Pneumatic Tips

The new DSNU-S round cylinder is the latest response from Festo to the need of machine designers for smaller versions of standard components so they can shrink the footprint of their machines or production lines accordingly. The DSNU-S, part of Festo’s core product range of always-in-stock components, is up to 40% slimmer, 35 mm shorter, […]

VMAC has released its 2021 State of the Mobile Compressed Air Industry Report, sharing unique industry insights from the people who use compressed air on their vehicles. “It is our pleasure to share the latest industry research on the mobile compressed air industry,” said Tod Gilbert, President of VMAC. “We believe the state of the […]

AutomationDirect now offers a selection of pneumatic vacuum grippers and related parts from Schmalz, widely used in pick-and-place applications. Vacuum products are an efficient means of moving products large, small, and of varying sizes. This lineup includes suction cups in a flat style up to 60 mm in diameter made of Elastodur; bellowed style cups […]

By Ron Marshall During a recent compressed air assessment, the measuring instruments connected to a 50-hp lubricated screw compressor showed lower than rated amps. The customer had been complaining about low pressure in the plant, yet the plant flow meter indicated the compressed air demand was well within the rated capacity of the compressor. Typically, […]

Coval’s new LEMAX IO series of mini vacuum pumps with IO LINK communication integrate all the required functions for optimized vacuum management in a compact package. Via their IO-Link communications interface, the mini vacuum pumps communicate permanently with the environment and thanks to ASC (Air Saving Control) technology, combine productivity with energy savings, adapting to […]

Festo recently introduced VPPI, a new family of proportional pressure regulators. Highly dynamic to 30 Hz, VPPI offers precise and stable operation in vacuum applications as well as tasks up to a pressure range of 12 bar. Coupled with an IO-Link interface as well as a fieldbus connection for controlling the valves via a Festo […]

Contributed by Frances Richards Pneumatic cylinders, also called air cylinders, pneumatic actuators, or pneumatic drives, are relatively simple mechanical devices that use the energy of compressed air and turn it into linear motion. Lightweight and low maintenance, pneumatic cylinders generally operate at lower speeds and less force than their hydraulic or electric counterparts, but are […]

An electronics parts manufacturer had a maddening water problem. Every day around Noon, its air system pipes started emitting free water at their most important end uses. This water came mixed with compressor lubricant and the dust ingested by the compressor intake. With the addition of pipe rust and scale — which formed due to […]

The AirFlowSaver supplies energy- and cost-optimized compressed air based on unique SmartValve technology. Contributed by Wolfgang Teichmann, CEO and Markus Koenig, CSO, KTW Technology, Wehr, Germany nad Andy Pott, Vice President, PHIR Technologies, Hartland, Wisconsin For well over a century, compressed air has been commonly used across many industries because it is a simple, flexible and […]

Imagine if you were 30 feet tall — all the things you could accomplish in your plant! Well, one newly developed style of leak detector can greatly extend your leak detection range.  One such detector was recently put to the test in a large industrial site with amazing results. One of the best ways to […]

Contributed by Darryl Powell, Doc’s Hydraulic-Pneumatic Training LLC When specifying pneumatic cylinders, you may think that the most important information needed is the bore size and stroke. While these details are certainly important, the application’s requirements are more critical. For example, several questions should be considered: is the cylinder in a wet environment (maybe salt […]

It often pays to read the compressor control instructions! One compressed air system owner had two 150-hp load/unload compressors operating at the plant.  A survey of the compressor hours showed that both compressors were running for significant periods of time in the unloaded condition, still consuming 40 kW, but producing no air. A compressed air […]

A recent survey of 1,464 visitors on the vmacair.com website reveals that most survey respondents expect a truck mounted air compressor to last 6 to 10 years, with 40.5% of respondents selecting this option. Next, 19.2% of respondents selected 1 to 5 years, followed by 17.8% selecting 11 to 15 years. This poll shows that […]

Many companies talk a good game when it comes to climate change but for most, it’s not a top priority. Pneumatics manufacturer SMC, in contrast, is incorporating sustainability across its entire business, from the products it makes and how they are manufactured to reorganizing production facilities to minimize waste and CO2 emissions. According to Global…

Distributed automation options have been improving for many years. Networked electro-pneumatic solenoid banks give machine builders smart and convenient choices. Kevin Kakascik, Technical Marketing Engineer, AutomationDirect Most automated machines and systems incorporate some number of enclosures and panels for housing controls components. However, these centralized devices typically must interconnect with many more field sensors and […]

The new Festo KVZA Butterfly-Valve Configurator lowers overhead by speeding up and simplifying procurement of manual and automated butterfly valves. In only minutes with the configurator, engineers will have the price, estimated delivery date, data sheet, bill of material, 2D CAD data, 3D CAD models, and certificates of the optimum butterfly valve for the application. […]

A testing building within a large industrial complex required compressed air for general uses in the processing of the materials to be tested for purity.  The load on the compressed air systems is mostly compressed air powered hand tools and processing equipment, but a small amount of air is used within a laboratory where sensitive […]

A large industrial complex used water-cooled compressors to supply 115-psi compressed air to its processes.  The cooling water temperature was quite low throughout the year and provided compressed air at lower-than-normal temperatures. This took moisture load off the air dryers, but these cool temperatures also caused problems. The plant had been designed with redundant compressor […]

How much are you getting out of your compressed air system?  Well, the answer might disappoint you. Most users consider compressed air as a free unlimited resource and rarely hesitate to hook any extra demands to the system without first considering the financial impact. Consider a typical compressed air powered vane motor that provides a […]

Festo SE & Co. KG was awarded the Golden Catalog Seal by CADENAS GmbH for its comprehensive digital 3D CAD product catalog. Festo has been successfully using the digital product catalog based on the eCATALOGsolutions technology from CADENAS for many years, creating the basis for digital twins of its products. The Festo product catalog fulfills […]

Koganei International America Inc. has added the Air Picker and Air Gripper (Bridgestone series) components to its selection of high performance pneumatic grippers. These versatile rubber end effectors are designed to handle workpieces securely, gently, and with precision. The air picker and gripper have numerous factory automation and warehouse applications, including picking, transporting, and loading products, […]

Festo recently introduced the manually operated VHEF and the mechanically operated VMEF pneumatic valves. These small, durable, and versatile valves are core Festo products and guaranteed to ship within 24 hours. Whether the valve is triggered by a workpiece, a component, or a person, manual and mechanical valves are the most direct way to control […]

The AirFlowSaver from KTW Technology, Wehr, Germany, is an integrated system that reduces compressed air consumption while improving productivity in many industrial applications, including blow-off, drying, degreasing, cleaning, material handling and certain pneumatic control tasks. It works by converting continuous air flows into sharp and powerful pulses that increase output force. Thus, it cuts air […]

A rule of thumb used in the compressed air industry is a compressor consumes 1% more energy for every 2 psi in extra pressure at the discharge. When reducing the energy consumption of a compressed air system, we must pay detailed attention to pressure differentials at various points in the system. These pressure drops all […]

A common question when looking at optimization of a compressed air system is; How much air am I wasting?  Often, inappropriate uses consume significant amounts of flow, and savings can be gained if the operation can be supplied more efficiently through optimization measures.  To be able to initiate improvement projects, we must first calculate how […]