You might want to consider an air booster if this is the case. These devices take pre-compressed air from the existing flow and increase the pressurization level until it reaches the desired measurement.

When you install one of these, you’ll want to make sure that the system is properly regulated and functioning correctly. That way you don’t run into any unfortunate side-effects. Naturally, there’s always the risk that you might increase the pressure too much.

Pressure boosters use special components. They ensure that the amount of compressed air coming out of them stays at the desired level. These generally work by providing an additional degree of regulation over the flow of air so that the pressure appears to be higher from the standpoint of downstream devices without actually requiring any outside source of energy.

There’s no technological trickery involved. Rather, these devices simply function as a second or third stage to an existing air compressor to regulate the air in a manner that’s safe to use with even the most complex equipment.

Working Principles Behind Booster Regulators

Technicians would first install a booster regulator on the main line of an air system with everything in cold shutdown mode. Once they power everything back up again, the device would respond to a setting controlled. This happens via an external dial or other interface widget.

Operators could set a VBA regulator, for instance. This model offers two to four times the initial pressure level that was put out by the compressor. Eventually, the main air supply pressure can be set lower to make up for the increase in pressure. With how easy it is to adjust the output pressure using this control, end-users shouldn’t run into any difficulties with it.

Some technicians have tried various other methods of getting higher output pressures at various times. For instance, you might have heard about people using air amplifiers or even increasing the pressure of an entire powerhouse. While this might be necessary in some cases, a booster regulator will usually do the job with a minimum of issues.

Various designs have required users to connect a receiver and discharge tank to their system. In this kind of arrangement, the tanks are used to dampen down the amount of pulsating energy created by the booster’s reciprocating movement. They also provide a degree of additional storage capacity.

Depending on your specific needs, different port sizes are available for any booster you might require. For instance, the VBA style offers ¼, ? and ½ sizes, which should help to ensure that they can interface with an overwhelming majority of the pieces of equipment that you’re likely to come into contact with.

At the same time, booster regulators support several other compatibility features designed to make them easier to work with when interfacing with existing technologies.

Special Features Of Booster Regulators

While the underlying principle by which booster regulators work remains unchanged in all of the various different styles. They are nevertheless offered in a variety of body sizes. You might find 10A, 11A, and 20A ? handle-operated types. There are also a number of larger ones if at all necessary.

Technicians who have to make sure that anything they purchase fits an existing installation will also have their pick of port sizes, which should be under special consideration seeing as most individuals who need a booster regulator will already have at least some form of air compressor in place already.

Compact VBA regulators are also available, which offer a much more space-saving design over most other types. Regardless of the exact size you pick, however, you can be sure that your booster regulators will increase main line pressure and protect all of your downstream equipment from fluctuations in terms of pressure. They’ll increase the power of actuators without requiring to chance to a larger cylinder as well.

Perhaps the most impressive feature, however, is something that booster regulators actually lack. Namely, they don’t have any space for the inclusion of an electrical input. You don’t have to worry about supplying additional power to them, since they run completely on compressed air. More than likely, you’ve seen how much a stream of any fluid can be concentrated and seem more powerful simply because it’s being reduced in terms of scope and forced through a smaller opening. This is the working principle behind a pressure washer, and it’s also the way that water jet cutters work.

Engineers have taken this same principle and exploited the fact that compressed air is essentially a fluid as well, You can force compressed air through a small opening, which in turn increases the amount of pressure to at least some degree. In many cases, this is enough to ensure that all of your components work entirely as intended. If not, then you might want to look at some of the following numbers.

VBA40A-T04GN boosters offer a maximum flow level of 1,900 SLPM. Even the extremely compact VBA10A-T02GN provides at least 230 SLPM. This should certainly be enough choice for any pneumatic installation. Both provide 150 PSI of maximum set output pressure and a nearly nominal 1:2 flow ratio. All of the VBA series use a standard NPT connecting port in your choice of three different sizes.

Exhaust ports on these models adhere to the same standard. This means that you shouldn’t have any difficulty with putting them together. Once again, this is great news. An overwhelming majority of people who need air booster regulators don’t initially realize that they do. They only find out after learning they don’t have a sufficient amount of pressure in their installation. Fortunately, it’s even easier to find the right one for your needs.

Get The Best Air Booster Regulator For Your Organization From SMC Pneumatics

At SMC Pneumatics, we keep a list of instruction manuals and other pieces of documentation on hand. Then we help you find the right part for your machine. Our experienced team is always standing by to help as well.
Contact us with our convenient online form and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. Get the advice you need to find the right booster regulator for your installation. No matter what kind of work your organization does, our team can help.

While this might seem like a horror story, it’s something that many people who specialize in maintaining compressed air-driven equipment have to deal with on a daily basis. If you’re only dealing with your own equipment, then now might be the best time to check that there’s no debris under the seals on your solenoid valves. This is consistently one of the main causes of dirt that eventually works its way into solenoid valve systems.

Take a moment as you read this to clean off any debris from the seals. You may want to use a small tool to do so as long as you take care to not rupture any portion of the valve stem. If any seals or air clamps are bad, then you’ll want to replace these as part of the cleaning process. Fortunately, the rest of your job shouldn’t be all that difficult.

Cleaning Out Pneumatic Solenoid Valves

You may want to start by using a dry piece of lint-free material to remove any moisture from the fitting or housing. Keeping this surface dry will help to ensure that corrosion doesn’t occur, which in turn will keep your solenoid valves moving properly for years to come. Of course, the machinery should all be put into a cold shutdown so that your valves aren’t receiving any voltage or flow of fluid through them while you attempt to work with them. This is vitally important for safety reasons, so you shouldn’t ever skip this step no matter how much of a hurry you might think that you’re in.

