Tag: chip blowoff

The Soft Grip Safety Air Gun for OSHA Compliance

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Compressed air has many different uses ranging from simple cooling and blow off applications all the way to operating machine cylinders and robotics. One of the most common uses is for simple cleaning; whether its cleaning off a work station or blowing off personnel it can’t be denied that air powered cleaning is very useful. But if the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) regulations are not followed it can also be unsafe.

Open-ended blow offs can inadvertently be dead ended (the airflow outlet can be completely blocked), when this happens if the pressure is to high an air embolism can form in an individuals bloodstream. Blowing something off with air can result in airborne particulate traveling at a high velocity that can become embedded into your skin or in your eye.

With all that being said this is where the safety air guns step into the spotlight! It’s pretty easy to make a safety air gun that complies with the dead-end pressure regulation; just give the air another path to take when the outlet is blocked. The most common solution found is a cross drilled nozzle which allows the air to escape when the end is blocked. Generally the problem with this design is that the nozzles can be very loud and inefficient. In most cases these nozzles have paid attention to the dead end problem but ignored the noise level exposure safety issue and completely ignored compressed air efficiency. 

With EXAIR’s Super Air Nozzles you get both the added benefit of being safe, quiet and efficient. Our engineered designed air nozzles are commonly installed onto a Soft Grip Safety Air Gun to make an ergonomic, safe, and quiet Safety Air Gun. These can also have a  Chip Shield added to help prevent particles from flying back and hitting the user. The Soft Grip Safety Air Gun can also be coupled with a pipe extension from 6” to 72”; you can also add one of our Stay Set Hoses 6” in length to 36”.

Soft Grip Safety Air Gun with Stay Set Hose. eg. 1210-6SSH

Here are a few examples of the Soft Grip Safety Air Guns in our product line:

Cody Biehle
Application Engineer
EXAIR Corporation
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Vac-u-Gun: Low Cost Vacuum, Blowoff and Transfer

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What is the Vac-u-Gun?  It is a low cost solution to many types of cleaning operations within an industrial setting.  The Vac-u-Gun is a vacuum gun, a blow gun, and a transfer tool, all-in-one! It is lightweight, easy to use, has durable die cast construction, and best of all, no moving parts to wear out. Simply hook up to a compressed air hose, and get to work.

Vac u Gun Hose

The Vac-u-Gun contains a nozzle insert that dictates the direction of air flow and operation. By simply unscrewing the the cap, reversing the orientation of the nozzle insert, and re-installing the cap, the gun is changed from a vacuum device to a blowoff device, and vice-versa.

vac u gun orientation
Reverse the direction of the nozzle insert to change from vacuum to blowoff

The Vac-u-Gun can be used in three modes- Vacuum, Transfer and Blowoff-

Vacuum Mode – Vacuum shavings, absorbents, sawdust, or spills into a reusable bag, or into a receptacle via the vacuum hose. Why blow it off and the have to sweep it up later?

Transfer Mode – Transfer small parts, pellets, or trim over long distances, using the smooth bore vacuum hose.

Blowoff Mode – Blow chips, water, coolant, or scrap away from the work area. The large 1-1/4″ diameter outlet directs the air over a larger area in less time. The Vac-u-Gun uses less compressed air than an ordinary blow gun.

Vac-U-Gun Specifications

There are many advantages to a Vac-u-Gun, and some are:

Low cost, no moving parts/maintenance free, durable die cast construction, easy to switch form vacuum to blow mode, safe – no electricity, meets OSHA pressure requirements, lightweight and portable, versatile, and quiet.

Versatile!  In just seconds, the Vac-u-Gun can transform from a powerful, handheld vacuum tool into an efficient blow gun or transfer tool for lightweight materials. Each Vac-u-Gun System comes with the attachments needed to suit numerous industrial applications.

Three (3) Vac-u-Gun System options are available and shown below-

Vac-u-Gun System Options

All of the Systems include the Vac-u-Gun, brush, crevice tool, skimmer tool and (2) extension wands.

The Model 6192 Collection System also includes the reusable bag with clamp for debris collection.

The Model 6292 Transfer System also includes the vacuum hose, for transferring the debris to a collection point.

The Model 6392 All Purpose System also includes both the reusable bag and clamp and the transfer hose, providing the most versatility of all.

To view a video that shows the Model 6392 All Purpose System, and demonstrates how it works, please view the video below-

 

If you have questions about the Vac-u-Gun or any of the 16 different EXAIR Intelligent Compressed Air® Product lines, feel free to contact EXAIR and myself or any of our Application Engineers can help you determine the best solution.

