How different do you think electrical switches are from pneumatic ones? In theory, they’re not all that different at least as far as their underlying working principle goes. The concept of either device is to deflect the flow of something from one potential path to another. Fortunately, it doesn’t take long at all to master the basics of how a pneumatic switch operates.
Principles Behind the Operation Of Pneumatic Switches
At their heart, pneumatic switches are essentially a valve that can divert the flow of air into one of the multiple options. In most circumstances, you’re going to be looking at one of two different situations.
If the switch is positioned in the first slow, then air will be blocked toward the second slot. The inverse is true when the dial is configured to the opposite setting. A skilled operator could go back and forth between these two options with relative ease, especially if they’re working with a pneumatic switch that’s correctly fit for the type of equipment they’re working with.
To a large degree, this is how a pneumatic switch is similar to an electrically powered one. A switch inside of a wall plate allows users to select between a broken or open circuit and a closed one, which allows an overhead lamp or ceiling fan to function. Pneumatic switches do much the same by permitting the flow of air between two locations.
This extremely simple principle can be applied in many other ways to make some very complex pieces of machinery that can drastically reduce the amount of time your technicians spend on working with any one of a number of workflows.
Using Pneumatic Switches To Control Your Gear
As you can imagine, this principle has some aspects in common with a spigot to a degree. In some ways, this concept also resembles that of a transistor or even a vacuum tube, if you’re familiar with the way that tetrode components function. Switching a circuit from one possible pathway and then back again is needed for any designer of a system that intends to even partially automate operations based on feedback responses to an outside stimulus.
By deploying this method in some creative circumstances, engineers can devise a number of sophisticated pneumatic circuits. They simply need to work with the right equipment. Anyone who needs this kind of gear can find plenty of options that will work well even if they already have an existing installation to contend with.
Consider, for instance, the ISE40A high precision digital pressure switch. This is an excellent example of a pneumatic switch that’s actually incorporated digital technology that’s in turn powered by electricity. In a way, you could say that it allows your crews to get the best of both worlds in a single module. You won’t ever have to worry about selecting between an electrical and a purely pneumatic switch again since this device does both chores autonomously.
The onboard digital indicator provides improved functionality over a more traditional solution. Abnormal values are always obvious on the dual color display. If you’ve ever had to rely on guesswork to see if a particular pneumatic component was operating out of spec or not, then you can imagine how useful this feature is.
On top of this, that kind of technology represents an improvement in safety. If there’s ever any problem with the pressure level, then you’ll know right away. However, durable pneumatic switches normally don’t have these issues when operated in a manner that’s consistent with their labeling.
A single ISE40A can withstand pressures up to 218 PSI and it would display from 15.2 to 152.3 PSI. That should provide a more than broad enough range for almost any type of operation that would require this specific type of component. On top of that, it offers a separate NPN and PNP open collector as well as two outputs.
Impressive figures put up by this kind of technology don’t stop there, either. It offers a measure of 28V at the NPN opening and only a single volt of residual voltage or less at the other terminal. With a 2.5 ms response time, you can be sure that even the most complicated and sensitive of industrial processes are going to be compatible with this switch.
Some technicians have designed entire workflows around it. They’ll connect different outputs to various pneumatic actuators, which open and shut different valves depending on certain conditions. It’s possible to design a complete closed feedback loop that adjusts itself over time when working with these kinds of parts.
Due to all of this, it’s not all that difficult to work with pneumatic switches once you have your circuit all mapped out. Anyone who is experienced with a bare minimum of schema creation shouldn’t have any difficulty with this basic task.
Mapping Out Compressed Air Diagrams For Pneumatic Switches
Start by figuring out every pathway that you want to have in the system. Engineers will often say to eliminate any switching path that isn’t completely necessary, which should help to make your connections more resilient. The simpler the technology the more resistant it is to failure.
Of course, once you have everything in place you’ll also want to consider the possibility of using stainless steel components and other corrosion-resistant metals, which will help to further reduce your failure rate. Each pneumatic switch module needs some maintenance, but this maintenance level will be lower if you use durable materials from a reputable supplier.
Find Pneumatic Switches For Air Pressure At SMC Pneumatics
At SMC Pneumatics, one thing we’ve found is that a healthy understanding of the basics is always a great idea for anyone who needs to do any sort of work with compressed air-driven equipment.
You might want to start by making a list of all of the pneumatic components your organization will need. Once you do, you can contact us with our online form and tell us more about the type of equipment you’re looking for. Seasoned representatives from SMC Pneumatics will ensure that you get everything you need to automate even the most complicated workflows.