If there is a slight amount of corrosion, then you’ll want to remove this as part of the cleaning process. That being said, valves that are damaged should be removed because corrosion will start to spread to other parts of the system.

Assuming that you were able to do that, you’ll want to check the inside of the valve for any debris. There’s a simple process that many pneumatic specialists use to keep these parts in working order.

Disassembling & Processing A Pneumatic Solenoid Valve

To inspect the valve’s components, you’ll want to isolate the valve from voltage and any flow of compressed air. If you’ve taken the advice to shut off and drain the system already, then this shouldn’t be a problem.

Take off the top nut, plate and coil. Make sure to set these down next to the assembly so you won’t lose them when you go to put the system back together again. You’ll probably want to put them in the order you take them off in to make the reassembly process a little easier.

If the nut is dirty, then clean it with a dry piece of material that won’t leave any sort of lint. The coil should remain relatively clean at all times. Depending on the condition of the nut itself, you might want to wipe it down to.

Once you’ve gotten these parts aside, take out the armature tube and check for any sediment or debris that might have been able to make its way into the tube or the valve body. You should find it easy to clean away small amounts of debris as long as you take care to prevent damage to the components themselves.

Once you’ve cleaned everything, you’ll want to check that the armature and the spring assembly moves freely inside of the tube itself. Inspect all of the seals and the o-rings for contamination that might have occurred during normal usage. Since you already have the equipment taken apart, you might as well capitalize on the opportunity to perform a complete checkup.

If you’re working with pilot-operated or assisted lift valves, then you’ll want to also take apart the upper valve body. Clean the diaphragm off and check it for any tears or deformation. Be very careful with it, because it’s relatively easy to bust the diaphragm apart or put a hole in it.

As soon as you’re finished, you should be able to reassemble the components without too much difficulty. Don’t use too much force to do so, because these parts are generally designed to only accept a certain amount of torque even if they’re made from durable compounds.

There’s a few other pointers that can make your job much easier once you’ve taken the time to clean everything up.

Pointers For Cleaning & Maintaining Pneumatic Solenoid Valves

Keep in mind that some types of pneumatic solenoid valves are simply more resilient against dirt than others. For that matter, there’s a fairly good chance that the rest of your installation is impacting the way that your valves collect dirt. Consider the example of multiple types of metal used in a single installation.

Those solenoid valves that are attached to stainless steel connectors will generally perform better than those that are attached to inferior fittings. Taking just a few moments to swap out your fittings can make a dramatic improvement.

Assuming that you’ve already refurbished the rest of your pneumatic installation, cleaning a pneumatic solenoid valve shouldn’t be too difficult. You’ll want to eventually get into a regular routine, which can help to reduce the risk of experiencing other types of semi-related problems.

Treating Issues You Might Have With Pneumatic Solenoid Valves

Coil and valve failure, for instance, will eventually happen when your equipment isn’t properly cared for. Applying an incorrect voltage to your coils might cause them to fail. You’ll want to only operate all of your equipment inside of the specifications provided by the original equipment manufacturer. On top of this, you’ll want to invest in speed controllers and other components that can help to further regulate the equipment you’re working with.

All of this gear should also be cleaned on a regular basis. More than likely, you’ll only need to wipe the housings with a mild rag to ensure that they’re free of debris that might otherwise get into moving parts. Assuming that your pneumatic equipment has been sealed properly, this shouldn’t normally be a concern outside of normal maintenance.

Find Your Valve Type At SMC Pneumatics

SMC Pneumatics wants to help you find the solenoid valves you need. We stock the best pneumatic parts and can provide replacements for discontinued series.
Should you have noticed that any other parts need replacement, however, make sure to contact us online at SMC Pneumatics and tell us more about your company’s requirements. We’ll make sure to help you find the parts you need to get all of your equipment moving again.

You might have taken an interest in various devices, such as electrical sensors that look out for static and fan ionizers that use an eternal source of voltage to help eliminate sources of it. While these are both electrically powered to at least some degree, you’ll more than likely find a wide array of components that would help you gain a greater degree of control over your industrial workflows. Take a few moments to note what sorts of devices you’d want to automate or rework. Once you do, you might be in possession of a list of areas where you could complement your current installation with an electro-pneumatic tool.

Defining Electro-Pneumatic Control Systems

Various types of switches and solenoid valves have been used to compliment a physical compressed-air driven system. These utilize electrical current to switch the position of different valves and junctions. You could theoretically control the flow of compressed air with a push-button using this kind of technology. Some people prefer to wire all of these devices into a single panel, which is an attractive solution for those who have to manage a whole set of pneumatic devices from a central location.

You might also be interested in connecting a system using various types of solenoid valves, which utilize electrical coil windings to actuate a valve’s moving components. When current passes over the coil, it trips the system and moves the direction of air. The flow of air from a compressor or pressurized container is going to then remain relatively constant. Think of the flow as something like water flowing through a passage. Once it fills up, the system remains under pressure without using any more fluid.

Using these components doesn’t require a great deal of additional training either. Anyone with at least a working knowledge of basic electrical theory can install them in an existing air circuit.

Planning An Electro-pneumatic Layout

Anyone who is used to sketching a diagram of traditional pneumatic equipment will find no difficulty with this step. Even those who are new to the process only have to learn a series of circuit diagram symbols that are commonly used across the industry. If you’ve already learned to read and write electrical and pneumatic charts, then you can put your current skills involving the use of schematics to work. It really is that simple.

In fact, SMC Pneumatics has at times offered additional documentation that’s designed to help those who are new to the field learn more about it. Once you’re done with the layout planning you’ll be ready to pick up a thing or two about the construction and operation of this kind of equipment.

