By Ron Marshall for the Compressed Air Challenge A food products company used lubricated screw compressors to feed the process machines in their plant. The compressors contained food grade lubricant because some of the compressed air came in contact with the product. The lubricant is an important item within the compressor, acting as a lubricant, […]
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Gain insight into energy saving in pneumatic systems at the Fluid Power Technology Conference
Attendees to the Fluid Power Technology Conference, presented by Fluid Power World, will have ample opportunities to learn from industry experts and pneumatic and hydraulic manufacturers at the two-day event. Slated forMilwaukee School of Engineeringβs Kern Center Tuesday and Wednesday, June 21 and 22, the event will feature nearly 10 sessions led by experts in […]
Compressed air fail: Relying on service technicians
By Ron Marshall for the Compressed Air Challenge An electronics component manufacturer was having trouble with their compressors.Β Despite having purchased a very expensive and sophisticated control system, they were experiencing problems with their automatic compressor control. The system is designed to control the four large air compressors in their compressor room by coordinating the […]
Why is there water in my compressed air system?
Depending on inlet conditions, air compressors can produce lots of water. If this water is not removed, it can travel through your piping and overwhelm your air dryer (if you have one). The water will rust steel pipes, and act as a solvent for compressor lubricant. The water picks up the rust, oil, and dirt […]
Hannover Messe opens with a POTUS appearance
Iβm here for the annual Hannover Messe trade fair in Hannover, Germanyβbilled as the worldβs largest industrial trade show. Weβve historically covered the show in odd-numbered years, as there is a larger focus on fluid power and motion control components then. But this year is special, as itβs the first time in the venerable exhibitionβs […]
Cleanliness, cushioning, and kits lead pneumatic-actuator trends
ΊΪΑΟ³ΤΉΟ actuators, often called air cylinders, are an inexpensive and easy-to-use design choice for many industrial applications that require linear motion. While the technology has been around in nearly its current form for more than half a century, there are some interesting trends and design advances that engineers should be aware of. There have been […]
Why you need to understand proper air preparation
ΊΪΑΟ³ΤΉΟ products, systems, and machines require clean compressed air to operate efficiently and reliably. By Michael Guelker, Festo Product Manager, ΊΪΑΟ³ΤΉΟ Actuators and Air Supply products Particles, water and oils in compressed air reduce the service life and functionality of components and systems. They also impair productivity and energy efficiency. Being aware of how to […]
Why does my compressor run constantly?
If your air compressor is constantly running without shutting off, this could be a sign of a problemβand it is probably costing you a bundle. It is very rare to see system compressors exactly match the facility demand, requiring the need for constant full-load operation. The most obvious thing you should check for is leaks […]
Compressed air fail: High compressed air costs at high-end car dealer
By Ron Marshall for the Compressed Air Challenge A high-end car dealership purchased a premium brand air compressor for their upscale dealership to service both service and body repair bays and the numerous air tools used in the facility. As part of some extra customer service, an air auditor visited the site to assess the […]
Nearly 200 students learn fluid power at annual event
Each year, hundreds of middle school students are actively engaged in learning about fluid power during the NFPA Fluid Power Challenge, a competition that challenges kids to solve an engineering problem using fluid power. The latest challenge was held at Macomb Community College in Detroit. Sponsored by Master ΊΪΑΟ³ΤΉΟ, this yearβs event included nearly 170 […]
