, driven by 4 L-motors. The system is controlled by an Arduino, in combination with a pressure sensor, which makes sure that the pressure remains on its setpoint of 3 bar. If the pressure falls below, the pumps are started. To make the thing less noisy, I wanted to build a whole building around it. The project became a bit bigger than initially the idea was (like all of my projects), but I like the final result! It also has a TFT screen which shows a graph of the pressure in the course of time.

Pics or it didn't happen:

More info can be found in this video:

 

[Shiva]

Nice pumping station :)

That is a bathroom on floor 2, right?

[JopieK]

@AlmightyArjen very cool! Of course you should replace that Arduino with a Pi with LEGO HAT but apart from that ;) Just kidding. Splendid work!

[AlmightyArjen]

14 minutes ago, Shiva said:

Nice pumping station :)

That is a bathroom on floor 2, right?

Thanks! Yes, an operator room and a (small) bathroom

Edited May 16 by AlmightyArjen

[Toastie]

That is really a very nicely designed (both, technology- and aesthetically-wise!) and powerful compressor station!

The building looks like a "tech-building" - with mighty machines inside. The love to detail is simply fascinating!

And then the lighting; outside, inside, the operational lamps in/on the cabinets - wow.

Congratulations on achieving the perfect combination of very "good-looking" and "fantastic technology inside"!

All the best
Thorsten

[AlmightyArjen]

2 hours ago, Toastie said:

That is really a very nicely designed (both, technology- and aesthetically-wise!) and powerful compressor station!

The building looks like a "tech-building" - with mighty machines inside. The love to detail is simply fascinating!

And then the lighting; outside, inside, the operational lamps in/on the cabinets - wow.

Congratulations on achieving the perfect combination of very "good-looking" and "fantastic technology inside"!

All the best
Thorsten

Thank you for the kind words!

[Feuer Zug]

Impressive. Not only is the building good looking and the inside quite detailed, but it's all functional too!

[AlmightyArjen]

On 5/18/2025 at 3:32 AM, Feuer Zug said:

Impressive. Not only is the building good looking and the inside quite detailed, but it's all functional too!

Thanks!

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

On 5/17/2025 at 8:00 PM, Toastie said:

That is really a very nicely designed (both, technology- and aesthetically-wise!)

I totally agree with @Toastie ... this station is as functional as it is beautiful ...and as always, the focus is on fun (I love the man with the ice cream)!

This is true engineering, solving problems along the way and using different techniques to reach a final goal, without forgetting aesthetics. 

This new version of the pumping station is a masterpiece!

[arieben]

this is one of the coolest things i've ever seen in lego. beautiful and functional. bravo!

[Axadder]

Really nice! I would like to see more of this, I mean, mix Lego+Electronics.

But I know that the purists will yell at me.

[AlmightyArjen]

On 5/20/2025 at 10:30 PM, LEGO Train 12 Volts said:

I totally agree with @Toastie ... this station is as functional as it is beautiful ...and as always, the focus is on fun (I love the man with the ice cream)!

This is true engineering, solving problems along the way and using different techniques to reach a final goal, without forgetting aesthetics. 

This new version of the pumping station is a masterpiece!

Thank you!

On 5/21/2025 at 6:28 PM, arieben said:

this is one of the coolest things i've ever seen in lego. beautiful and functional. bravo!

Haha, a bit exaggerated as there are way cooler things built from Lego, but thank you!

7 hours ago, Axadder said:

Really nice! I would like to see more of this, I mean, mix Lego+Electronics.

But I know that the purists will yell at me.

Thank you! This couldn't be built with only original Lego, as Lego doesn't have a pressure sensor so I had a good excuse, haha! I always use electronics as the posibilities of Lego PU is rather limited and the prices of sensors are just insane. That adds up in big projects!

[FGMatt]

I second all of the nice words!

It would have been easy to make this just a technical item, hidden away somewhere (and still impressive then). But I love the way it's become a model!

[Mestari]

Impressive! :)

Could please write how this wiring was done? What did you use and how the upper floor is linked? I couldn't understand that from the video :(

Also, good to know that we should not exceed those 3 bars, or the pumps won't be happy ;)

Mine were never even capable of creating more pressure than that (but I only have the LEGO's own manometer to check).

[AlmightyArjen]

On 5/25/2025 at 7:08 AM, Mestari said:

Impressive! :)

Could please write how this wiring was done? What did you use and how the upper floor is linked? I couldn't understand that from the video :(

Also, good to know that we should not exceed those 3 bars, or the pumps won't be happy ;)

Mine were never even capable of creating more pressure than that (but I only have the LEGO's own manometer to check).

The power supply is 12V, which goes directly to the lighting (3 LEDs in series with a resistor), Arduino and a 9V voltage regulator. The 9V goes to the motor power (IRFZ55) and to a 5V voltage regulator. the 5V goes to a few sensors. To get power in the upper part of the building, I left a 1x1 hole in a corner through which I lead the cabling for the lighting on the upper floor. The cabling of the lighting is hidden by using two plates with doorrail on top of each other, which creates a "cable duct" between the rail and the studs.

I think my digital sensor is quite accurate, but it may have an error of around 10%, your Lego manometer has that as well. These two offsets combined is already more than the difference between 3 and 3,5 bars so maybe your pumps do the same as mine. I use the newest versions though, maybe those seals are better.