Month: November 2024

E-Vac Porous vs Non-Porous

Published on by jasonkirbyLeave a comment

The E-Vac by EXAIR is an efficient compressed air-powered vacuum pump designed for rapid and reliable pick and place operations, offering instantaneous response times for improved productivity and versatility in various industrial applications. The E-Vac vacuum generators are designed with advanced technology to optimize performance and reduce air consumption. This contributes to lower operational costs by minimizing energy use, ultimately enhancing productivity in processes requiring vacuum handling.

When determining which E-Vac type, you have to consider the material you will be lifting is porous or non-porous. An example of a porous material would be wood, which will allow some air to move through the material. An example of a non-porous material would be glass, which will not allow air to move through the material.

Porous low vacuum generators max. vacuum= 21″Hg (71 kPa).

Non-porous high vacuum generators max. vacuum= 27″ Hg (91 kPa)

Low vacuum units up to 21″ Hg (71 kPa) with vacuum flows up to 18.5 SCFM are typically used for porus materials such as cardboard and delicate materials. The relatively lower level vacuum prevents warping, marring, dimpling or disfiguring of the surface due to excessive vacuum. This style generates more vacuum flow to overcome porosity and leakage through the target material.

High vacuum units up to 27″ Hg (91 kPa) with vacuum flows up to 15.8 SCFM are typically used for non-orous materials such as glass, steel sheet, and plastic. There are 7 In-Line models that vary by flow to accommodate larger and more vacuum cups in an application.

For additional information on the E-Vac by EXAIR, or any of our EXAIR compressed air products, please feel free to contact our Application Engineers. We are always happy to assist you with your product or application questions.

Jason Kirby
Application Engineer
Email: jasonkirby@exair.com
Twitter: @EXAIR_jk

Compressed Air and Pressure Drop: Explained

Published on by Tyler DanielLeave a comment

A critical component to optimal performance of any compressed air operated product is ensuring sufficient compressed air flow. Simply put, inadequate air flow won’t allow you to get the job done.

 As compressed air moves through the distribution system, it encounters friction inside the walls of the pipe, tube, hose, etc. The diameter of the pipe, length, number of direction changes, and finished surface of the inner wall all play a part in this. A drop in air pressure will occur as a result of this friction. In addition to pressure drops experienced due to the distribution system, they can also occur at the point of use. If the line is undersized, this pressure drop will be great enough to impact the performance of the product. 

When designing and maintaining your compressed air system, pressure measurements should be taken at varying points to identify (and fix) any issues before they create a greater problem down the road. According to the Compressed Air Challenge, these are the places you should take regular pressure measurements to determine your system operating pressure:

  • Inlet to compressor (to monitor inlet air filter) vs. atmospheric pressure
  • Differential across air/lubricant separator
  • Inter-stage on multistage compressors
  • After-cooler
  • At treatment equipment (dryers, filters, etc.)
  • Various points across the distribution system
  • Check pressure differentials against manufacturers’ specifications. If high pressure drops are noticed, this indicates a need for service.

*More recent compressors will measure pressure at the package discharge, which will include the separator and after-cooler.

Once you’ve taken these measurements, simply add the pressure drops measured and subtract that value from the operating range of your compressor. That figure is your true operating pressure at the point of use.

If your distribution system is properly sized and the pressure drops measured across your various equipment are within specifications, any pressure drop noticed at the point of use is indicative of an inadequate volume of air. This could be due to restrictive fittings or undersized air lines, hose, or tube. Check that the point of use product is properly plumbed to compressed air per the manufacturer’s specifications.

EXAIR Products are designed to minimize this pressure drop by restricting the flow of compressed air. The more energy (pressure) that we’re able to bring to the point of use, the more efficient and effective that energy will be. The photo below shows two common examples of inefficient compressed air usage. With an open-ended blow off, a pressure drop occurs upstream inside the supply line. If you were to measure the pressure directly at the point of use, while in operation, you’d find that the pressure is significantly lower than it is at the compressor or further up the line. In the other photo with a modular style hose, some pressure is able to build up but if it gets too high the hose will blow apart. These types of modular style hose are not designed to be used with compressed gases.

EXAIR’s Super Air Nozzles, on the other hand, keep the compressed air right up to the point of discharge and minimize the pressure drop. This, in addition to the air entrainment, allows for a high force while maximizing efficiency. If you’d like to talk about how an EXAIR Intelligent Compressed Air Product could help to minimize pressure drop in your processes, give us a call.

