Super Air Knife Prevents Errant Failure Readings On Vision Testing Of Parts

Published on by Russ Bowman

“False Positives” have been in the news a lot recently regarding COVID19 testing. We’re all hoping for better news on that soon, but all I have to offer about that, right now, are my hopes that you and yours are well and safe…and that we’re all in this together, and I’m pulling for you (us).

Manufacturers of precision products often use an automated vision system to inspect parts for defects. These systems can operate at a high rate of speed, and the sensors are capable of reading a very fine resolution, so even very slight blemishes on the surface of a critical part can be detected, allowing for instantaneous rejection of that part…a process that EXAIR Super Air Nozzles are commonly used for.

Model 1104 High Force Super Air Nozzle ejects a rejected package from a high speed conveyor line.

The ejection part of the process, however, is only as effective as the detection operation.  I recently had the pleasure of assisting a caller whose sensor was mounted at the outlet of a wash/rinse tank.  Some moisture carryover (and, at times, just the humidity) would cause moisture to collect or condense on the sensor lens, giving a “false positive” defect signal for a (presumably) perfectly fine part.

The sensor lens itself is 4.5″ in diameter and slightly convex.  They bought a Model 110206 6″ Aluminum Super Air Knife Kit:

  • The Air Knife itself is installed to blow a curtain of air across the lens at all times to keep it clean and free of moisture & condensation.
  • The Automatic Drain Filter Separator keeps the air supply clean & moisture free…remember, whatever’s in your air supply will get on whatever you’re blowing it onto.
  • The Pressure Regulator allows them to dial in the flow & force of the air curtain.  They really only need a good, stiff breeze running across this, so hitting it with full line pressure would just be a waste of perfectly good compressed air.
  • They can even use the 0.001″ thick shim from the Shim Set to dial down their consumption even more, if desired (and why wouldn’t that be desired?)
Super Air Knife Kits include a Shim Set, Filter Separator, and Pressure Regulator.

The EXAIR Super Air Knife is the most efficient, and quietest, compressed air blow off product on the market today.  They’re on the shelf in lengths from 3 inches to 9 feet.  Our 30 Day Unconditional Guarantee allows you to try one out, risk free, for up to a month.  What’s stopping you from saving money on compressed air, lowering your noise levels, and (very likely) improving the performance of your air blowing application?  Call me; let’s talk.

Russ Bowman
Application Engineer
EXAIR Corporation
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