Working With Sophisticated Electrical Components

Solenoid valves and other types of electro-pneumatic switches can be arranged in specialty layouts that allow them to act as logic control systems. This enables an additional degree of control over the flow of air through various gates in much the same way that electricity passes through logic gates in a digital circuit.

This follows the concept of a finite state machine, which dictates that a system might only exhibit certain properties when it’s in a particular state. As the name suggests, there’s only ever a limited number of these.

For instance, air might be allowed to pass through one specific valve whenever one event happens that closes all others. As conditions change, some of these other passages might open electrically while others close off and prevent the flow of any further air from passing through.

Over time, you might want to lay a series of directional control valves out that further allow your operators to manipulate the passage of air through a system. It’s only a few more steps to automate your workflows and reach a greater level of control over otherwise complicated processes.

Technicians have also installed somewhat automated relays that redirect the flow of electricity, which in turn can redirect where air is going. The valves in this kind of system would be actuated whenever the electrical systems changed positions, which means you wouldn’t even have to come into physical contact with anything in order to manipulate the flow.

Memory control systems can follow predetermined courses of action that are stored within electrical memory coordinates, which is an attractive option for those who might have otherwise had to do additional work whenever they reset the workpieces laid out on the assembly line that their organization is working with.

More than likely, you’ll want to take a look into other sophisticated options as well. For instance, coordinated motion controls can help you ensure that everything is moving in time with all of the other parts on a consistent basis.

Since electro-pneumatic equipment runs off of standard voltages by way of transformers, you can normally operate them off of regular mains current without making any modifications to your existing electrical system. Everything is processed by an onboard power supply much in the same way a small charging block converts line voltage into something useful for re-powering phones and tablets.

That also means that this kind of equipment shouldn’t generate too much additional heat and noise. Compressed air-driven gear is often deployed in situations where neither of these are acceptable, so it’s good to know that you should be able to find electro-pneumatic modules that won’t boost either of these to high levels. Naturally, all pieces of equipment you work with will generate some extra heat or sound, but you shouldn’t have to worry too much about extraneous or spurious emissions.

No matter what sort of equipment you’re planning on investing in, you can be sure that you can find every component that you need for your next installation right here.

Find Electro-Pneumatic Gear For Your Organization At SMC Pneumatics

SMC Pneumatics is ready to set up your system. When working with compressed air-driven equipment, you probably want to find standard components that all make use of fittings that interface with one another seamlessly.
Take a few moments to write about the sort of electro-pneumatic components you need to revolutionize the way you work. Once you’re ready to learn more about what options are available on the market, contact SMC Pneumatics online. Our team of experts will be sure to help you find reliable components that are compatible with the kinds of workflows you’ve been planning all along.

If you plan on installing one of these modules, then you might want to take a few moments to pick up a little better understanding of the background principles behind the initial construction of these devices.

At its base, a solenoid is a sort of electromagnet that generates a controllable magnetic field through a coil that’s made into a closely packed and wound helix. In a solenoid valve, this is attached to a compressed air-driven switch and operates it. While these are slightly more complex than traditional pneumatic valves, they might also be more flexible depending on your needs.

The Working Principle Behind Solenoid Valves

In theory, the term solenoid could potentially refer to a large variety of transducer devices that convert electrical energy into linear motion. However, in pneumatic engineering the term is often used to refer exclusively to this kind of valve. Each of these devices consist of a discrete module that features an integrated electrical device. This is designed to actuate a compressed air-driven switch that redirects the flow of fluid.

Keep in mind that air is a fluid, even in its compressed state. That means it’s able to switch the path just as easily as it could if it were moving electricity back and forth.

That’s given engineers the ability to create several different styles of devices. They should give you plenty of flexibility when the time comes to install a solenoid valve switch. Check out these following styles you can use to process your organization’s own workpieces.

Various Types Of Solenoid Valves

Perhaps the most common and simple type are direct-acting valves. In this particular style, a magnetic coil opens the valve in direct action, which has lent its name to the design.

Since this act lifts the shaft and the rest of the seat of the valve, it doesn’t rely on outside pressure. That’s made them an attractive option for those who want to install a device that won’t drain their air compressor’s flow pressure differential as it switches the overall flow.

You might also run into pilot-operated valves on a fairly regular basis. These use a solenoid coil to activate a small pilot valve that in turn opens up a larger valve. The larger valve operates at much higher pressure or at a greater volume of flow than the original one could.

Think of it as a couple of valves connected together. This technology is also related to the concept of a pilot light. Pilot lights are used to ensure that a natural gas-powered system can light a flame when producing thermal energy.

The larger valve in this kind of system can release large quantities of compressed air. Pilot operated valves tend to require less electricity to operate. They do this by needing to maintain full power whenever they’re in an open state. They might act a little slower than direct-acting solenoids that can hold their open position. This applies even when the valves are in low-power mode.

As a result, you’ll want to balance the two different technologies before picking one. One isn’t exactly better than the other, since they both have their pros and cons. Those who want to select a specific type of technology will want to weigh their options carefully before making a decision. You may wish to read a little documentation before making a final purchase. Specifications can help to ensure that you get the best device for your organization’s particular use case.

Most of the other options consist of a standard solenoid valve that’s attached to a number of additional ports. Take two-way valves for instance. These use two separate ports alternately to permit the flow of air and then close it off. Each valve can be specified as either normally open or normally closed. Depending on the type of equipment and how complex your installation is, you’ll also find three-way and four-way valves with additional ports.

These simply provide extra outlets that permit technicians to design compressed air circuits. The circuits are more complex by several orders of magnitude. This kind of equipment gives you the ability to lay out certain types of discrete logic arrangements. Such arrangements include electrical circuitry or more complex pneumatic equipment.