Tyler Daniel, CCASS

Application Engineer

E-mail: TylerDaniel@EXAIR.com

X: @EXAIR_TD

EXAIR Super Air Knife Promotion

Published on by Jordan T ShouseLeave a comment

Starting in November through the end of the month, order any EXAIR Super Air Knife and receive a free 1210 Soft Grip Safety Air Gun. This applies to all stock Super Air Knifes. The Model 1210 is a top pick for many industrial applications. With the ideal combination of forceful air flow, quite noise level, and compressed air usage there’s not many applications that aren’t suited for this style of gun. All EXAIR’s Safety Air Guns are compliant with OSHA 1910.242 (b), relating to dead-end pressure, and can keep your personnel safe. 

EXAIR has been manufacturing Intelligent Compressed Air® products since 1983.  In the beginning, the Standard Air Knives and Full Flow Air Knives were very effective at that time.  But as leaders in this industry, EXAIR did not want to stop there.  We were able to engineer a more efficient, more powerful, and much quieter air knife, the Super Air Knife.  In this blog, I will discuss the features and benefits that the Super Air Knives can offer.

Bernoulli’s principle explains how a high velocity fluid can generate a low pressure.  The EXAIR Super Air Knife creates a high velocity air stream to produce that low pressure to entrain ambient air.   What does this mean for you?  It will save you money by using less compressed air.  The mass of the ambient air is added to the compressed air stream to give it a strong blowing force.  The Super Air Knife has an amplification ratio of 40:1, which means that for every 1 part of compressed air, 40 parts of ambient air are drawn into the air stream.  Ambient air is free. Compressed air is expensive.  EXAIR was able to engineer a design to use Bernoulli’s principle to make one of the most efficient air knives in the marketplace.

What else makes EXAIR unchallenged?  We manufacture and stock the widest range of lengths and materials.  To start, EXAIR has Super Air Knives ranging from 3” to 108” (76 mm to 2,743 mm) in three different materials; aluminum, 303 stainless steel, and 316/316L stainless steel.  EXAIR also offers Super Air Knives in PVDF material with Hastelloy hardware for chemical resistant applications from 3” to 54” (76 mm to 1,372 mm).  Depending on the temperature requirement, chemical resistance, OSHA and FDA regulations, or application details, we probably will have one on the shelf for you.  If EXAIR does not have it, we can make special air knives in different lengths and materials to best fit your application.  You can read more about specials HERE. 


Air Knives are available in Super, Standard and Full-Flow styles, and all versions are able to be customized to a customer’s specific needs. For help solving any specific blowoff problems, please contact an Application Engineer. All Air Knives are CE compliant.

With today’s cost of making compressed air, it is important to use it as efficiently as possible.  The Standard and Full Flow Air Knives would be good options to use.  But the best way to conserve is with the Super Air Knife.  In the U.S. and Canada, EXAIR offers a 30-day unconditional guarantee on our cataloged items, so you can try them out.  You can see for yourself how effective these compressed air guns can be.  If you have any questions about the Super Air Knife or if you would like to discuss an application, you can contact an Application Engineer at EXAIR.   We will be glad to help you.  And until December 31st, 2024, EXAIR is offering a free Soft Grip Safety Air Gun, a $115.00 value, as a complimentary gift for qualifying online Super Air Knife purchases. 

Jordan Shouse
Application Engineer
EXAIR Corporation
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EXAIR’s Cold Gun Promotion

Published on by Al Wooffitt1 Comment

It’s that time of year again for EXAIR‘s Cold Gun Promotion (online only). From November 1st 2024 through to the end of the year, you can receive a Dual Point Hose Kit for free with the purchase of our promotional Cold Gun System w/ Single Point Hose Kit or promotional High Power Cold Gun System w/ Single Point Hose Kit. These hose kits come with standard point tips or 1″ fan tips. The dual point kit gives you the ability to provide cooling to more than one side of large diameter cutters and components that need cooling.

Cold Guns Systems

So, what’s so great about EXAIR’s Cold Gun? If you’re looking for a way to extend the life of your tools by keeping them cool without the mess that can be left when using a coolant, then our Cold Gun is the perfect solution. When supplied with a source of compressed air, the Cold Gun and High Power Cold Gun produces a stream of clean, cold air that is 50°F below your compressed air supply temperature. In addition to this, the Cold Gun is very quiet at only 70dBA and has no moving parts to wear out. Just supply it with clean, dry compressed air, and it will run maintenance free for many years!

With a magnetic base, the Cold Gun is easy to install and mount. The Cold Gun is an ideal alternative to messy and expensive coolant mist systems. It eliminates the cost of purchase and disposal of cutting fluids as well as worker related health problems from breathing airborne coolant or slipping on wet floors. Replacing a coolant-based system also eliminates the need for secondary cleaning operations after milling or drilling.

If you would like to discuss how an EXAIR Cold Gun can help you with your coolant application, then give us a call!

Al Wooffitt
Application Engineer

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