Static control equipment helps you increase productivity in the workplace. It does so by reducing the imbalance of electrons that emerges from two surfaces making contact. For that reason, we have assembled this static control equipment product buying guide for your benefit.
In addition to pneumatic applications, implementing static control equipment will assist people in a wide range of industries. You can use them for manufacturing, cleaning, and even in medical facilities. See what you can do to add more static control to your office.
Static Control Components And Devices
We go through several parts that are useful for static elimination. These go from basic structural necessities to optional potent devices. We recommend that you implement as many as these parts and devices that make sense and can fit into your system. Do what you can to implement conductive materials in opposition to rubber, glass and other insulating materials, so as to reduce the potential buildup. Urethane is one such example, that is designed to be a conductor.
Fittings
Get nylon and conductive nylon fittings, which connect you to the rest of the machine. These assist with blocking extremely large electric charges from passing through the system, which can cause all of the parts to burn out. In addition, they will reduce the potential amount of leaks from sustained damage to the entire system.
Tubings
Tubings are used for the pathways through which air flows, to assist with piping. We sell several types made out of urethane, which is an insulator and designed to prevent a charge from building up. When made anti-static, the pathways reduce the amount of friction that can emerge during normal business operations. This in return reduces the potential build-up of voltage. Having anti-static tubing means that it is less likely that disruptions will happen thanks to the imbalance of electrons.
Ionizing Fans
Ionizers are a specific type of air filter that also practices static control. At SMC Pneumatics, we sell the IZF series of ionizing fans, which are meant for medium-to-large workplaces. They work against anti-static by putting negative ions into the air, which in turn attracts dust particles and other positively-charged ions. The particles then become dense and fall harmlessly to the floor, for human operators to clean away. This does require that you have a regular cleaning schedule so that the dust and contaminants don’t accumulate over time. After all, a dirty workplace is a hazardous one for the operators and stymies productivity.
Ionizing Gun
An ionizer gun is a more refined version of the fan and air purifier. It has different nozzles, to allow you to change a cleaning strategy. The difference is that, rather than the device covering a designated work area, the operator has to hold it and aim at the particular areas. One benefit of an ionizing gun is that it allows you to target specific parts of the system, and pinpoint problem areas. The drawback is that by default it has a smaller range and relies on the operator to identify where dust particles are a problem thanks to static electricity.
Static Bars
Static bars are used to remove the unwanted negative ions from sensitive electronic equipment in the workplace. A surge in electricity or such can damage such devices, which in turn will affect production. You use a static bar the way you use an ionizing gun, only it is gentler and meant for when you can’t use a large blast of ions to clean the dust or static charges. Operators must handle them and they must know
Static Electricity Drawbacks
Static electricity can cause more problems than a standard jolt from rubbing against a carpet and touching metal. For one, it can reduce safety for the operators, for one thing, and inhibit production if they receive a larger shock. Static electricity can be more potent than the tiny spark that may enter your fingertips; it can even cause people to collapse on the job and necessitate a doctor’s visit, perhaps even a stay in the hospital. You would rather prevent any accidents on the job.
Another hitch is that product flow can cause a lot of friction, which in turn generates a large electric charge. If this charge passes through the machine, it runs the risk of shorting out the whole operation and damaging parts. It can also cause production jams, which no business wants.
Dust also becomes a bigger issue. Every good system operator knows to try and keep dust out of the pneumatic system because the microscopic particles can cause clogs within the pathways. They may not be visible to the human eye, but they are there. High-voltage items attract dust, which causes them to cling to the machine and other parts of the work area. That can potentially lead to more clogging, and the system forced to conduct more work to reduce the output.
The biggest issue, however, becomes the risk of explosions in the workplace. Such explosions happen after the buildup of a static charge leads to an unwanted ignition. This, in turn, can start fires that injure your operators and hurt equipment. After all, pneumatics only use compressed air, and this renewable resource is renowned for not being combustible. While the air is clean, however, the materials that circulate it may run the risk of conducting electrostatic charges. That’s why you need to identify where potential conductors may interact and lead to higher voltages than intended.
Implement Static Neutralization With SMC Pneumatics Parts
SMC Pneumatics is a proud manufacturer of static control products. We want to ensure that every system operator can refine their system with the right parts. Our team of experts will answer all of your questions and make suggestions on how to choose conductors and ensure that insulators never come into contact with each other.
Reach out to us today to get your anti-static products. SMC Pneumatics is ready to help you get started with reducing the unwanted electrons in your workplace. Let us help you take the next step for increased operator safety.