These four-way valves are often found when working with dual-acting cylinders or pneumatic actuators. Technicians are free to specify individual valves as either normally closed, open or universal to the whole system. That gives users a certain degree of freedom. They design a circuit that changes positions on each switch depending on what happens on one line or the other.

For instance, an outlet might switch on a conditional basis. You might be trying to automate a process. With that, you set certain switches to throw the moment a specific condition is met. When you combine this with grippers that are used as part of a pick and place operation, you can dramatically streamline your workflows. This also potentially reduces maintenance since your system will mostly handle things on its own.

Those who are looking for a dramatic increase in the level of control that they have over an air circuit might also be interested in investing in a fieldbus system. The system provides additional flexibility and potentially a great deal of savings in terms of labor. These provide a level of decentralized communication that’s not possible with any device that doesn’t employ solenoid valves.

ISO standards have also made it easy to select a piece of equipment that works well with other standardized components. Those who are trying to adhere to a specific set of international standards might be interested in this kind of equipment in order to avoid running afoul of them.

Find The Right Solenoid Switches For Your Workshop At SMC Pneumatics

SMC Pneumatics knows that field valves require. No matter what kind of compressed air-driven equipment you’re working with, there’s a valve that will process your workpieces.
Feel free to browse our online catalog and then contact us online at SMC Pneumatics to collect a little more information. Our experienced team will help you learn more. Study all the different types of solenoid valves that are currently on the market.

That makes it all the more imperative that you eliminate potential problems to ensure the proper functioning of a pneumatic system. Fortunately, there are a number of products on the market that can help you manage static electricity. There are also a few things that you can do with your device’s layout to reduce the risk of major static discharges.

Reducing Static Energy In Your Pneumatic Workshop

If you’ve ever been given advice on how to control electrostatic discharge when working with sensitive components, then you already have a pretty good handle on the best way to reduce these hazards. Make sure that you don’t let sensitive components come into contact with items like loose shrinkwrap. They have a tendency to generate extra static.

You’ve probably seen how a piece of shrinkwrap can attract small objects, so it’s best to keep it away from anything sensitive. Grounding yourself before touching any object that could discharge static is always a good idea as well.

Granted, pneumatic equipment normally isn’t all that sensitive to static electricity. Nevertheless, you will want to protect your workpieces and any electrical devices attached to your compressed air circuits. Firms that work with semiconductors and other sensitive components will want to take some extra care.

Take the opportunity to clean up your area. Ensure that people aren’t scuffing across a piece of carpet before touching sensitive workpieces. Then you’ll be in a good position to install some devices that will help to further protect your investment.

Ionizers & Other Pneumatic Components Designed to Eliminate Static

Industrial ionizers are among the biggest tools for static elimination. These neutralize and control static that’s generated by plastic wrap, foam packing, or labels that cling to your workpieces. These devices are also perfect for those who have to deal with static as a result of air dryers. There are other pneumatic components that are designed to reduce moisture in an installation.

As the total level of humidity drops in a current of air, the level of static in it may rise. That makes ionizers a great device to pair with this kind of equipment.

Many materials used in the packaging can attract ions and dirt. This increases the risk of misapplication and contamination depending on the type of workpieces you’re processing. Consider the case of workshops engaged in printing, paint mixing, plastics manufacturing, and many other industries. Now think about the kinds of problems that any of these organizations would run into if they were to experience damage to any component or workpiece. Misapplication in any industry that mixes fluids is especially problematic. This little thought experiment makes the need for ionizers all the more dramatic.

Static charges can damage sensitive electronic components and may even hurt flat panel displays or medical devices. Semiconductors are among those most at risk. Worst of all, static shocks can potentially put operator comfort and safety at risk.

Once you’ve decided that your firm needs to install some sort of mitigation method for static, you’ll probably want to look at the different technologies involved.

Bar Ionizers

Perhaps the most popular of all the technologies in the pneumatics industry, bar ionizers neutralize static electricity by way of a special set of modules installed within a housing. These are easy to work with. Ionizers normally run in-line with other pieces of compressed air-driven equipment that you might have installed in a layout. That’s helped to ensure that they’ll remain popular no matter how the industry changes.

Nozzle Ionizers

A nozzle ionizer provides a more compact anti-static solution than a more traditional bar-type ionizer. You’ll want to consider these devices if you’re at risk for running out of header space in your layout. That should be welcome news for anyone who has to keep pneumatic equipment covered inside of relatively small area.

Fan Ionizers

Since fan ionizers don’t require a pneumatic air supply, they’re an attractive option for anyone who might be having trouble with pressure differentials in their circuits. These units draw in ambient air then ionize it with four electrodes. That means you won’t have to worry about them draining air from your actual compressor or reservoir itself.

Additional Equipment For Pneumatic Technicians

Are you concerned about the overall amount of static in their installations? Then you might want to consider investing in a series of sensors. There are a number of choices that can help those who want to detect the total amount of potential for an electrical discharge.

Another good idea is to invest in a desktop duster box, which is perfect for small and medium-sized components. If you’re working with things that are sensitive to static as well as static-induced dust adhesion, then a duster box is an ideal solution that can help to get rid of these issues.

Those who want to completely proof their equipment from the ground up might want to install antistatic fittings and tubing lengths to cut the risk of static by several orders of magnitude. These designs are made from conductive resin. The resin prevents static from passing through the material or making its way into the actual flow of air.

On top of this, technicians who are still having problems can use anti-static suction cups that are made from anti-static urethane or conductive NBR materials. These can provide around 109-1,011O of resistance against electrical potential. Depending on just how bad the static forces are in your current workspace, this should be a considerable drop in the remaining amount.

