Pneumatics is a system that involves using air pressure as a source of energy. The benefits include using natural atmospheric air — which is free to use as a compressed gas and is not combustible. That means that the pneumatics machine will not cause explosions in the workplace, and thus increases safety for the operators and employees nearby.
You also don’t need any fancy or hazardous fuel, just a healthy working environment where everyone can breathe. There is a reason that the food processing industry uses these devices to ensure that the resulting products are safe for consumption. They maintain constant air quality.
What moving parts are involved in a basic pneumatics machine? Quite a few, as a matter of fact, no matter if your device is an air brake, a jackhammer or a dentist’s drill. You need these parts to ensure that the airflow and pressure are consistent, and only work when you want them to work. We go into the five most important yet basic components.
Compressor
To use air, you first need a device that will take the molecules from the work environment and press them together to generate pressure. When gas volume decreases, its pressure increases and the latter can be used to power a machine. The trick to removing volume is to put gas in an enclosed space. When you remove the space between the molecules, then you get stored molecules.
An air compressor is needed even if you use an inert gas such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen. Regardless of the gas that you use, the machine must compress the molecules. The compressor is a tiny device that absorbs air from the atmosphere and then pushes it through a tiny space to get that pressure.
Reservoir
With the compressor in place, there still is one important factor: time. Pneumatics work fast because the air pressure is prepared protactively. The machine needs time to generate the pressure that it needs, and the compressor by nature is designed to absorb the air rather than store it. Thus, the machine requires an extra component so that you have space for the compressed molecules.
A reservoir is where the air is stored until enough pressure can power the machine. Once that threshold is reached, then the operator has enough power for manufacturing or such. You need the storage to allow for that time delay, and to minimize any waiting on the air pressure to work.
Valves
Valves regulate the amount of airflow that you get in a machine, and when the subsequent pressure will power your machine. The pressure stimulates the air to flow on its own, without needing assistance. This supply simply needs a clear pathway. The valve determines if the flow is on or off, by opening the path up to air molecules.
You can get a variety of means by which to power these passageways. Valves that open and close consistently are important; if valves close improperly, then they either run the risk of leaking or compromising the airflow.
Leaks mean that you have lower pressure and thus less power. Blocked or clogged airflow can prevent your motor from receiving the energy it needs for a proper function. Then your machine has to work even harder to function, which can potentially lead to a lower life for all of the parts involved. Make sure that your valves are working properly.
Motor Or Actuator
Now we come to the heart of the machine: the device that converts the air pressure into mechanical energy. That energy then spurs the rest of the device to move. Motors and actuators in pneumatics are functionally the same, and can also be called pneumatic cylinders. The classifications vary in how the parts move, in either a linear or rotary fashion.
Piston motors generate energy using a “back and forth” motion, which is also called linear. These usually have a shaft, a piston, and a spring and are designed to be leak-proof. Inside the shaft, the compressed air moves a piston forward and increases pressure on the spring which holds the shaft open.
A rotary motor, in contrast, has a slotted rotor within the shaft to generate energy. When air pressure is fed into the rotor, its vanes start moving and convert the power into kinetic forces. Some can reach fairly high speeds and generate a lot of energy.
Circuit
The circuit is the sum of all of these parts and proves to be far greater in an ideal situation. It combines airflow, pressure, the supply and pathways to provide the backbone of the machine and produce kinetic energy. This energy is used for the machine’s output. Much like how the human body pumps nutrients, blood, and electric signals to allow us to function, the pneumatic circuit pumps air so that the device can function.
A good circuit optimizes the amount of energy you derive from the air pressure, to generate as much output as possible. While some just have a compressor and a reservoir, we believe that valves can make all the difference in controlling the power that you use.
Pneumatic machines tend to come with pre-assembled circuits. With that said, if you have enough engineering experience you can tinker new and more complicated pathways to generate the most energy. You can decide if you want the air to flow simply in one direction, or in multiple.
Improve Your Air Pressure With Parts From SMC Pneumatics
At SMC Pneumatics, we want to ensure that everyone who uses a machine has the means for maintenance and replacement. Our experts are always available to answer your questions about the models and sizes needed for a consistent circuit. When certain parts are discontinued, we can find the equivalent that will help your machine run well, sometimes even better.
Contact us today to find the parts that will keep your system going. You can trust SMC Pneumatics to have your back and maintain your machine. Let us take charge of your reservoirs and actuator so that the devices can run for years to come.