Brian Bergmann
Application Engineer

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Safety Air Guns: Chip Shields, Extensions, and More

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Over the last several weeks, you may have read blog posts regarding the EXAIR Safety Air Guns.  You can find the blogs here, here and here. We are also in the midst of a Safety Air Gun Promotion, please click HERE for more details on how you can get a free 1″ Flat Super Air Nozzle. Today, I want to review a few available options for the Safety Air Guns.

Protect Workers From Flying Debris! – Chip Shields are durable polycarbonate shields that protect the operator from flying debris often seen when blowing off chips from machined parts. They are also useful to prevent coolant from splashing back, creating a mess during drying processes.

Chip Shields
Chip Shields

The Chip Shields are available for EXAIR’s VariBlast, Soft Grip, and Heavy Duty Safety Air Guns. The Chip Shield can be used on Safety Air Guns with or without an aluminum extension. They may be purchased as part of a new air gun system, or retrofitted as a Chip Shield Kit.  Consult an Application Engineer for selection assistance.

 

If you have a blow-off process where the air is to be directed at a distance away from the operator, or into a hard to reach location an extension is the solution. Available in lengths from 6″ (152mm) to 72″ (1829mm), with sizes as shown below, a length to meet most any requirement can be found. To add an extension to an air gun, simply add -xx to the current part number.

extensions
Aluminum Extensions, Available in Sizes of 6″ (152mm) up to 72″ (1829mm)

1210-6-CS
Model 1210-6-CS, a model 1210 Soft Grip Safety Air Gun, with 6″ Extension and Chip Shield

And, if you need a 12′ coiled air hose, to use with your Safety Air Gun, we have them available and in stock. Available with 1/8 NPT, 1/4 NPT or 3/8 NPT male end swivel connections. Avoid tangled and messy air lines and keep things neat!

Coiled Hose
Coiled Hose, 12′ Long, With 1/8 NPT, 1/4 NPT or 3/8 NPT Male Swivel Connections

To discuss your application and how an EXAIR Intelligent Compressed Air Product can improve your process, feel free to contact EXAIR, myself, or one of our other Application Engineers. We can help you determine the best solution!

Brian Bergmann
Application Engineer

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Flat Super Air Nozzles – Quiet and Forceful and Adjustable

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The 2″ Flat Super Air Nozzle is a very powerful yet quiet engineered nozzle.  Operation at 80 PSIG of compressed air pressure yields a strong 1.38 lb. of force, at only 77 dBA of sound level.  Compare this with many of the plastic flat nozzles that blow air through a series of holes, with sound levels ranging form 78-83 dBA, not to mention some might violate the OSHA dead ended pressure standard and results in fines being levied.

The patented technology utilizes a changeable shim to generate the high flow of air in a smooth and laminar flow, to keep noise down and power and strength up. With (6) stainless steel shim thicknesses available, the 2″ Flat Super Air Nozzle offers a very flexible package that can be set and tuned to meet exacting performance criteria, while using the minimum amount of compressed air, and at the quietest possible sound levels.

2 Inch Flat
2″ Flat Super Air Nozzle

The model 1122 is offered in a zinc aluminum alloy body and cap, and the 1122SS is constructed from type 316 stainless steel.  All shims are stainless steel. The shim thickness for the 1122/1122SS is 0.015″ thick.

Also available, for extra blowing force, are the HP1125 and HP1125SS.  The nozzles utilize the same zinc aluminum alloy or stainless steel body and cap and have the 0.025″ shim installed – and deliver 2.2 lbs of force, while only increasing sound levels to 83 dBA.

Shim sets for any of the 2″ Flat Super Air Nozzles are available.  The 1132SS shim set includes shims of thickness of 0.005″, 0.10″, and 0.020″.  For higher force levels, the HP1132SS shim set includes the 0.020″ and 0.030″ shims.

1132ss
Shims are available, from 0.005″ up to 0.030″ for maximum versatility and performance tuning

As you can see- for a versatile, forceful and quiet engineered air nozzle, it is hard to beat the EXAIR 2″ Flat Super Air Nozzle.  If a 1″ wide nozzle better suits your needs, the same flexibility and power can be found in the 1″ Flat Super Air Nozzle as well.  Check it out as well.

If you would like to talk about Flat Super Air Nozzles or any of the EXAIR Intelligent Compressed Air® Products, feel free to contact EXAIR and myself or one of our Application Engineers can help you determine the best solution.

Brian Bergmann
Application Engineer

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