You can use many of these solutions alongside one another, which can drop the amount of static to near zero. Naturally, you’ll never be able to completely eliminate it. Static is simply a fact of life that’s caused by several forces related to the laws of psychics. Nevertheless, these measures can slash the amount of potential harm that these forces can ever cause.

Tackle Your Static Problem With SMC Pneumatics

SMC Pneumatics wants to reduce static electricity in your workplace. We believe that the right ionizers and setup can do the trick. Take a look at our static control equipment in stock.
Make sure to contact SMC Pneumatics online when you’re ready to learn more about the static elimination options available to your business. Our experienced team will help you solve your static-related issues. We can protect your workpieces from damage.

Over time, that can increase the risk of certain types of failures. Worst of all, you might not be able to take advantage of important automation features that you’d otherwise be able to deploy to make your staff’s lives much easier. Browse some of the following ones and think about which might work best for your own company.

Looking At Different Types Of Pneumatic Control Valves

Directional control valves are among the most important tools you have to construct almost any type of pneumatic circuit. They direct or block airflow, which in turn controls the speed and even the sequence of operations that are performed. These are vital if you plan to select between different outputs or want to do anything involving the sort of automation that countless small business owners rely on to help them reduce costs and focus their efforts on something other than manual manipulations of their compressed air-driven systems.

Considering just how ubiquitous they are, you might imagine that they’re conceptually quite simple. You’d be quite right, because these control valves are often seen as little more than switches that control the flow of air in much the same manner that electrical ones control the flow of current through a circuit.

While there are any number of configurations offered, this basic principle remains true for each individual type of configuration you’re likely to find. Chances are that you’re already familiar with two-way two-position valves, which consist of nothing more than a pair of ports connected to a single passage. This passageway can be opened or shut, which enables operators to control the flow of pressure that passes to either of the ports. In most circumstances, you’re likely to find an electrically activated solenoid or another similar type of equipment helping to control these systems.

In spite of this electrical design, directional control pneumatic solenoid valves don’t use much in the way of power. Companies that have to move equipment around or avoid using too much current because of certain limitations won’t have to worry about drawing too much. They do offer impressively high flow rates and quick response times, so you can be sure they’ll work in almost any situation you could think of deploying them in as long as the rest of your pneumatic gear is up to the task.

Eventually, you’ll also want to take a look at three-way two-position valves. These include a set of three different ports that are all connected to passageways inside of a single valve body. Over the time they operate, the valves will pressurize and exhaust an outlet port to control single-acting cylinders.

You could also use this configuration to pilot another different valve assembly that you have attached to your circuit in series with the initial three-way two-position module that you had installed inline. Three-way valves will also direct pressurized air over to the cap end of your cylinder. Whenever the spool shifts to the other extreme, it will block flow and pressure to the actuator. An actuator would be connected to the exhaust passage itself, which means that a spring or the force of gravity would have to be used to return the rod to an initial neutral position that it more than likely started out in.

Engineers have developed a number of other valves as well, and they’re always working on new ones. You’ll want to consider check valves if you’re looking to add an additional level of control to your pneumatic layout.

The Ins & Outs of Pneumatic Check Valves

Those who are trying to design more sophisticated compressed air-driven systems are likely to also come across pneumatic check valves, which allow air to flow in only one agreed upon direction while ensuring that compressed air doesn’t flow back through it. This helps to keep certain parts of your installation pressurized while ensuring that other areas are not.

Speed controllers make use of a related technology, which come with some advanced features that might please those working in certain niche use cases. For instance, the AKH style comes with a one-touch fitting that makes it easy to install in pipelines. You’ll also find that the male connector types will mount directly onto equipment, thus making them all the more simpler to work with.

You’ll also come across bushing style AKB units that would make their way into applications that require considerations related to coolant splatter and other industrial manufacturing workflow hazards that make it hard to work with other types of technology in the same setting. While you might think of your manufacturing workflows as hopelessly corrosive, there are even special air hoses and other accouterments that can help.

Some designers have come up with far more esoteric assemblies. Chances are that you won’t need this kind of technology, but those who do will find that they can be quite a life saver. Four-way three-position valves, for instance, could help with some situations where you’d need to occasionally block all ports or redirect them all to a single exhaust center. These two extreme positions are essentially the powered positions of the original valve, which of course control the movement of an attached actuator module.

Users are always free to switch back to that center position so that they can lock the actuator up or simply let it float. It all depends on how you want to design the system to work. Flexibility has always been very important when deploying switches and control valves, so there have always been a large number of choices for pneumatic technicians looking to put together a rather complex build.

Add Pneumatic Control Valves From SMC Pneumatics To Your Installation

Fortunately, SMC Pneumatics has made sure to stock plenty of options for anyone who is deploying compressed air-driven tools in their own workplace. While you might have many choices, there’s only one place you’ll need to look to get the kind of parts you need.
Contact SMC Pneumatics online today or whenever you’re ready to learn more about what kinds of pneumatic control valves are available on the market. We work with suppliers and design team members so you can be sure you’re always getting the latest material no matter whether you represent a large organization or own your own small business.

As a result, you’ll want to keep an eye on efficiency metrics. Should you find some older components that aren’t holding up any longer, then you’ll want to swap those out with new parts from SMC Pneumatics. By simply replacing some older components, you’ll be able to drastically improve the efficiency of your system.

At the same time, you’ll want to take a few moments to learn more about how you calculate the efficiency of an individual air compressor that’s attached to your installation.

Air Compressor Efficiency Metrics & Analytics

There are several main metrics that air compressors are generally judged by. You’ll want to take a look at how they operate under variable displacement and modulation. This is a simple way to tell how well they can work when functioning in rotary or reciprocating control mode.

