Month: December 2014

Mini Chip Vac Reduces Rework, Increases Safety

Published on by exaircorpLeave a comment

I recently worked with a customer who was starting to experience material defects due to contamination during their machining process. There were also safety concerns, as the operators were cutting themselves by hand cleaning the shavings out of the bores and wiping the surface of the machines clean. They were considering using another standard electric workshop vacuum but had been reluctant due to their history of motors burning out, so they called EXAIR looking for a suitable compressed air operated vacuum.

Tuff Torq 1
Scrap contaminants on machine surface

I recommended using our Model # 6193-5, Mini Chip Vac System. The Mini Chip Vac uses compressed air to create a powerful vacuum, picking up dry or wet chips and delivering them to a 5 gallon drum (also available in 30, 55 and 110 gallon sizes). There are no moving parts, motors or electricity required to operate the unit, eliminating the customer’s concern for potential shock.

By using the Mini Chip Vac, the customer was able to remove the contaminants from the process, increase safety by eliminating the potential for injury, reduced the amount of defects and reduced downtime. The 5 gallon mini Chip Vac is also capable of being placed in tight spots and does not take up too much space. They were so satisfied with the results, they even made their own stand.

Tuff Torq 2
Cleaned machining area
Tuff Torq 3
Mini Chip Vac System with custom made stand

To discuss how EXAIR can improve your machining process, please contact an Application Engineer.

Justin Nicholl
Application Engineer
justinnicholl@exair.com
@EXAIR_JN

Long Super Air Knives Nominated for Plant Engineering’s 2014 Product of the Year

Published on by exaircorpLeave a comment

At EXAIR, we are constantly working on developing products to support our customer’s needs. Occasionally, we are fortunate enough to be recognized for our new Intelligent Compressed Air Products and this year is no different as we have been nominated by Plant Engineering for 2014 Compressed Air Product of the Year, for our New Long Super Air Knives.

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It is an honor to be recognized

Back on June 10, 2014 we introduced our new Long Super Air Knives in one-piece construction, up to 108”, an industry first! The new, longer one-piece design eliminates the need for coupling shorter length knives to cover wider applications. Using a 40:1 amplification rate (surrounding air to compressed air), the unit(s) delivery a high velocity, laminar sheet of airflow that can be easily adjusted. Available in aluminum, 303 and 316 stainless steel, in STOCK and ready to ship!

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One-piece construction, from 3″ up to 108″, available in aluminum, 303 and 316 stainless steel.

If you would like to vote for EXAIR, please click HERE.

We appreciate the support and will continue to provide the best products and customer service possible.

Thank you for your consideration!

Justin Nicholl
Application Engineer
justinnicholl@exair.com
@EXAIR_JN

Hello Static

Published on by Lee EvansLeave a comment

The late fall and early winter season has arrived in Cincinnati and the telltale signs are everywhere – falling leaves, falling temperatures, and falling humidity.  The latter of these signs is a precursor to an indirectly proportional occurrence – the increase of static.

Static occurs when a similar electrical charge exists between two insulators.  Most often, the charge on the surface of these insulators causes them to repel one another, stick together, or causes the charge to seek an any available path to ground.  One such insulator that can be found everywhere is air, and the other can take on a variety of forms.  It can be the cardboard box used to ship a product, geotextile material used to increase soil stability, or (as is the case below) a PET bottle travelling along a conveyor line.

Plastic bottles on conveyor
PET bottles travelling on conveyor between cleaning and filling stages

In the photo shown above the plastic bottles are being transferred from one stage of processing to the next, and when reaching the next stage of the process the bottles need to be filled.  But, due to the static charge created during transfer along the conveyor, the bottles are sticking together, creating a process disturbance.

In this application, suitable product selection choices are quite extensive.  Super Ion Air Knives can be used on each side of the bottles to remove the static charge, an Ion Air Cannon can be positioned between the conveyor and the filling station, Ion Air Jets can be installed along the conveyor, or (if the line speed is slow enough) Ion Bars can be installed  to remove the static charge.

As the humidity of the ambient air decreases with the season, static problems inevitably increase.  If you have a static related application problem, contact an EXAIR Application Engineer for a suitable solution.

Lee Evans
Application Engineer
LeeEvans@EXAIR.com
@EXAIR_LE