By Ron Marshall, Contributing Editor Fred had been the plant engineer at the packaging facility for nearly ten years, and he thought he understood his compressed air system well. The compressors ran, the machines worked most of the time, and whenever there was a moisture problem someone usually changed a filter or drained a receiver […]
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AutomationDirect adds guided cylinders and pneumatic silencers
AutomationDirect has added Metal Work 12 mm dual guide rod cylinders to its guided actuator lineup for packaging, material handling and industrial automation applications. Available with stroke lengths from 10 mm to 250 mm, the double-acting cylinders include dual guide rods for stability, a magnetic piston for position sensing and integrated sensor slots for switch […]
Compressed air fail: The water problem that started at the cooling air intake
By Ron Marshall When Sarahβs phone rang for the third time that week about water in the compressed air system, she assumed she already knew where the problem was. The maintenance supervisor reported water collecting in filter bowls, operators complained that pneumatic cylinders were becoming sluggish, and one production line had experienced quality problems because […]
Festo extends fieldbus connectivity into hazardous locations
In Class I, Division 2 hazardous locations, pneumatic actuators have typically been controlled from cabinets located in safe areas. Long wiring runs can increase installation and commissioning time, make maintenance and troubleshooting more difficult, and limit future system expansion. Festoβs VTUG-EX valve terminal provides fieldbus connectivity for use in Class I, Division 2 areas. Ethernet-based […]
Every compressed air audit should start with a block diagram
By Ron Marshall When engineers begin a compressed air audit, there is often a strong temptation to install instruments immediately. Pressure loggers are connected, power meters are hooked up, flowmeters are positioned, and data begins accumulating. It feels productive, but there is a risk: if you do not first understand how the compressed air system […]
Your compressor may not be the problem β but your data might be!
By Ron Marshall When a compressed air system struggles, the compressor usually gets blamed first. Pressure is dropping at the far end of the plant. Production tools are slowing down. Another compressor is running more often than expected. The energy bill is climbing. The first reaction of management is often predictable: βWe need a bigger […]
Is your compressor room like a sauna?
Contributed by Ron Marshall Richard, the maintenance manager at a plant that manufactures powdered coatings, was used to dealing with heat. The curing ovens in the facility ran hot, and summer months always made the production floor uncomfortable. But one area of the plant seemed especially unbearable β the compressor room. Every time Richard stepped […]
Safety is core to proper vacuum design in automation
Contributed by Michael TuoheyΒ β’ Regional Marketing Manager, North America, Piab In modern manufacturing, safety is a core design requirement. As more processes become automated and rely on vacuum, the way vacuum systems are engineered has a direct impact on the safety of people, products, and assets. Piabβs approach places safety at the center, combining […]
How do you achieve safety in pneumatics?
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor ΊΪΑΟ³ΤΉΟ systems are the backbone of modern industrial automation, providing reliable and efficient power for a wide range of applications, from packaging and assembly to heavy material handling. However, the very energy that makes these systems so effective also introduces significant workplace hazards if not managed correctly. Understanding and implementing […]
Lower compressor energy consumption with low-cost machine adjustments
These changes can unlock plant-wide air savings, avoid major capital investment, and improve carbon footprint. By Steve Bain,Β Industry Segment Manager, Food and Packaging, Festo Compressed air is one of manufacturingβs largest energy expenses, and most plants run it far above what their machines actually require. By tuning machines that use excess compressed air rather than […]
