Most of the energy that goes into an air compressor comes out as heat, so it is always a good idea to direct the hot air produced to a location that needs heat β like into a plant in the winter season. The compressor in the photograph has a specially designed heat recovery system that […]
Components
Compressed air fail: Bad water
Β Water-cooled compressors can have an advantage in locations where the ambient conditions are hot β and therefore using air cooled compressors would result in discharge temperatures that exceed the capacity of the air-drying systems. Overloading air dryers could result in free water entering the plant piping system. This would cause contamination of connected machines and […]
Compressed air fail: A ratβs nest of wiring
An air compressor at a metal processing plant had a troubled life. It started out as a VSD controlled machine, but a fire damaged the controls. Because of this, a new VSD was installed. It didnβt match the old drive, so wiring was altered to accommodate. Next, the drive failed due to dust contamination and […]
Clippard release AIV series air-piloted media isolation valves
Like Clippardβs NIV and PIV lines of isolation valves, the AIV series features Clippardβs unique multi-functional valve stem design for longer life and minimal dead volume. The difference with the AIV series is that is that it also provides the added benefit of air operation, which is β by definition β intrinsically-safe. No solenoid means […]
High-pressure oil-free compression technology now part of Atlas Copco Group
Hycomp Inc.βs technology has become part of Atlas Copco Group. The company designs, produces, sells and services specialized high-pressure oil-free compressors and boosters for a variety of industries. This is the second such acquisition by Altas Copco, which announced the acquisition of industrial gear pump manufacturer Kracht on January 3. Hycomp is a privately owned […]
A primer on when to use pneumatic vacuum pumps
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Vacuum technology is the quintessential method for safe and careful material handling in various industries, from packaging to glass manufacturing. Vacuum cups and pads are gentle and soft, lifting even the largest material while barely contacting the surface. By creating a vacuum inside the cup, the pressure differential draws the […]
Piab launches piCOBOT plug-and-play configuration for Fanuc CRX cobots
Piab’s clever end-of-arm-tool piCOBOT has so far had almost a decade of prosperity on the market for cobot equipment. The success relates to the unit’s compact yet user-friendly design, precision, and capacity. Despite its limited weight, only 1.5 lb (720 g), this EOAT is able to lift objects of up to 15.4 lb (7 kg). […]
Compressed air fail: Quadruple dry
A metal processing company had a laser cutter installed in its manufacturing plant to produce accurately fashioned pieces from metal sheets. This machine requires compressed air that is dried to about 35Β° F for general use but requires a small amount of air to keep the beam path clean βthis avoids contaminating the expensive positioning […]
What is a lubricated compressor banana curve?
If you are carefully selecting your new compressors by looking at Compressed Air & Gas (CAGI) data sheets, you should be commended. Use of these sheets are a great way to compare compressor energy and flow characteristics between brands of compressors. In this way, you can choose the most efficient machine for your use and […]
DHPL long-stroke parallel gripper for high load and torque parallel gripping
From recently completed production lines, Festo introduces the DHPL, a new generation of competitively priced long-stroke grippers that offers a host of advantages for high load and torque applications. The DHPL is interchangeable with competitive long-stroke grippers. It provides the added benefits of lighter weight, higher precision, and no maintenance. The new long-stroke gripper is […]
