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EXAIR Product Drawings

Published on by Russ BowmanLeave a comment

My friend Bill’s Dad was an engineer for a major aviation manufacturer, and was among the first to use their brand-new (in the late 1960’s) computer-aided design & drafting (CADD) program. Their metal fab shop was still making drawings by hand, and asked him how precise the tolerances could be on a CADD drawing. He told them it could be as tight as a ten thousandth of a inch (0.0001″) so they asked him for such a drawing – aviation components have famously tight tolerances – so he entered it all in to the mainframe computer, which took a considerable amount of time and resources, but it generated the drawing that the fab shop needed. Later, they came and told him they were ready to make the part and asked if he wanted to come see it. When he got to the shop, he saw his drawing next to a piece of sheet metal on a table. The cut lines (specified by his drawing, which, again, had tolerances to the ten thousandth of an inch) were laid out in grease pencil, and a technician was readying an oxy-acetylene torch to make the cuts. That was the last time he took the trouble to make a drawing for that particular shop.

I don’t know for sure, but I’m fairly certain these parts aren’t made with a grease pencil & blowtorch.

In the 1990’s, I worked for an industrial pump company, and a big part of my job was using CAD (some time in the 1970’s or 1980’s, the 2nd “D” fell out of use, and it became known as computer-aided design, or computer-aided drafting) to make drawings showing our customers where the pump’s fluid ports would be (so they could prepare the suction & discharge piping) as well as the fabrication drawings for the baseplates that we mounted the pump and drive equipment on. The computer I used for that sat on my desk, whereas the computer that Bill’s Dad used occupied several rooms in the building. I also used a mouse & keyboard instead of punch cards and magnetic tape reels to input my shapes & dimensions. And I don’t even want to think about how much more power their computer used.

I learned quickly that the first law of CAD is “never draw anything twice”, so I was ALWAYS pleased when manufacturers had CAD files to send me. I could simply drop those in to my drawings, and go about my day. That’s why, when I started this job at EXAIR, one of the things that impressed me most was our comprehensive CAD Library in our Knowledge Base. We do require registration (fast & free) as a user, but once you’re in the system, you can instantly download CAD files for any of our products. We even have solid models for folks who work magic with 3D design (I was strictly a 2D guy.)

EXAIR’s CAD Library has 2D drawings and 3D models of all of our products, like a Super Air Knife (left), Line Vac (center), or even a Chip Trapper System (right).

For any stock EXAIR product, you’re only a few mouse clicks away from getting drawing files. Our R&D engineers can also generate drawings of custom products – special length Air Knives, Line Vacs with custom flanges, etc. – upon request. If you’d like to find out more, give me a call.

Russ Bowman, CCASS

Application Engineer
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March is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month.

Published on by Jordan T ShouseLeave a comment

March is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about cerebral palsy (CP), celebrating those who live with it, and advocating for better support and research. As someone personally touched by CP, I find this month incredibly meaningful. My son, Lincoln, was diagnosed with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy at age one, and our journey has been one of challenges, triumphs, and a deepened appreciation for the strength found in our community. This month, marked by the vibrant color green and the #GoGreen4CP movement, encourages us all to learn more about CP—a neurological condition affecting movement and muscle tone—and to push for inclusivity in education, healthcare, and beyond.

For me, the #GoGreen4CP movement is more than just a campaign; it’s a reflection of our daily life. Lincoln’s form of CP is the most severe form of spastic CP and affects all four limbs, the trunk, and the face, making mobility a hurdle, but his determination shines through every step he takes with his walker or pedal on his adaptive bike. I’ve written about this before in my work here at EXAIR, where I’m fortunate to have a platform that allows me to share personal stories like ours. CP affects over 1 million people in the U.S., with around 10,000 new diagnoses each year, often due to brain development issues or injuries before, during, or shortly after birth. This month, I’m reminded of how far we’ve come—thanks to therapy and support—and how much more we need, like increased research funding, which groups like the Cerebral Palsy Foundation tirelessly advocate for.

Speaking of EXAIR, February holds its own significance for us here at EXAR with Founders’ Day on February 21st each year. It’s a day to celebrate the vision of our company’s founders, who built a culture of innovation and community that I’m proud to be part of. This year, as we marked Founders’ Day just a few weeks ago, I couldn’t help but connect it to the spirit of resilience my family and so many others honor in March. At EXAIR, we design engineered solutions to solve problems, much like the adaptive tools and therapies that help Lincoln navigate his world. The overlap of these two moments—Founders’ Day and CP Awareness Month—reminds me how a supportive workplace and a passionate community can intersect to make a real difference.

So, how can you get involved this March? Wear green to spark conversations, share stories on social media with #GoGreen4CP, or donate to organizations driving CP research and support like the Cerebral Palsy Foundation. For my family, it’s also a chance to thank those who’ve walked alongside us—therapists, nurses, friends, and even my EXAIR colleagues who’ve cheered Lincoln on. National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month isn’t just about awareness; it’s about action and connection. As Lincoln and our family continue this journey, I hope you’ll join us in shining a light on CP, not just this month, but every day.

Be kind and love one another!