Measuring the number of valves that open up when testing centrifugal compressor blow-off tends to be an important measurement as well. Perhaps the most pervasive measurement, however, is the level of supply side storage that happens when you’re ramping a compressor up. Some compressors generate far too much pressure, which is just being wasted because it isn’t stored. The compressor has to essentially generate air on a just in time basis, which starts to hurt efficiency even more as time goes on.

As a rule of thumb, you want to use the minimum amount of pressure necessary to properly manipulate every actuator that’s attached to your system. Any more than this and you’re just hurting the efficiency of your compressor by using more power than you need to.

Over time, this can also cause tubing pieces to rupture, which in turn creates leaks. Even the most efficient air compressor isn’t going to be able to do much when it’s working against pressure losses at different points along your pneumatic layout, so you’ll want to keep a close eye out for any leaks that might occur during your normal operating day.

Compressor room conditions are often measured by those who are trying to judge whether or not a compressor is operating efficiently. Elevated temperatures and dusty air are certainly going to count against it. You’re also going to want to see that the compressor is relying on the right kind of energy controls.

Those who have to deploy multiple compressors will save a great deal of power by installing a smart energy control system. Auditors who give compressors a rating based on a scoring rubric will generate rate systems that employ this technology more highly than those that don’t.

Engineers haven’t agreed on a single overarching system to measure air compressor efficiency. In fact, you’ll probably find several different styles in use depending on which technicians you speak with and who trained them. That being said, they should all give you a base number to work with so you can be sure that you at least have a ballpark figure and know where to make improvements.

Fortunately, there are some tools that can help you make these decisions as well.

Online Pneumatic Calculation Tools For Energy Consumption

Using a simple online pneumatic calculator can make it much easier to figure out how much air you’re using in a particular compressed air-driven circuit. Just like you would use a traditional graphing calculator to figure out sine waves and the like, you’ll want to make use of a tool like this so you don’t have to worry about the possibility of making a mathematical error.

An airflow unit conversion calculator allows you to enter the volume of airflow that you know or the total air velocity and convert it to other units. You could measure LFM in terms of feet per minute or measure air velocity in MPH if you prefer. As far as volume airflow goes, you may be interested in finding cubic feet per minute in order to get a better look into the level of efficiency put out by the equipment that you’re looking at.

Metric and customary measurements both have their proponents. Pneumatic installations in North America have a tendency to use either system as it fits at the time. Those who tailor themselves to Canadian businesses will often prefer metric. Individuals working primarily with those in the United States tend to use customary instead, but this isn’t a hard and fast rule. You’ll often find air compressors sold in the US that provide you with all of the specs written out in metric.

If that’s the case, then you need a measurement converter that will make the job much easier by simply switching between the two types of measures with a high degree of accuracy. You’ll be able to take down the efficiency of an air compressor that has specifications recorded in a different type of measurement than you’re used in that case.

Standard cubic feet per minute is quite possibly the measurement you’re going to run into the most, perhaps because it’s a great way to figure out how many moles of air pass through a system regardless of actual flow conditions. Using SCFM as a metric allows you to play out what-if scenarios and test how your system might respond to certain situations.

By using the SCFM conversion calculator, you’ll be able to figure out these numbers with as high a level of accuracy as you might with any of these other tools. That means you shouldn’t have any trouble spotting potential areas of inefficiency.

Upgrade Air Compressors & Pneumatic Parts With SMC Pneumatics

If you do come across any problems, then The SMC Pneumatics experts will be here to help. Depending on your specific situation and how much you’re losing in your current installation, these solutions may actually eventually pay for themselves through reduced energy usage. In fact, they might be seen as a necessity by those who have to make sure that they’re in the process of greening their operations.
Take a few moments to jot down all of the pieces of equipment in your installation that you wanted to replace. Then make sure to contact us online so we can get you efficient replacements that will last a long time.

Two-position and three-position pneumatic valves are among those you’re most likely considering for use with your system. Take a few moments to read a bit more about these different technologies. We’ve made sure to stock them both at SMC Pneumatics, so you shouldn’t have any difficulty with finding precisely the components that you need.

2 Position Valves for On/Off Controls

As the name suggests, traditional two-position valves are best for situations where you want a physical on-off control much as you might find on an electrical circuit. With a simple valve like this, you’ll find that these can be either open or closed. That being said, two-position valves could theoretically have more than two ports attached.

You might find a two-position valve with a virtually unlimited number of ports. Assume you had a valve with five different ports, one of which is an input area that allows air into your circuit. The two output ports are, by definition, constantly in opposite modes from one another. Whenever one receives air to the inlet, the other is connected in turn to the exhaust port.

Creative engineers might want to take advantage of this kind of system so that they can design complex two-state systems that take multiple actions depending on a specific setting. That’s a good idea for anyone who has to manage a large number of different tracks traveling along the same downstream line. You could switch different machines on or off based on what’s going on with a certain workflow in this way. A few people have even taken the time to design extremely complex systems using nothing more than 2 position pneumatic valves.

The fact that so many pieces make use of standardized fittings makes this kind of a construction project all the easier. More than likely, you’ll be able to identify a number of different situations where you can reorient a series of airflow gates simply by installing one of these modules.

A two-position directional valve could be looked at as a state machine if you’re familiar with this abstraction that’s been a favorite of engineers for many years. Finite state machines are always going to be in one of a certain number of states. In this case, the state is either on allowing air in or simply closed off. This makes it relatively easy to chart out the way that air is going to flow through one even if it has a number of ports attached to it.

In a way, three-position pneumatic valves are also finite state machines. That being said, they have an additional state to deal with.

Sophisticated 3 Position Valve Switches

Every three-position valve has an on and off position much like two-position valves do, which means you could theoretically use them in many of the same situations. What makes them different, however, is the presence of a center neutral position that blocks all ports. You might also find designs that offer a connection to both output ports directly to a center exhaust when the valve is not being actuated.

Some engineers prefer the so-called pressure held center closed three-position valves, which are perfect for inching operations. Technicians will sometimes need a cylinder rod to move to an intermediate position along a specific workflow and then slowly hold. Cylinder switches are also useful in these cases if you need to periodically sense the current position of a rod during the stroke.

Eventually, you might even come across five-ported four-way valves. These valves offer users the same basic level of flow path control along with the ability to control the motion of doubling-acting cylinders. With five ports, you might find that these units are able to provide dual-pressure control. One set level of pressure could be supplied to a cylinder while its in the process of extending then a different pressure will be applied during the retraction of the cycle. Users of these kinds of valves often rely on a common inlet pressure source and two separate exhaust ports.

An installation like this allows you to control the exhaust flow from each of the valve’s outlet ports. As a result, it’s a great idea for those who want to control the velocity of certain pneumatic cylinders by way of restriction.

At one point, engineers would have had to specify custom designs for each individual valve on their pneumatic layouts. That not only increased the cost of the equipment that they were working with, it also made things needlessly complicated. People had to wait through long lead times just to make sure that they were going to get the parts they were looking for.

Fortunately, because of high-quality manufacturing processes and an increased focus on the consumer, you won’t have to worry about these sorts of problems if you place an order. Chances are, SMC has the kinds of valves your looking for in stock even if they’re something that you might have been told you had to special order in the past.

Choosing Between 2 & 3 Position Pneumatic Valves

Those who do have to place special orders shouldn’t have any difficulty doing so, either. That being said, it’s always a good idea to take a second look at your design and see if you can build something around more standard pneumatic components.

In most cases, you’ll probably just need to use a two-position valve. If you’re trying to do something sophisticated, then you might want to consider using a two-position valve with additional ports or a traditional three-position valve.

Purchase Valve Types At SMC Pneumatics

SMC Pneumatics has special valves and more parts for your pneumatic system. In fact, you might even want to look at this as a potential opportunity to stock up so you won’t be left hanging the next time you have to install a healthy amount of pneumatic equipment and end up needing a large number of valves all for a single job.
Once you’ve picked out the kind of parts you need, make sure to contact us online to tell us more about your specific requirements. We’ll be sure to help you get a hold of all the valves that you’re looking for so you won’t have to worry about planning your next installation.

One big area these two groups have in common is the fact that they would do well to implement a list of best practices for working with the pneumatic systems that they have in place. This help everyone will stay safe when operating them in the future.

At the same time, a list of best practices can be a great way to ensure that everyone is on the same page and knows how to work with all of the equipment that you have in your shop. If someone needs to know something, then they can simply consult a list as opposed to making an educated guess.

We asked the experts from SMC Pneumatics for some blanket rules that can get you going. Take a few moments to think about these and see if you can’t come up with some additional guidelines for operating a pneumatic piece of equipment.

Best Practices For Any Compressed Air-driven Equipment

Perhaps one of the most important rules is to always follow all manufacturer specifications and never violate pressure guidelines provided by the pieces you’re working with. You don’t want to go over these statements, which should be considered hard and fast no matter what kind of gear you have in place.

At the same time, you’ll want to operate your equipment at the lowest practical pressure even if a higher setting would have been within these guidelines. Whenever you run a piece of gear at an elevated system pressure, you’re going to end up using more air.

As air consumption increases, so does the risk of air leaks as well as how much energy you’re using since your air compressor has to work that much harder. That means your system might not last as long if you’re constantly driving it too hard.

Running your gear at the minimum practical pressure uses less electrical power, assuming you’re drawing from an electrically-driven compressor system. For that matter, you’ll only want to use the number of compressors necessary for what you’re trying to do. Only one of these should be run in a trim control mode under normal circumstances.

Automatic sequencers sometimes optimize the selection of compressors whenever the demand for compressed air changes. However, you should be able to do the same if you just make sure to not run too much gear all at once.

Think about trying to work with only a single compressor for each circuit if at all possible. You’ll also want to keep plenty of extra pieces on hand, just in case something happens. For instance, you’ll want to consider pressure boosters if you ever run into a situation where your compressors aren’t doing the job but you don’t want to use too much gear for your current configuration.

You can also consider using digital gauges so you can see exactly how much pressure you’re working with in certain situations. When you have all of this figured out, you’re in a great position to audit the rest of your installation.

Auditing A Pneumatic Installation

You’ll always want to start by looking for potential leaks and replacing air tubing that’s gone bad. Some people have claimed that you might find a leakage rate of 20 to 30 percent in the system of some industrial plants, which is unfortunate because there’s so much great equipment out there that this should never be the case.

Eventually, you’ll more than likely find that it’s easy to spot leaks simply by listening to what certain equipment would normally sound like. If you notice that something has a tone that’s somewhat off or you hear something hissing in the background, then you know there’s a leak you’ll need to check.

Over time, there’s a good chance that you’ll notice some workflows around your shop that could be better managed by pneumatic gear. If that’s the case, then you’ll want to plan out a migration that’s in keeping with all of these other guidelines.

By making sure that everything is copacetic from the beginning, you won’t have to worry much about having to iron out other problems later on. That’s excellent news for those who already run beleaguered organizations and need to reduce the amount of additional work they have to do on a regular basis.

While you’re auditing your installation, you’ll want to keep an eye out for unnecessary bends and corners in your tubing. If you work to reduce these and make the line as straight as possible, then you’ll soon find that you’ll end up with a reduced risk of leaks and other maladies over time.