Jordan Shouse
Application Engineer

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Image courtesy of The Cerebral Palsy Foundation

EXAIR Leads the Industry in Standards Compliance and Regulations

Published on by Tyler DanielLeave a comment

EXAIR prides itself on offering products with high-performance and peak efficiency. All EXAIR products are manufactured to meet the strict requirements of a variety of different standards, ensuring that you receive a reliable, high quality product that WILL perform to the specifications we publish.

Safety is a top priority for most companies, EXAIR’s line of Intelligent Compressed Air Products meet or exceed the strict safety standards set forth by both OSHA and the European Union. EXAIR products comply with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.242(b), the standard implemented to ensure safe operation of compressed air blowoff devices, and the EU General Product Safety Directive (2001/95/EC).

Additionally, they comply with the noise limitation requirements set forth under 29 CFR 1910.95(a) and the EU Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC). From the Optimization product line, EXAIR’s Electronic Flow Control and the Electronic Temperature Control meet the low voltage standards of the EU Low Voltage Directive (2006/95/EC). A CE label is placed on all products that comply with applicable directives.

UL

UL, or Underwriters Laboratories, is a third-party safety and consulting organization that certifies products after thorough testing and evaluation. EXAIR’s Cabinet Coolers are UL Listed to US and Canadian safety standards. Static Eliminators are also UL Component Recognized. Within our line of Cabinet Coolers is the Hazardous Location Cabinet Cooler and ATEX Cabinet Cooler, bearing the Classified UL mark for use in classified areas, and ATEX Zones 2 and 22.

In the assembly of electrical products there can be hazardous materials used during production. The Restriction of Hazardous Substances, also known as RoHS or (2002/95/EC), restricts the use of materials such as: lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), hexavalent chromium (CrVI), Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), Polybrominated diphenyl Ethers (PBDE), and four different phthalates. The electrical portions of EXAIR’s Static Eliminators, Electronic Flow Control, Electronic Temperature Control, Digital Flowmeter, solenoid valves, and thermostats all comply with the amendment outlined in the European Commission decision L 214/65.

In addition to RoHS, EXAIR is also committed to providing products that are conflict-mineral free. In support of Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer protection Act, EXAIR complies with the conflict minerals rule to curb illicit trade of tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold in the DRC region. Using the CMRT 4.20 template, we’re able to document our supply chain to ensure our materials are not being sourced from places that could finance conflict in the DRC and surrounding countries.

Finally, per Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 Title I, Article 3, paragraph 3, the European Union enacted legislation requiring substances and chemicals imported into the EU to be registered to ensure a high level of protection for human health and the environment. Per Title II, Article 7, paragraph 1, articles must be registered when a substance is intended to be released during normal conditions of use that would exceed 1 metric ton per producer per year. Since EXAIR products do not contain substances that are intentionally released, registration is not required.

If you’re looking to maintain compliance in your industry, EXAIR products have you covered. If you have any questions about these standards of compliance, feel free to reach out to us. Our team of Application Engineers who have years of experience in the industry are waiting to take your call.

Tyler Daniel, CCASS

Application Engineer

E-mail: TylerDaniel@EXAIR.com

Twitter: @EXAIR_TD

EXAIR Products “Built to Last”

Published on by EricKuhnash@EXAIR.comLeave a comment

When I hear “Built to Last” ads come to mind such as Ford Trucks and Craftsman tools. Advertising promoting product integrity will always get my attention. Although I have not owned a Ford truck, I have many friends that have and swear by them, so I’m thinking my next truck might be a Ford. I have owned a lot of Craftsman tools and put them through rigorous use and I never had to use the “Lifetime Warranty“. They were designed and built to last and this is how EXAIR designs and manufactures their Intelligent Compressed Air Tooling.

EXAIR Design and Engineering team designs our items with performance and repeat manufacture ability in mind. EXAIR products have no moving parts so very little maintenance is required. As long as a source of clean dry compressed air is supplied to the product and following our recommended Installation instructions not much can go wrong,

EXAIR NEMA 4X 316SS Cabinet Cooler System with Electronic Temperature Control installed on control panel in a pharmaceutical plant.

EXAIR has a “5 Year Built to Last” Warranty against defects in workmanship and materials on all compressed air products. This warranty applies under conditions of normal use, but does not apply to defects that result from intentional damage, negligence, unreasonable use, wear or exposure. An example of a non warranty situation would be using an abrasive material such as sand with our Aluminum Line Vacs. The abrasive nature of the sand will wear the aluminum Line Vac out well before the 5 years. Our application engineers will discuss your application and recommend products that fit your project and our 5 Year Built to Last Warranty.

EXAIR also has a 30-Day Guarantee that allows you to make a purchase and run trials to see the effectiveness of our product and how they meet your expectations. If the item provides desired results then great we are both happy but if you do not see the desired results then you have 30 Days from purchase to return the product. An Application Engineer can discuss your findings and issue a “Return Authorization” if needed. You will receive a full credit without any restocking fees.

EXAIR has confidence in our products to last and perform standing behind our products. Our confidence is why we offer both 5 Year Built to Last Warranty and the 30-Day Unconditional Guarantee. If you have any questions as to what EXAIR product will provide the best result for your application, please contact one of our qualified Application Engineers, so we can review this with you and make the best recommendation for your project(s).

Eric Kuhnash
Application Engineer
E-mail: EricKuhnash@exair.com
Twitter: Twitter: @EXAIR_EK