Some people might not think to do this, but you really do need to keep your installation clean as well because this helps to drastically reduce the chances of you ever developing something like corrosion or other problems. If this is a major concern in your organization’s workplace, then you’ll want to add something to your list of best practices that deals with corrosion-resistant equipment. You’ll want to specify special fittings and other devices, which can prevent this kind of malady from happening in the first place.

Most importantly, though, you’ll want to make sure that everyone on your team knows how to use the equipment you’re working with. If they’re not trained to operate it safely, then the chance is high that they’re going to make an error. You’ll want to lead by example and always operate your gear in a way that’s consistent with the manufacturer’s original guidelines.

Replace Worn Out Components With Parts From SMC Pneumatics

SMC Pneumatics wants to improve your air quality and energy efficiency. Those who are planning out new installations from scratch can also get a good overview of what sorts of parts are available. They can also find compressor controls that help you save energy. Those who might be dealing with gear that isn’t holding up like it used to will want to find some new parts that will. SMC Pneumatics can help.

If you’ve been dealing with compressed air-driven parts that aren’t as powerful as they used to be, then you can always contact us online and get in touch with our seasoned experts. They’ll be sure to help you find something that matches your current workflows as well as the equipment that you’re already invested in for operations. You’re always free to let us know if there are any special concerns, so drop a line if you’re dealing with any particular compressed air-related solutions.

Air preparation is one of the most fundamental aspects of working with pneumatic equipment, but it often gets neglected while people rush to get every other part of their installation working. Those who are trying to get downstream devices to enjoy a proper amount of clean air at the right pressure won’t want to neglect it.

We asked the experts at SMC Pneumatics for their favorite tips in regards to this vital practice. They provided

Basic Tips For Preparing An Airstream

Engineers can design or at least specify what are sometimes called air prep subsystems, which make sure that all pneumatic equipment keeps performing at the highest level for years. This helps to slash long-term maintenance costs and cut down on the amount of downtime caused by periodic equipment failures.

Perhaps the most important aspect of air prep is the specification of port sizes. You’ll want to match the size of all of your ports to the inlet and outlet air tubes that are attached to your compressor and every other part along the air plumbing that you’re run.

All of your devices also need to be rated for a standard operating pressure range. At times, you’ll want to specify a proof pressure or even a burst pressure. Those systems that are particularly sensitive will certainly need to have all three. It’s usually not a bad idea to specify a burst pressure that’s a bit generous, making sure to err on the side of caution so you don’t risk any damage from possibly blowing a line or valve.

Any device that exhibits an operating pressure should never be ignored. Consider the situation posed by a valve that has a pressure rating of 50-150 psi. Anything below this range may not actuate the valve properly. On the other hand, more pressure might damage it. In either case, it isn’t a good idea to operate it outside of this range. In many cases, this might actually be unsafe.

Proof pressures are the maximum amount of air that a device can handle before it fails completely, even if you make an effort to restore proper pressure or cut the cylinder once you realize something is wrong. Burst pressure refers to the pressure level at which a device fails completely in a way that’s absolutely catastrophic.

You’ll want to pay close attention to both of these ratings so you don’t run into any major difficulties down the road. Once you’ve gotten all the figures down, you’re ready to do some of the heavy lifting involved with the air prep process.

Shut-off Valves & Other Considerations

If you’re working in a particularly sensitive environment, then you might want to consider the possibility of installing additional shut-off valves and other similar safety systems. The ability to remove energy from machinery that isn’t in use is critical, especially when it comes time to perform maintenance at a later date.

Representatives of organizations like ANSI and OSHA have considered compressed air to be a potentially hazardous source of energy. Of course, pneumatic equipment is extremely safe and many individuals have specified its use in critical situations. However, it’s in part due to these excellent safety precautions that pneumatic gear has such an impressive record.

As long as you keep to a list of best practices and make sure to perform your air preparation process right from the start, you shouldn’t run into any real problems. After you’ve made sure to sort these elements out, you’ll be in a great position to check your system for cleanliness and lubrication.

Keeping Compressed Air Clean & Dry

Depending on the type of environment that you’re working in, you’re going to want to reorient your compressor or intake valve so that it doesn’t start absorbing some sort of debris. At the same time, you’re going to want to take a few moments to clean out all of the filters.

While it’s not technically part of the air prep process, you do want to ensure that all of your equipment is working properly before you put it into play. You might want to invest in a modular filter regulator lubricator so you can be sure that any compressed air flowing downstream has been properly cleaned and lubricated before it makes its way into any components.

Lubricating your actuators can be difficult simply because it’s so easy to put more oil than you need, which will gum up the air very quickly. Fortunately, you shouldn’t have to worry about this if you work with one of these components.

At the same time, you’ll want to make sure that the air is the right temperature for what you’re trying to do. You may want to relocate your compressor or air cylinder to an area that doesn’t receive too much direct sunlight or gets an unnecessary amount of heat. If your machinery is positioned too close to something that puts out a lot of heat, like another piece of manufacturing gear, then there’s a good chance that the air your compressor draws in will also start to exhibit signs of said heat.

Over time, too much heat can make the compressor work harder and might even exceed the original manufacturer’s suggestions on how certain parts should work. When you operate these parts out of spec, you’re risking a failure.

That being said, you shouldn’t have to worry about running into any major issues as long as you take a few simple precautions. Perhaps the most important step is to take the time to look over the equipment that you currently have attached to your system so you can be sure that everything is working properly.

Find The Parts You Need To Improve Air Flow At SMC Pneumatics

At SMC Pneumatics, our team of experts is here to help you find the kind of pneumatic components that will best fit your particular use case. In some cases, all you need to get going is a few simple components.

Those who are working to stock their equipment stores will certainly want to contact SMC Pneumatics online. You’ll always be ready to tackle the air prep process and then perform useful tasks on any workpieces that you might have in your company’s manufacturing workflows.